A prominent political party figure is before the courts on five historic sexual abuse charges.
The Auckland man was granted sweeping suppressions including his name and identifying particulars in his first appearance at the Waitakere District Court on Wednesday, court staff confirmed.
He was granted bail ahead of his next appearance in March before the same court.
The man is a prominent and senior figure in a New Zealand political party, which cannot be named, but he is not an MP. His exact role in the party is subject to interim suppression.
Court documents show the charges relate to alleged sexual abuse of two boys between 1995 and 1999.