A 37-year-old Waikato man has been arrested on charges of sexually exploiting and abusing children after being spotted in pictures gathered by Italian police.

The man from Te Awamutu appeared in Hamilton District Court on Friday charged with 69 counts of sexual abuse against young children, numerous objectionable material matters and some firearms offences.

His 32-year-old female partner was charged with one count of making an objectionable publication.

Waikato police crime manager Detective Inspector Chris Page says the man was found following an Italian investigation last year looking at the use of the internet for obtaining and distributing child exploitation images.

Images provided by the Italian team included one which appeared to be of a New Zealand child.

"This led to the launching of a multi-agency inquiry that resulted in a Te Awamutu man being recognised by a Cambridge detective," Det Insp Page said.

The couple were arrested in Christchurch on June 20.

They also found the man was using a pseudonym and had a false birth certificate and driver's licence when the couple were arrested on June 20.

The man appeared in Hamilton District Court via audio-visual link from prison and will reappear on August 17. The woman was in court in Christchurch late last month.