Lawyers for Kim Dotcom are once again trying to delay the internet mogul's impending extradition hearing.
Kim Dotcom is seeking another delay to the extradition hearing. Photo: REUTERS
The hearing to determine whether Mr Dotcom and his three co-accused should be extradited to the United States to face copyright and money-laundering charges, relating to the now-defunct Megaupload website, is due to start on 21 September.
In March, the North Shore district court declined to hear an application by the group to delay the hearing, saying the application could be heard at the beginning of the hearing itself.
Their lawyers are appealing against that decision in the Court of Appeal today.
If the extradition hearing is delayed, it will be the fifth time it has been put off since proceedings against Mr Dotcom first began in January 2012, when he was arrested in a police raid on his Coatesville mansion.
Along with the long-running extradition battle, the Megaupload founder has loomed large in New Zealand politics, forming the Internet Party which joined forces with Mana to contest the 2014 election, though failed to get any seats.
In 2012, Kim Dotcom was found to be the subject of illegal spying by the GCSB, after which an independent review of the bureau was ordered. The following year legislation was introduced to widen GCSB's powers so it could spy on New Zealanders in some circumstances.