Caleb Kerry Taua-Robert entered a not guilty plea to charges of injury with intent to injure and assault with intent to injure, in Masterton District Court, on Monday.
Defence lawyer Jock Blathwayt said the matter involved quite a "serious incident" and that there was no argument about what physically happened but whether or not the defendant knew what was happening.
Judge Bill Hastings remanded Taua-Robert on bail until August 20 for a sentence hearing.
He also advised that Mr Blathwayt would like a psychiatric assessment to be done before then.
