Other men linked to the group ran a series of roofing scams, hoodwinking unsuspecting victims out of thousands of dollars.

At the height of their notoriety, Auckland Mayor Phil Goff labelled them "a bunch of a***holes" before the unwelcome tourists headed back home.

Now residents in picturesque British villages fear their way of life will be ruined unless they cough up money to the family.

The first to be targeted, according to the Daily Mail, is Worcestershire's Dough Bank.

The Dorans reportedly paid £9,000 ($NZ1,700) for a small piece of land in the village, then demanded more than £600,000 ($NZ1.1million) for it back

Soon after buying the plot, the Daily Mail says more than 20 members of the family had moved their caravans, 4x4s and building machinery on to the site, often blocking the narrow lanes.

Calling for cash: The Dorans have snapped up land in Worcestershire but want $1.1 million to leave. Photo / Belinda Feek

Locals claim the family threatened violence against people who challenged them.

One Dough Bank resident told the Daily Mail: "Family members would take it in turns to urinate, or worse, in people's driveways. They turned their site, which was once beautiful, unspoilt woodland, into an eyesore. They built 10ft high breeze block walls, which the council made them take down, and dumped hundreds of tons of rubble in heaps everywhere."

The family blazed a trail of destruction up and down New Zealand. Photo / Jason Oxenham

Patrick Doran reportedly told villagers the family would move out – on the condition that locals bought the land from them for £600,000.

Another village, in nearby Astley, is facing a similar fight with the family.