A bartender has admitted to killing a man in an attack over Easter weekend.

Jerico Telea, 24, was critically injured in an assault on Queen St in central Auckland about 4.20am on Easter Saturday.

He died at Auckland City Hospital two days later.

Joseph Antonio Halaholo Larson, 20, from south Auckland, initially entered a not guilty plea when he appeared at the High Court in Auckland in May.

However, he pleaded guilty to one charge of manslaughter on Friday.

Telea's younger brother Mark plays for the Hurricanes rugby team, whose players wore black armbands during their 47-19 win over the Chiefs at Westpac Stadium in April in honour of Telea.

Larson was originally charged with intentionally causing grievous bodily harm following the incident, but that later was upgraded to manslaughter.

He will be sentenced at the High Court in Auckland on February 21, 2020.