BINTULU (July 28): The late Peter Lynn would always be remembered as an innovator, mentor and friend whose contributions have forever transformed the way kites are designed, transported and flown around the world.


Hansen says the global kite community would continue to remember Lynn (inset) with grati-tude, kindness and fondness.

In paying tribute during the 19th Borneo International Kite Festival (BIKF) farewell dinner here on Sunday, New Zealand kite-flyer Craig Hansen said Lynn’s legacy continued to live on through the countless innovations and friendships that he had built throughout his lifetime.

Hansen described Lynn as not only a close friend and benefactor, but also a pioneer whose creativity had reshaped modern kite-flying.

“His passing was an enormous sadness for us in New Zealand, but not just for us, it also affect-ed the whole kite community throughout the world.

“We mourn his passing, but we also have the privilege to celebrate his life.”


Peter Lynn

Lynn, a renowned New Zealand kite innovator, passed away on April 11 this year, after a battle with cancer. He was 79.

Adding on, Hansen highlighted Lynn’s groundbreaking contributions, including the develop-ment of the ‘crush bag’ system that made transporting large kites easier, as well as the ad-vancement of soft-kite technology that opened new possibilities for kite designs.

“Every time you put a kite in a crush bag and compress it down, that’s Peter and his innovation.

“Every time you see a pilot kite that allows you to fly next to your neighbour without tangling too many times, that’s Peter and his development,” Hansen pointed out.

“The soft kite development that he brought about has changed the sky at every festival,” he added.

However, Hansen said beyond technical achievements, Lynn’s greatest legacy was his belief that kites were for everyone and had the power to bridge differences between people.

“He believed that kites are for everyone, not for any particular group of people or a single per-son.

“There’s no political, cultural or physical divide that kites cannot cross.”

Hansen also recalled Lynn’s generosity and hospitality, saying that his home in New Zealand was always open to fellow kite-flyers from around the world, with the support of his wife, who welcomed and cared for the many guests who had visited.

Sharing one of Lynn’s life philosophies, Hansen said the kite pioneer believed in facing chal-lenges head-on by identifying and completing the most difficult tasks first.

“His advice was simple – ‘do the hard things first’. That is really good advice for life.”

Hansen said the global kite community would continue to remember Lynn with gratitude, kindness and fondness, adding that his influence would remain a lasting inspiration for kite-flyers worldwide.

On BIKF 2026, Hansen hailed it as a celebration of friendship and a testament to Bintulu’s re-markable transformation over the past decade.

He expressed his appreciation to the organising committee and volunteers whose dedication made the international gathering possible.

“If it wasn’t for these people, we would not be able to do what we do.

“It is because of their input and effort that we get the chance to pursue our passion, and that is an incredible privilege.”

Returning to Bintulu after more than 10 years, Hansen said he was impressed by the town’s rapid development and the significant improvements made since his last visit.

“The development here over the last decade has been incredible. It reflects the hard work, de-termination and vision of the people whose decisions continue to improve the lives of the community.”

From a kite-flying perspective, Hansen noted the tremendous growth of the BIKF, saying that the increasing number of participants had made securing prime flying spots much more com-petitive than before.

“The competition for anchor points in the morning is now very stiff.

“If you don’t get there early, you won’t get the spot you want.

“That is a positive sign of how much the festival has grown,” he added.