By day, Kevin Briggs works across the Waikato District, helping keep people safely connected to their communities. In his spare time, he takes to the skies as a hot air balloon pilot offering a very different view of the region he helps keep moving.
Kevin’s ballooning journey began more than 20 years ago, when he first got involved as a crew member for his sister’s balloon. After becoming a certified pilot a decade ago, he took the next big step three years ago by buying his own balloon, which he now pilots himself. You can’t miss it - it’s bright yellow and red, called Goldilocks, and often turns heads when it floats quietly overhead.
“This is a great time of year for ballooning,” Kevin says. “A little bit of wind is ideal, and the views from above are unforgettable. There’s always something new to see.
That sense of adventure was on full display recently when Kevin and his crew landed in a paddock beside the Waikato Expressway in Horsham Downs drawing plenty of friendly toots and waves from passing motorists as they touched down.
Kevin has been flying more frequently as he prepares for next month’s Balloons over Waikato, one of the region’s most loved annual events. The festival brings colour to the skies and showcases the Waikato from a whole new perspective.
Come and watch a balloon take off in our district
If you’d like to see a hot air balloon launch up close, Kevin will be taking off from Willowbrook Park tomorrow morning (6 February 2026), with lift-off expected between 6.30am and 7.00am.
It’s free to watch, and a great way to start the day just keep an eye out for that splash of yellow and red rising into the morning sky.
