Roly Parsons - NZ's Most Accomplished Aeronaut

There’s been much coverage lately regarding last year’s Carterton ballooning tragedy and the Civil Aviation Authority bringing about stricter safety regulations to monitor aviation operators within adventure tourism. But what about the pioneering days when ballooning had just been introduced into New Zealand? The days when people literally flew on a wing and a prayer? Lynda Chanwai-Earle meets Roly Parsons, our most accomplished aeronaut, the only balloonist to successfully cross the Cook Strait and to traverse the summit of Mt Cook, known to those in the industry as a living legend.