It was 20 years ago this week that AJ Hackett saw his first paying customer leap off Queenstown’s Kawarau Bridge, ankles tethered to a length of elastic.

Together with fellow New Zealander Henry van Asch, Hackett launched his multi-million dollar empire at the 43 metre-high bridge in New Zealand's South Island on November 12 1988.

To celebrate the anniversary the pair threw themselves off Kawarau this week in a tandem bungy (pictured). They were joined by some 50 children, some as young as 10, who persuaded their parents to let them have a free jump.

Adults who turned up in 1980s fancy dress got a jump for NZ$88, down from the current price of NZ$165, which includes a souvenir t-shirt and transport to the bridge.

On its first day of operation, customers paid NZ$75 for a bungy jump.

According to Hackett more than 500,000 people have jumped from the Kawarau bridge, and globally the company has notched up two million customers at AJ Hackett sites.

"When I stand out there with AJ, I know we are still both as passionate about it as we were then. It has been a fantastic ride and we’re both really happy to have done something that’s been fulfilling for all our jumpers and crew from all around the world, for Queenstown, and for tourism," said van Asch.

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