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,” James said.

“It’s certainly adding a bit of fun to my mayoral campaign.”

Wilson sporting goods produces the replica ball from the 2000 movie, in which Hank’s character, Chuck, is cast away on a deserted island for four years and personifies a volleyball that washes ashore to alleviate his loneliness.

A scene where Chuck loses Wilson as he floats away from his raft has been 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.