Acting Senior Sergeant Craig Burrow, of Auckland City’s Criminal Investigation Branch, said the calls were of an “offensive and threatening nature to the electorate office of an Australian federal and state member of Parliament”.
The man was convicted in the Auckland District Court on August 19 for offensive use of a telephone, Burrow said.
The next day, he was arrested again – this time at Sydney Airport, after flying back from New Zealand. Australian police said they seized two mobile phones, books and a passport.
He appeared before the New South Wales Bail Division Court the following day, facing one charge of using a carriage service to make a threat to cause serious harm and three counts of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence.
He was refused bail and is due to appear at NSW’s Downing Centre Local Court in October.
Immigration New Zealand would not confirm whether the man was on its radar at any point during his visit, or whether he remained in Auckland during the two months he was here, saying it would need a privacy waiver from him to comment on the case.
Australian police also declined to provide further information, saying the matter was before the courts.
In New Zealand, the Parliamentary Service has said threats against politicians have been increasing, with female MPs more likely to be targeted than their male counterparts.