New Zealand Judge Bans Press from

Publishing Daredevil’s Daddy’s Name

 

By Joshua B. Good

Thursday, June 7, 2007

 

            A New Zealand helicopter pilot gets to keep his wings, despite being caught using his aircraft to tow a water skier, a judge ruled.

            Oh, and the judge also ordered New Zealand media to keep the daredevil’s daddy’s name a secret.

            The censorship order was handed down Wednesday (June 6, 2007) in the case of Toby Wallis, according to The Press newspaper of Christchurch, New Zealand. Blenheim District Court Judge Tony Zohrab banned all media from publishing the name of Sir Tim Wallis, the father of Toby Wallis, in connection with the stunt-flying charges.

            The ban seems futile since Sir Tim Wallis’s name is listed on Alpine Helicopters’ web site, the charter flight company owned by Toby Wallis. And media accounts prior to Wednesday’s hearing had named Sir Tim Wallis as Toby Wallis’s father.

            Sir Tim Wallis is famous in New Zealand for his flying skills, vintage aircraft collection and use of helicopters to airlift deer into remote parts of New Zealand to repopulate the animals for hunting. He also founded the Warbirds over Wanaka airshow.

            Toby Wallis pleaded guilty to careless use of an aircraft and low-flying charges, The Press reported. The judge fined Toby Wallis 3,750 New Zealand dollars, which is about $2,830-U.S.

            Witnesses said Toby Wallis flew low over the Marlborough Sounds, dangling passengers from a rope and towing a skier across the water in January of 2007, The Press reported.

 

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Milford Sound (upper left) site of daredevil pilot stunts.