Chopper crash victim Matt Wallis remembered as larger than life adventure-seeker, gentleman, storyteller

Monday, 30 July 2018

Family accompanied Matt Wallis' coffin as it left the service on Monday.

Killed Wanaka pilot Matt Wallis has been remembered as a 'perfect son', larger than life, with the ingenuity of MacGyver and class of James Bond.

Up to 2000 people gathered to farewell the 39-year-old at Alpine Helicopters Hanger in Wanaka, which the Wallis family has owned and operated for 55 years.

Wallis' body was retrieved from the Stevenson Arm area of Lake Wanaka on Monday July 23, two days after his helicopter crashed on a short solo flight to Mt Aspiring National Park from Wanaka Airport.

Wallis' body was found in the wrecked helicopter on the lake bottom.

Aviation pioneer Sir Tim Wallis at his son's funeral.

Gary Paulin said his brother in law was a 'consummate professional' with power of persuasion like a Jedi Knight.

'There was not a better salesman or storyteller than Matt Wallis … He was the most generous and observant host, impeccably well mannered and never was there a half glass or awkward silence. Everyone was included. Everyone felt welcome … From cow cocky to city slicker, aristocrat to billionaire, young to old, sportsmen to Hollywood celebrity - no-one was immune to his charm.

Police say they are thankful to the community and rescuers after retrieving the body of helicopter pilot Matthew Wallis from Lake Wanaka.

*Missing helicopter pilot's brother tells of desperate search

*Missing Wanaka pilot presumed dead as search enters recovery phase

*Warbirds Over Wanaka Airshow founders Tim and George Wallis recall first show**

Matt Wallis was a keen outdoorsman and well-known tourism figure.

'Matt appeals to our sense of adventure… He was a gentleman. He put others needs before his own and was genuinely interested in people.'

Alice Wallis said she first met her husband in the late 80s when they were children gecko hunting.

Helicopters prepare to take to Matt Wallis, a pilot who died in a crash at Lake Wanaka last week, for a last tour at his funeral.

'There was always an adventure to be had with Matt.'

In 2006 the pair settled in Wanaka before they were married in 2008 and welcomed their son Arthur in 2013.

She described him as 'passionate', 'loving', 'gentle', 'kind' and 'stubborn'.

Matt's three brothers all spoke, paying tribute to a brother 'larger than life' who was always thinking outside of the box and looking for the humour in every situation.

'I am going to miss you terribly,' his younger brother Nick said.

'Being in business as brothers is not always as easy as it may appear from the outside. We of course had our challenges, but Matt you were a role model to me and your ability to split business and pleasure. We did not always agree but the four of us knew we had each other's backs covered … It physically hurts to know your life has been cut short.'

Mother Prue Wallis said Matthew was a 'perfect son'.

After the service, a Spitfire flew over the crowd as Matt's coffin was loaded into one of five helicopters filled with family for a last fly over Matt's favourite haunts.

His three brothers flew three of the five helicopters doing the flight.

Their father, Sir Tim Wallis, is most well-known as a pioneer of the live deer recovery industry in New Zealand and the founder of the Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow.

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) is investigating the cause of the crash.