Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Photo / File
A man has appeared in the Rotorua District Court charged with threatening to kill the Prime Minister.
The Taupō man has not pleaded to the charge and was granted interim name suppression by Judge Greg Hollister-Jones.
The charge relates to an alleged offence on September 10 in Taupō.
Today was the man's first appearance.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of seven years' jail.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she had seen reports about the death threat, but had not seen it herself.
"But I know that when you're in this job, you do receive threats. I won't see all of them. And I won't know about all of them. But it unfortunately comes with the job.
"If I got told about every single piece of feedback like that I would spend a lot of time hearing it. There are thankfully a great group of people around me who help manage that side of things."
Judge Hollister-Jones said the man's interim name suppression would be re-addressed at his next appearance.
Judge Hollister-Jones remanded the man in custody to reappear in the Taupō District Court on November 1.
Motekiai commutes from Te Puna to Rotorua to train.