A woman who is one of a group of unruly tourists set to be deported has been convicted for stealing $55 worth of goods from a petrol station.
Tina Maria Cash (center) leaves the Hamilton district Court. Photo: RNZ / Andrew McRae
Tina Maria Cash, 26, appeared in Hamilton District Court today facing two shoplifting charges.
She is one of a group of unruly tourists who have reportedly been involved in a series of incidents in the upper North Island.
She was accused of stealing Red Bull energy drinks, rope and a pair of sunglasses totalling $55 from a Caltex service station in Albany in late December and early January.
She was convicted and ordered to pay reparation in court today, appearing for a second time after the case was stood down pending an application for legal aid.
A screengrab from the video posted on social media of a woman challenging the tourists for littering at Takapuna Beach. Photo: Facebook/Krista Curnow
The movements of the group of tourists she is with has attracted extensive coverage after a video was posted on social media of a woman challenging them for littering at Takapuna Beach.
Police were called to a Hamilton Burger King restaurant yesterday and immigration officials said the visitors were served with deportation liability notices.
Deportation liability notices can be issued to people on visitor visas on grounds such "character" problems.
Ms Cash was described in court documents as having no fixed abode.
In sentencing, Community Magistrate Ngaire Marcelle gave Cash credit for her early plea and took into account that she had spent the night in police cells.
Ms Marcelle described the night in custody as a significant penalty for a first offence.
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has now added Cash to those in the group who have received deportation notices.
Yesterday, four people were served with a Deportation Liability Notice while in Hamilton.
After Cash's conviction she has joined the list.
They now have 14 days to appeal on why they should remain in New Zealand or 28 days to appeal to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal.
Peter Devoy, from INZ, said in the meantime the group must behave.
He said while the group were not being tracked by INZ they were certainly on its radar.
"This case is a clear example where it is not so much our monitoring, it is the public of New Zealand's monitoring.
"With their notoriety at the moment we will soon be aware of the situation."
He said the primary focus of Immigration is for the group to comply with the notice and leave the country.
Mr Devoy said he believed the group was planning to leave next week.
He said all members of the group declared on their arrival cards that they had no previous criminal convictions.
"There's an element of trust with declarations that people will declare any convictions and it's not looked into.
"I prefer that they leave the country."
The group are in New Zealand on six-month tourist visas