Does NZ not require a commercial pilots license
NZ has a CPL ( Balloon ) for which a minimum of 50 hours experience is required.
I assume that the same rules as to Hire and Reward, when carrying passengers who have paid for the ride, apply as for any other "aircraft".
Or you could just turn the tank off prior to wire contact (like you are supposed to do)
In a fixed wing aircraft one is also "supposed" to follow prescribed actions in the event of an engine failure, too, like turning off the fuel, issuing a "Mayday" call, changing the transponder code, flying at the best glide speed, picking a field etc.etc. Yeah! Right! I was recently passenger in a microlight that suffered an engine failure and we had time to do NONE of that, just get the bugger down and keep it in one piece - which the pilot did successfully I'm happy to say !
How long did the NZ balloon pilot have to plan his contact with the wires, turn off the tank, blah blah blah ??