The NZ Herald reported that the man appeared at Auckland District Court, represented by Ian Brookie, before Judge John Bergseng, who set a trial date for next year and left the question of continuing name suppression for a later hearing.

Media lawyer Robert Stewart was in court to argue against ongoing name suppression on behalf of the Herald publisher NZME and Radio New Zealand.

But the judge said that could not be dealt with today in the context of a busy district court list, instead setting a five-day trial date starting on March 11 next year.

Arguments for and against name suppression will be heard on August 18 in the same court.

The fund manager’s interim name suppression will continue until then and he was again remanded on bail.

The accused man in his 40s gained interim name suppression and pleaded not guilty to the charges earlier this year, electing trial by jury.

The  65 year old victim now requires ongoing hospital treatment and it remains unclear whether he will regain sight in the damaged eye.

The name of the couple and their relationship to the accused cannot yet be revealed for legal reasons.

The alleged assailant, who holds a senior management role at a firm specialising in managed funds and KiwiSaver, was arrested following an altercation involving himself and the victim on Good Friday.