New Zealand gunman who killed 49 makes cryptic gesture in court

The suspected gunman behind the deadliest mass shooting in New Zealand's history made a 'white power' gesture as he appeared in court.

Brenton Tarrant, 28, is accused of carrying out a terror attack on two mosques in Christchurch killing 49 people and injuring 48.

At least one child is thought to have died in the atrocities that took place during Friday prayers, while dozens more are missing.

Australian Tarrant, who is originally from Grafton in New South Wales, made his first appearance at Christchurch District Court today.

Dressed in a white custody outfit with cuffed wrists he appeared to make a white supremacist 'OK' symbol to cameras.

Pictures taken in the court, pixelated at the request of a judge, showed the suspect who also appeared to smile while flanked by security cameras.

During the brief court appearance, he was remanded without bail and is due back at the High Court on April 5.

Members of the public were banned from entering court during the proceedings.

However, one man outside is said to have claimed to have wanted to 'knife' the accused and apparently revealed his weapon to reporters.

Footage showed Tarrant flanked by two security guards as he stood for the entirety of the short hearing.

A second man, Daniel John Burrough, 18, has also been charged with ’exciting hostility or ill-will' in relation to the attacks.

However, he has not appeared in court.

The shootings at the Al Noor and Linwood Mosques now stand as the deadliest in the history of the country.

At least 41 people died in the Al Noor mosque after the gunman opened fire before he drove to the second and killed seven more.

One further victim later died.

(AFP)