Whakatāne mayoral candidate Wilson James says he has no idea who is placing replica volleyballs from the Tom Hanks movie Cast Away on his election signs – but says it adds a fun element to his campaign.
The Awakeri farmer and rural councillor for Rangitaiki ward said at least four of the balls had been placed as of last week and appeared to move from sign to sign from one week to the next.
“Someone is going to some effort to do it as most signs are not only quite high off the ground, requiring a ladder, they also have to cross electric fences to get to them.
“It’s certainly adding a bit of fun to my mayoral campaign.”
Wilson sporting goods produced the replica ball from the 2000 movie, in which Hank’s character, Chuck, was cast away on a deserted island for four years and personified a volleyball that washed ashore to alleviate his loneliness.
A scene where Chuck lost Wilson as he floated away from his raft was described as one of the most gut-wrenching scenes in movie history.
The balls retail for around $30.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
