AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd's kill threat trial to begin

AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd's trial for threatening to kill another person and possessing illicit drugs is set to start in New Zealand.

The 60-year-old Rudd has been charged with threatening to kill and possession of methamphetamine and cannabis.

His judge-alone trial will begin on Tuesday at Tauranga District Court.

Rudd, who maintains his innocence, was arrested in November.

He was charged over an incident on September 26 in which, according to a police summary of facts, Rudd rang a man he knew and threatened to kill both him and his daughter.

This was consistent with another phone call made by Rudd earlier that morning, the summary of facts said.

The drug charges were laid after police executed a search warrant at Rudd's home on November 6.

Police say Rudd had 0.71g of methamphetamine and 130g of cannabis in his possession.

He was also charged with attempting to procure a murder when he appeared in court in November, but this was dropped by the crown solicitor the following day.

AC/DC in February announced it had replaced Rudd with former drummer Chris Slade ahead of its world Rock or Bust tour.

Rudd played on recording sessions for the group's album but was unable to promote the album while dealing with the charges.

However, the Tauranga-based musician has insisted he fully intends to remain a member of AC/DC.

"I'm going back to work with AC/DC and I don't care who likes it or who doesn't," he told New Zealand's One News in December.

"I want my job back and I want my reputation back."