An Australian man who pleaded guilty to killing 51 Muslim worshippers in New Zealand's worst mass shooting in 2019 has decided to represent himself a month ahead of the sentencing hearing, the court said on Monday.

A policewoman patrols past a memorial wall outside the Linwood Mosque in Christchurch on Thursday, six days after the twin mosque shooting massacre that claimed the lives of 50 people. Photo: AFP

Brenton Tarrant pleaded guilty earlier in 2020 to 51 charges of murder, 40 charges of attempted murder and one charge of committing a terrorist act. His guilty plea made a six-week trial due to begin in June redundant.

Tarrant's decision to represent himself would not affect the sentencing hearing set to begin on August 24, Judge Cameron Mander said in minutes of a hearing released by the court.

The judge approved Tarrant's request in a pretrial video call after he was satisfied that Tarrant understood his rights to have legal representation and that he wished to waive those rights.

Tarrant's lawyers said there was no "conflict or relationship breakdown" between them and Tarrant, and that the request was consistent with his rights.

"Tarrant has instructed counsel that he wishes to act for himself at sentence," the lawyers, who have appeared for Tarrant since his second court appearance on April 5, 2019 said in an emailed statement.

"We are not disappointed by Mr Tarrant's decision."

The sentencing date was formally confirmed on Monday at the high court in Christchurch in the presence of shooting survivors and family liaison representatives, the New Zealand Herald said in a report.

Tarrant has been in police custody since March 15, 2019.
Newspaper headline: NZ accused mosque killer to represent himself