Queenstown police likened a street brawl involving Australian holiday-makers to a "battlefield", with bodies lying in the street.
Senior Constable Chris Blackford said police were called to the 12-man fight on Shotover St at 12.20am. Two 20-year-old Australian men were arrested then released with pre-charge warnings.
"When they [attending officers] turned from Shotover St to Camp St there were bodies lying all over the place. Most people ran off," Snr Const Blackford said.
The brawl was predominantly among Australian men, and several other incidents also involved drunk Australian holiday-makers, stretching police resources.
At 12.21am, police were called to a Queenstown hotel to a domestic violence incident involving an Australian couple on holiday.
Less than an hour later, police attended a second domestic violence incident, also involving an Australian couple staying at a Queenstown hotel.
This time, "the assaults were serious and the injuries were serious" and the hotel room was "smashed up", including holes in the walls, Snr Const Blackford said.
The female had a cast on her arm and in this case the man was allegedly the victim, suffering injuries "consistent with being hit with a solid object and being bitten".
The couple were taken to the Queenstown police station and placed in custody. Subsequently, an ambulance was called.
Snr Const Blackford confirmed there was "gross intoxication in every instance", and both couples in the domestic violence incidents would appear in court.
"A large percentage of the people who are dealt with by police are Australians and that could be verified by records kept in relation to diversion."
As an example, he said eight out of 20 offenders' names on an incident sheet in front of him belonged to Australians, which was disproportionate compared with the origins of other visitors.
Although year-on-year the number of Australians involved in crime was consistent, he recalled the number of diversions spiked to 80 in 2009, the year Australians were given a $900 tax break to stimulate their economy.
Early last month, a series of incidents involving Australians prompted Queenstown police officer Sergeant Keith Newell to voice concerns about their "boozy antics".
"We like our Aussie friends to come over to enjoy the charms of Queenstown, but they can leave their boozy antics at home," he said.
Snr Const Blackford said yesterday his colleague's advice had not been heeded, although he was unsure how effective such warnings would be.
Recent examples of offences included a woman being sent home after being found at the airport with someone else's prescription medication and a man who wandered into a house and fell asleep on the couch.
Charges have varied from theft to offensive behaviour and drink-driving.
The chief executive of Destination Queenstown, Graham Budd, said yesterday it was a "small minority" who lost control while holidaying in Queenstown and such groups attracted more attention in a small community.
He did not agree lower air fares attracted "a cheaper, if you like, type of visitor".
Continued cheaper fares were essential to the "health" of the resort.
"We've had thousands and thousands of Australians here for school holidays, the Winter Festival, enjoying a winter holiday and having a wonderful time, from young families to older couples.
"I think it would be wrong for a handful of high profile exceptions of this type of behaviour to muddy what is very largely a terrific holiday experience."
