Children from the unruly family travelling New Zealand were captured on CCTV taking a Christmas tree from an Auckland service station.

The travelling family causing mayhem across New Zealand has been issued with deportation liability notices, and one of them has pleaded guilty to stealing from a Caltex.

So what happens now?

Under immigration law, the unruly tourists now have three options.

They have 14 days to give Immigration NZ (INZ) a good reason why they shouldn't be deported, or they have 28 days to appeal their deportation to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal on humanitarian grounds.

Alternatively, the group can leave the country of their own accord before the appeal notice period ends.

Immigration NZ assistant manager, Peter Devoy, said it was expected that the family would cover the cost of their airfares to leave New Zealand.

"In situations where the New Zealand Government covers the cost of deportation, the individual is required to repay all costs before being granted any future visa to New Zealand," Devoy said.

The family may be barred from returning to New Zealand for five years; these details would have been included on their deportation liability notices.

If they want to re-enter the country within that time period, they must ask Immigration NZ to grant them a visa by a special direction.

INZ is under no obligation to consider those requests, to grant them, or to provide reasons for them not being granted.

Only after they've had a chance to use their appeal rights can INZ then make a deportation order and force them to leave the country.

Complicating matters, one of the family members has pleaded guilty to two charges of theft.

This strengthens the case for the family's from New Zealand. The deportation liability notices were issued on character grounds, but committing a crime is another reason INZ can use for deportation.

Tina Maria Cash, 26, appeared on two charges of theft in the Hamilton District Court on Wednesday after spending a night in the police cells.

She must pay $55.20 for the Red Bull, sunglasses and rope she stole from a Caltex in Auckland's Albany.

If Cash doesn't pay, she may not be able to leave the country.

IS THE AIRPORT PREPARED?

So their days in the country are numbered – but will there be any additional security at the airport's food court when they eat their last New Zealand meal?

Devoy said police and the relevant airlines were responsible for carrying out a "risk assessment" to determine if an escort would be required for the family, and if so, the number of escorts.

An Auckland International Airport spokesperson said if the family departed before their 28 days to appeal were up, they likely would not have to be escorted by police.

While the family's airline would have access to their travel information, the airport would not.

"We always have police and security staff on-site," the spokesperson said.

(Source: Stuff, Harrison Christian)