Nightglow attracts biggest turnout yet

The 13th annual ASB Nightglow was celebrated with a record crowd at Waikato University.

Balloons over Waikato Assistant Flight Director, Nic Norris said he had rough reports of around, 95,000 people, at minimum, in attendance.

“It’s our biggest turnout yet,” he said.

At 8pm balloons from around New Zealand, Australia, America, and Europe lit up the sky, in an event Norris believes “went as smooth as it could”.

Maori Warden Joyce Williams said this year’s Nightglow was the best out of the three she had attended.

However, like previous years, Williams added she had to dispose of some cans of beer.

“I’m disappointed in our young people bringing alcohol here.”

Sixteen-year-old high school student, Ester Joe said it was good the balloons and fireworks started earlier so people could see them before they left.

“I don’t know if it [the Nightglow] was the best or not,” she said.

Commercial pilot, Duncan Matheson arrived at 3pm to begin balloon set up, and says his low point was the anticipation of waiting five hours for the glow to begin.

“It’s been pretty good, another good turnout this year.”