Rival real estate companies have come to blows over a bit of hot air.
Gillies Group is an amalgamated real estate business in the lower North Island and is for the first time sponsoring the Wairarapa International Balloon Fiesta this year.
Bob Francis, Gillies Group Wairarapa International Balloon Fiesta promoter, said an
Auckland balloonist has been asked not to fly his Remax-sponsored hot-air balloon in this year's fiesta, because of commercial sensitivity around the Gillies Group sponsorship.
"Remax and Gillies Group are in direct competition and we are delighted to have Gillies Group on board.
"We wouldn't do anything to compromise their significant sponsorship and because of that, our decision to not allow the Remax balloon is not negotiable."
Mr Francis said the fiesta committee has written to the Auckland balloonist, who has attended the balloon spectacular every year, stating reasons why his Remax balloon is not suitable this year.
"He's not happy about it but there's nothing we can do about that and in order to protect the event, which is very expensive to run and relies on sponsorship, we had to say no.
"We are more than happy for him to still come down and have offered him another balloon to fly," he said.
Gillies Group Wairarapa International Balloon Fiesta spokeswoman Lisa Sims said it is "not usual practice" to have a competing business to the naming rights sponsor.
"This event entirely relies on having a naming rights sponsor, without it, it wouldn't happen.
"The Remax balloon does present a dilemma and if Gillies Group is putting up the funds for the event then you have to decide whether it's worth having competition."
Organisers are encouraging the balloonist to still take part in the fiesta but his "balloon will not be part of the event", she said.
The Auckland balloonist declined to comment to the Times-Age.
