A Hawke's Bay man has been charged with the blackmail of a number of New Zealand companies.

The 55-year-old will face seven counts of blackmail when he appears in the Hastings District Court today.

The arrest follows police carrying out a search warrant on a Napier house yesterday.

Detective Inspector Chris Cahill of Auckland City CIB says police made a carefully considered judgement about not making the threats public, until this point.

Blackmail is punishable by imprisonment, of up to 14 years.