Robert Hollick, 43, was allegedly stabbed three times in his neck and back during the fight and was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital, Thai website The Nation reported.
Witnesses told police Hollick and argued with Swedish man Andreas Ringvall, 40, after Ringvall’s girlfriend played with Hollick’s pet dog at a bar.
Ringvall allegedly sent his Thai girlfriend back to his room and then attacked Hollick with a knife.
Locals apprehended the Swede and his girlfriend before police arrived and arrested them. Ringvall has been charged with the murder.
Former Upper Hutt College student Hollick owned Top Dog personnel, a company that provided earthmoving workers to Western Australian mines.
He was unmarried with no children.
The New Zealand Embassy in Bangkok was liaising with Thai authorities to obtain further information, a spokeswoman said.
Hollick is the second New Zealander to be stabbed to death in Pattaya in a year.
World Croquet president Charles Jones was had only been in Thailand for one week when he was found dead in his hotel room last year.
Police charged Mohamad Shanar Ryad, a former Syrian army commando, with his murder.
