Figures released under the Official Information Act reveal 500 travellers with outstanding fines were stopped at the country's airports and ports since the end of June 2009.
The majority of travellers were stopped in Auckland (376), followed by Christchurch (54), Wellington (52), Hamilton (8) and Dunedin (6).
Last month, a New Zealander returning from Australia, who owed $4000 in court fines, was greeted by Dunedin police.
The 35-year-old arrived at Dunedin International Airport and was taken into custody by police, who later took her to the Dunedin District Court to arrange payment.
Minister of Courts Chester Borrows told the Otago Daily Times he had a simple message for-fine dodgers: "Come to us before we come to you."
He had no sympathy for anyone reluctant to return to New Zealand because of overdue fines.
"They only have themselves to blame, and can resolve the problem at any time by paying the money they owe."
While it was possible some New Zealanders may have left the country in the past to avoid paying fines, new collection initiatives made this "a very foolish risk to take today".
Mr Borrows said the Government was determined to maintain fines as a credible and effective part of the justice system, with measures such as improved data-matching "paying real dividends".
More than $10 million had been recovered over the four-year period, mostly under payment arrangements.
For 2011-12, 85% of those owing outstanding fines had arrived from Australia, followed by Hong Kong (4.92%), and Samoa (4.1%)A Ministry of Justice spokesman said travellers could be stopped at New Zealand airports upon arrival or departure if they had unpaid fines.
Last month, a person was stopped on arrival from Australia and had to pay $1290 in fines and reparations owing since 1993.
Intercept alerts were triggered by people who had unpaid court-imposed fines or reparation, and a warrant to arrest. When those alerts were triggered at an airport, the New Zealand Customs Service would notify police.
Police in turn would establish if that person was the person who owed the fine, and then facilitate a call to a judicial officer for them to make a full payment or suitable payment arrangements.
However, if that could not be done, police could arrest the person, with a summons to appear in fines courts, thus preventing them from travelling.
There is provision under the Courts and Criminal Matter Act, which came into effect on February 13, to release the amount of a person's overdue penalties to credit reporting agencies, which in turn could provide contact details to the Ministry of Justice.
From August 1, judges have been able to cancel unaffordable or unenforceable reparation and replace it with any other sentence available at the original sentencing.
