Two tourists had all their possessions stolen in a "disgusting act of dishonesty" when a motorist who had given them a ride took off with their gear still in the car boot.
Police said the tourists had been hitchhiking on State Highway 1 at Hamilton when the driver of grey four-door sedan stopped to give them a lift.
The driver dropped them off at the Keeley's Landing rest area south off Cambridge about 3pm today.
But before the tourists could retrieve their backpacks from the boot, the car drove off.
Senior Sergeant Andrew Reilly of Waikato police said the tourists believed it was an intentional act.