A Brazilian woman who helped catch Phillip Smith has been gifted a holiday here.

The woman contacted authorities after recognising the convicted murderer and paedophile Phillip John Smith during his brief sojourn in Rio de Janeiro.

Nelson lawyer John Fitchett is paying for her flights.

He says she's coming, despite being terrified of Smith after being told about his past.

"We were talk about whether she would have a rental car at any time and she says, imagine if he discovered that me and my mom were travelling alone in a rental car.

"[Police] obviously put the fear of God into her about how awful this man is and how cunning he is."