Twelve men facing various charges in relation to the death of Kevin "Kastro" Ratana have retained interim name suppression.
Judge Philip Crayton ruled that the suppression orders would remain intact at a hearing in Whanganui District Court on Tuesday in which none of the men appeared.
Judge Crayton said the crown filed a memorandum which identified that there were signficant concerns that could potentially arise as a result of ongoing investigations.
"The crown position is that given the state of the enquiries there is a significant and real risk that if interim name suppression lapses at this stage, then publicity would arrive and attach to the current proceedings.
"And for those who feature as defendants [that] may interfere with the fair trial rights of each of those defendants if they were implicated and charged in matters which are serious crimes arising out of the current enquiries."