A Wellington man has been granted interim name suppression for an alleged harmful online post, despite the judge finding he was “undeserving” of having his identity protected.

The man, described by Judge Bruce Davidson as having a “significant public presence”, argued publication of his name in relation to his charge of posting a harmful digital communication would cause him and his family extreme hardship, endanger his safety, and lead to the identification of the complainant.

The charge relates to a social media post the man allegedly made accusing another man of a serious crime. There is no evidence to suggest the complainant had committed any crime.

The defendant has pleaded not guilty, and is arguing he did not author the post, court documents showed.

Judge Davidson’s decision on suppression, released this week, said the defendant was “undeserving of suppression”.

Judge Bruce Davidson said there was a risk the complainant would be identified.

“He has openly courted publicity and the suggestion that publication of his name would cause him extreme hardship is fatuous,” he wrote.

However the potential risk that naming the man would in turn identify the complainant meant the accused was granted interim suppression.

“The alleged victim ... says the particular post is completely untrue and highly defamatory.

“As unconscionable as it sounds, by allegedly making such a dreadful Facebook post about his alleged victim, the defendant’s name, in the interim at least, must be suppressed,” he said.

“It is absolutely clear to me that if the defendant’s name is published that there is a real and appreciable risk this could identify [the complainant].”

The order will be reviewed at the final disposition of the charge. Judge Davidson also granted name suppression for the complainant.

The defendant will reappear in the Wellington District Court in June.

Ethan Manera is a Wellington-based journalist covering Wellington issues, local politics and business in the capital. He can be emailed at ethan.manera@nzme.co.nz.