A group of French tourists who urinated from their car while it was driving at 100kmh say they were running late on a trip to Milford Sound.
The group has been blacklisted by the rental car company. As well as receiving a $250 car-cleaning fine, they are likely to be in trouble with police.
On Monday, two passengers in a rental car were snapped leaning out a window peeing while travelling at 100kmh on a Southland highway.
The group returned the vehicle to NZ Rent a Car on Friday afternoon, where media and police were waiting for them.
READ MORE: Peeing passengers face backlash
One of the five French tourists, Florian Birolleau, said it was the first time they had urinated from a window.
"We were just wondering if we could pee by the window."
"It was really difficult at the beginning to pee, I was a bit blocked by the wind... he peed a bit inside [the car] and me a bit here [on his shorts]," Birolleau said.
His friend, who only wanted to be known as Alexandre, said stopping to find a more appropriate place to relieve themselves was simply not an option.
"We didn't want to stop because we were late to where we were going [Milford Sound]."
It was the first time the tourists had heard of their picture circulating online when they were confronted by media at NZ Rent a Car on Friday afternoon.
"It's really funny, we can't understand why it's a big deal," Birolleau said.
Things turned a little bitter as police arrived at the scene and spoke to the tourists.
The driver of the vehicle, who only wanted to be known as Jerome, said he regretted what had happened.
"Naturally it was stupid."
The group of friends had a flight back to Sydney booked for 7pm Friday. They study in Wollongong.
Pillows, towels, a half-drank bottle of wine and a bottle of whisky were among the items unpacked from their car.
Police spoke to the tourists, but it was still unknown if any charges would follow.
The group allegedly stole items, including pillows, from their Milford Sound accommodation.
With their heads hanging, the group of men, aged in their early 20s, loaded their suitcases into the back of a police car.
NZ Rent a Car co-owner Marty Oetgen said the group would receive a $250 cleaning fine and would be blacklisted.
"I don't think anyone would want to hire a vehicle that potentially has some contamination on the seats."
Oetgen said the company had never experienced anything like this before and the act was "absolute stupidity".
"I think a lot of it is age-related. I don't think it's the fact they are tourists, I just think it is young people being stupid."