A Christchurch man has been charged with blackmailing the Government in an attempt to gain classified material.
The 23-year-old from Redwood is expected to appear in the Christchurch District Court today, facing one charge relating to an incident on February 28.
Court documents show the man has been charged with "threatening to endanger the safety of a person namely members of the New Zealand public with intent to cause the New Zealand Government to act".
It states the man was asking the Government to give him classified material.
The request is understood to have been made via email.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment.
Detective Brent Menzies was unable to say what information the man was asking for or the nature of his email.
