Andre Prassinos and Greg Stewart erected the fence about two weeks ago on two blocks of land, including part of the hotel car park.
Mr Stewart, of Queenstown, laid the complaint with relieving area controller Senior Sergeant Mike Cook, in Alexandra, on Monday.
Snr Sgt Cook said yesterday the file would be sent to the Wanaka office for investigation.
It was "too soon" to say how police intended to treat the complaint.
Mr Field is on annual leave in Australia and could not be contacted yesterday.
Mayor Clive Geddes declined to comment.
Cardrona Residents and Ratepayers Association chairman John Scurr said the complainants were "wasting police time".
The last known owner of the land was Wah Yeong, believed to have been a 19th century goldminer.
His descendants have not been traced.
Mr Prassinos and Mr Stewart own the fence but do not own the land.
They intended claiming the land under adverse possession laws through the District Land Registrar in 20 years' time.
The council has applied to the Public Trust to manage the land on behalf of Wah Yeong's descendants, while the Cardrona association wants all abandoned village land to be applied to community projects.
