A young man has been discharged without conviction over the death of his father in New Plymouth.

Brendon Bell appeared in the High Court today to be sentenced on a charge of assault.

The 23 year old was charged after assaulting Reginald Bell in Waitara in March last year after they'd attended a tangi for a family member.

Bell was initially charged with manslaughter but the charge was reduced to assault and he pleaded guilty.

The court heard Bell struck his drunk father once in self defence after an argument and pushing match at a petrol station forecourt.

He tried to drag his father away but dropped him, and he hit his head on the ground.

Mr Bell died several weeks later in hospital.

The judge told Bell he has imposed upon himself a sentence of a very different sort to that which any court can order.