A 70-year-old man is denying allegations of rape from nearly four decades ago.
The man, who was given interim name suppression, pleaded not guilty to four charges of rape when he appeared in the Whanganui District Court on Tuesday.
He is facing three charges of raping a female over the age of 16 and one charge of raping a female under the age of 12.
The four separate events allegedly occurred between 1970 and 1980.
The accused has been questioned by police twice on the allegations; once in October last year and again earlier this year.
Judge Dugald Matheson adjourned the matter and ordered a case review hearing later this month in the Whanganui District Court. Bail was granted and a jury trial was elected.
There was discussion over whether the trial should be moved to Auckland and Judge Matheson said that will be argued further at the case review hearing.
Lifting name suppression at that date will also be discussed.