But she accepted there was a wider case to be argued over name suppression, and that would be considered in the Whangārei District Court on October 1.
In the meantime, the person’s name, job and other identifying features must not be published.
The person was granted bail, with a directive to not be violent or threaten violence as one of the conditions.
The assault charge will be considered again in the court on October 17.
Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.