Hot air balloon crash in Methven leaves one person with minor injuries

A hot air balloon crash in Methven has left one person with minor injuries.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand said firefighters were called to the scene at the recreation reserve shortly before 8.30am.

Two people were checked over by paramedics at the scene, St John said, with only one needing to be taken to a local medical centre with minor injuries.

Fire and Emergency said the hot air balloon had been blocking the road but it had since been moved and firefighters were no longer at the scene.

Methven local Kate Stewart said she was admiring the balloons when one of them deflated just as she took a photo.

She said everything happened very quickly.

"The balloon started to tilt and seconds after I took the photo it deflated and went down. Not long after sirens went off," she said.

The hot air balloon had been part of a launch to celebrate the start of Methven's Fire & Ice Hot Air Balloon Glow and Laser Festival which was being held over the weekend.