The 35-year-old was scheduled to appear at Christchurch District Court this afternoon.
He has been charged with threatening to kill the Ardern on March 11 in 2019.
A charging document laid at court suggests the threat was made from Australia. It carries a maximum penalty of seven years' imprisonment.
The man was granted a registrar's remand this afternoon without having to appear before a judge.
He will be back in court on August 12 and has been granted interim name suppression.