A Taranaki farmer has appeared in court charged with making threats, after a white powder was sent in the mail to Parliament.
Douglas Hancock (61), who farms near Matau in Taranaki's east, appeared in Hawera District Court after detectives from Wellington and Stratford arrested and charged him.
He did not plead and was remanded on bail until September 16.
Strict bail conditions included not contacting MPs or employees of the Parliamentary Service and not to enter Wellington.
Charge sheets indicated that Hancock made out the powder was a biohazard and posed a risk to parliamentary staff.
An envelope containing the powder was opened on the eighth floor, housing the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, on August 13. Three staff members and a security officer had to be decontaminated.
