Former Catholic brother to fight extradition to Australia

Former Catholic brother and convicted paedophile Bernard McGrath will fight extradition to Australia where he is wanted on 252 sexual abuse charges.

The former St John of God brother returned to New Zealand from Sri Lanka voluntarily last month after the new charges emerged.

In 2006, McGrath was jailed for five years for sexually abusing boys at Marylands School in Christchurch in the 1970s, and was paroled in 2008.

The 65-year-old travelled from New Zealand to Sri Lanka earlier this year and was reportedly living on a tea plantation in the highlands.

Now, Australian police want him extradited from New Zealand to face the new charges of abusing, molesting and raping boys and young adults at church-run institutions in New South Wales over several decades.

McGrath arrived at Christchurch International Airport on November 29. He was allowed through immigration before being arrested in the city a few hours later, and appeared from custody at the city's district court days later.

McGrath was granted bail and ordered to come back to court today.

His solicitor Phillip Allan told the court this morning that he has filed a notice of opposition to the extradition application.

McGrath now has until January 21 to file his response to the extradition bid, brought by the applicant, the Commonwealth of Australia.

The case will next call at Christchurch District Court on January 28 for an extradition hearing date to be fixed.

Witnesses could come from Australia for the hearing, said Crown prosecutor Mark Zarifeh.

Judge David Saunders remanded McGrath on his existing bail conditions until January 28.

The judge granted in-court media applications to have sound recorded and footage taken of McGrath in the dock.

He explained to Mr Allan, who opposed the application, that he did so after he had concerns that McGrath was "chased down the street" by reporters and photographers at his last hearing.

Mr Allan said the situation was "worse" this morning, which Judge Saunders was dismayed by.

He said McGrath did not deserve that treatment, and said in-court filming was allowed so it could be done in a "dignified and appropriate" manner.

The judge hoped media would take his comments on board.