Does NZ not require a commercial pilots license
In the USA:
The FAA controls ballooning and anyone who flys passengers for hire must have in his/her possession an FAA commercial Balloon Pilots License.
Hot air balloons being used to carry passengers for hire must have an Annual Inspection at a Certified FAA Balloon Repair Station or every 100 hours of flight operation, which ever comes first. The inspection must be signed off in the Hot Air Balloon Log Book
Each balloon being used to fly passengers must have the following paperwork on board current FAA Airworthiness certificate, current balloon registration and current flight manual.
The balloon pilot must also undergo a bi-annual flight review every two years and log at least 3 takeoffs and landings to full stop every 90 days to stay current to fly passengers for hire.