Police were forced to intervene after a woman held an associate's sheep for "ram-som".
Senior Sergeant Craig Dinnissen said police received a report on Sunday of a woman withholding an associate's male sheep until she received a payment she believed she was owed.
The woman was told she could not hold the other person's property and had to return it.
Kiwis flocked to social media to poke fun at the situation.
"Ewe aren't even kidding. Wonder what the ramifications will be," one said.