Man pleads not guilty to harassment over sending allegedly threatening emails to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks to media during a press conference at Parliament. Photo / Getty Images

An Auckland man has appeared in court today after being charged over sending allegedly threatening emails to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Police accuse Michael Christopher Cruickshank of "sending three emails having already sent 89 emails" between October 17 last year and January 19 this year, a charging document viewed by the Herald reads.

The emails, the police allege, were intended to harass the Prime Minister and cause Ardern to "fear for her safety (or) the safety of her family".

The 54-year-old is charged under the Harassment Act 1997 and faces a maximum sentence of two years' imprisonment if found guilty, the charging document states.

Cruickshank appeared in the North Shore District Court this afternoon before Judge Clare Bennett.

He pleaded not guilty and elected a trial by jury.

Judge Bennett remanded Cruickshank on bail until his next court appearance in July.

In separate cases, two men were charged last month with threatening to kill after allegedly sending and posting social media messages to National Party leader Simon Bridges.