Antone Tauiti Karetai-Keenan, 19, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday after earlier pleading guilty to injuring with intent to injure.
The court heard that on November 16 the defendant was at Dunedin Social Club with friends and family.
About 2.20am, he started arguing with a 36-year-old man who was also there.
The conflict was escalating and the man left the bar, but Karetai-Keenan followed.
He chased him down the street and yelled at him to stop before the man tripped and fell over.
As he tried to stand up, Karetai-Keenan kicked him in the face and pushed him to the ground.
The defendant then put the victim in a headlock and two associates joined the attack, which only stopped when someone else intervened.
When spoken to by police, Karetai-Keenan admitted what he had done.
The victim suffered four chipped and two broken teeth, a split nose, a cut to his chin and bruising to his body.
He went to hospital and required urgent dental surgery.
In a statement to the court, the victim explained he was Māori and a teacher, so he felt "disheartened" and a "deep sense of shame" about the assault.
He said he became a teacher to be a role model for young Māori.
Despite the traumatic assault leaving him feeling on edge, he hoped the court would help Karetai-Keenan rehabilitate.
Counsel Meg Scally said her client was remorseful.
"[He] can see the harm that’s been caused by his actions," she said.
She said alcohol and a lack of anger management contributed to the assault, and the situation had "given him a real fright".
Ms Scally highlighted that Karetai-Keenan had been volunteering with a kapa haka group at a local school.
They saw a "different side" of the defendant and described him as a role model.
Judge Emma Smith said the sustained assault was "incredibly violent" and "extreme".
She said the defendant should not drink alcohol, but acknowledged his youth and previously clean criminal record.
Judge Smith sentenced Karetai-Keenan to three months’ community detention, 200 hours’ community work and 12 months’ supervision.
She also ordered him to pay more than $600 for the victim’s dental work.
