Katikati man Shane Murray Zonnevald has admitted his role in an attack which left an iron bar stuck in the head of a 23-year-old man.

Zonnevald, 21, pleaded guilty to a charge of wounding with reckless disregard when he appeared in Tauranga District Court yesterday.

The iron bar ricocheted off the door pillar and embedded in the victim's head.

He has been remanded on bail for sentencing on July 2.

Zonnevald was originally facing a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, but the charged was dropped and replaced with the new charge.

Court documents say Zonnevald threw the iron bar, which then hit a door pillar, causing it to embed in the head of the victim.

The 21-year-old man and an 18-year-old woman charged with assault are continuing to deny the charges and are due back in court on June 18.

The incident made national headlines when security footage of the victim walking into Katikati service station with the iron bar sticking out of his head was shown on SunLive and national television the following day.

The alleged attack took place in Clive Road, Katikati, where the victim was parked outside a house party.

Police say he was punched before the steel bar was driven 40mm into his head while he was sitting inside his vehicle.

He managed to drive himself to the service station where an ambulance was called.

The bar was removed at Tauranga Hospital and he was later transferred to Waikato Hospital. He is believed to be making a good recovery.