A caregiver who stole $35,000 from an elderly woman she cared for has lodged a complaint with the Labour Department because she didn't receive holiday pay.

Kay Coull stole $35,510 in the year to June by using the credit card of her 87-year-old victim, who trusted her with the Pin number.

Coull, 64, was a live-in caregiver for the Napier woman and her husband for about five years. The husband died in January last year.

Coull bought groceries and would make occasional cash withdrawals for the woman.

She started taking money in June last year. She made 88 withdrawals from Napier ATM machines of between $50 and $800.

By the time Coull was caught she had taken and spent $35,510.

She pleaded guilty to theft and was sentenced by Judge Tony Adeane in Napier District Court yesterday.

Coull's lawyer, Alan Cressey, said she had a "genuine and legitimate" employment dispute with the victim.

Mr Cressey said Coull could pay $25 a week in reparation.

At that rate the victim would be 114 by the time she was repaid.

Judge Adeane noted Coull had a gambling problem that had probably contributed to her offending.

He sentenced her to nine months' community detention and supervision and ordered her to pay the reparation.