Police have confirmed they are seeking to lay a terrorism charge against a man in Auckland.
The man - who has name suppression - appeared in the Auckland High Court this morning.
In a statement, police confirmed the Crown solicitor had applied to the High Court to charge the man under the Terrorism Suppression Act.
"The proposed charge relates to events alleged to have occurred in Auckland in 2018. It alleges that the individual concerned undertook planning and preparation to carry out a terrorist act," said Detective Superintendent Dave Lynch.
Under the act, alleged offenders can be charged even if no terrorism act is ultimately carried out.
The man has been in custody since August 2018, Det Supt Lynch said.
"Whilst police appreciate that the filing of such a charge will have high public interest, the charge is before the courts and police cannot make any further comment on the circumstances of the case."
Lawyer Belinda Sellars QC told the court her client considers the allegations against him "a fake charge", RNZ reports.
The man has been remanded in custody and will reappear in court in April.
The only other time someone has been charged under the terrorism act was after the Christchurch mosque shootings, when the alleged shooter Brenton Tarrant was charged.
