Kahu Edward Francis Dickson, 26, was charged with intentional damage and appeared in the Dunedin District Court last week.
The case was transferred to the Greymouth District Court where he pleaded guilty this week.
Court documents said Dickson was drinking alcohol in his room at the Kingsgate Hotel at 2am on August 10.
"The defendant started yelling and throwing items around the room," a police summary said.
Dickson punched holes in walls and trashed appliances including a fridge, a television and a kettle.
He ripped out electrical outlets and damaged light switches before throwing a chair and table off the balcony into the carpark three storeys below.
Several panes of glass were smashed and the summary of facts included a photo of a shattered ranch-slider door.
After Dickson tore a shelving unit off the wall, he walked down to the hotel lobby and waited for police to arrive.
"In explanation, the defendant stated that he had destroyed the hotel’s room so he would get arrested," police said.
No further clarification was noted.
Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond at the time said the estimated bill for the damage totalled about $10,000.
Dickson will be sentenced at the Timaru District Court in October.
