Tuau punched Mr Bryden to the ground then repeatedly kicked and stomped on his head, causing it to hit a concrete barrier. The attack continued after Mr Bryden lost consciousness and only stopped when a member of the public intervened.
Mr Bryden was taken to hospital in a critical condition and was on a ventilator for a number of days. He was expected to remain in a brain injury rehabilitation unit for one to two years.
Tuau handed himself in five days after the assault, telling police he did not recall what happened as he had been drinking heavily and had blacked out just prior to the incident.
In court yesterday Justice Pamela Andrews convicted Tuau and gave him a warning under the three strikes legislation.
Defence lawyer Max Simpkins, appearing on instructions from Tuau's Wellington lawyer Elizabeth Hall, applied for Tuau to be granted temporary bail before he was taken into custody.
Mr Simpkins told the judge Tuau's brother and sister, who he hadn't seen for a number of years, were arriving from Australia next week and he wanted to see them before he went to prison, which he knew was the likely outcome. Mr Simpkins also noted Tuau's partner had given birth to their child two days previously.
Justice Andrews granted bail, noting Tuau had no previous convictions, had been on bail for about 18 months and despite two breaches there had been no serious issues with his compliance. She said she was satisfied in the circumstances bail would be in the interests of justice.
"Bail is not frequently granted [to those] awaiting sentence, particularly when they know what the sentence is going to be," she said. "I expect you will strictly comply and surrender yourself."
Bail conditions include Tuau living at a Tokoroa address, abiding by a 9pm to 7am curfew, not using alcohol or drugs and surrendering at the Rotorua court at 9.30am on March 11, to be taken into custody.
Tuau will be sentenced in the High Court at Wellington on April 8.
