Making ends meet in Queenstown can be harder for young visitors than they expected when they were packing their bags at home.
The latest case of a tourist who ran into trouble with the law was a 23-year-old Canadian, who told the Queenstown District Court on Monday that she had to steal more than $1200 from her employer to survive.
The woman was in New Zealand illegally, was not eligible for Work and Income support and had only $30 in her bank account.
She was ordered to pay reparation and was deported.
Other backpackers before her have said they stole to live in Wakatipu, and ended up in the dock.
Perhaps the biggest penalty faced by backpackers who break the law is that they jeopardise their chance of emigrating to New Zealand indefinitely.
On paper, visitors should be able to support themselves when they arrive.
International applicants for New Zealand's one-year working holiday visa scheme must hold a return ticket or enough funds to buy a ticket.
They must have at least $4200 to meet their living costs while they are here, and hold medical and hospitalisation insurance for the length of stay.
Yet every winter, an influx of people aged 18 to 30 approaches the Salvation Army in Queenstown for help.
Corps leader Kenneth Walker said most backpackers had contingency plans, but many arrived without jobs lined up.
How quickly they were able to find work related to how well they coped, he said.
"Many have the support of family back home but there could be a couple of days before that help came through.
We do hand out food parcels and there have been times we've helped with accommodation or [talked] through their options for them to move forward."
Mr Walker said visitors in strife should be honest with people.
Queenstown had a very good helping infrastructure and the Salvation Army knew it, as an agent of the community's goodwill, he said.
"If you can't pay for accommodation, explain to the provider and seek help before getting in hot water.
It's a sign of wisdom, not weakness, and tourists doing runners annoys people tremendously in this town," Mr Walker said.
Queenstown police Senior Sergeant John Fookes said he had never dealt with a case of someone who claimed they stole to survive, in his 26 years of experience.
"Frequently, people who are caught stealing various items advance all sorts of reasons when they try to excuse their behaviour, and almost all don't stand up to scrutiny."
Snr Sgt Fookes said while New Zealanders tended to rally round and support visitors in genuine distress, "people have a responsibility when they go travelling not to be a burden".
