Abdul Aziz Wahabzadah appeared at the Christchurch District Court on Tuesday.
He pleaded not guilty to a charge of assaulting with intent to injure.
He opted for a judge-alone trial, which has been set for next March.
He intends to represent himself.
Aziz was awarded a New Zealand Cross for bravery in 2021.
During the mosque attack in 2019, he picked up a discarded gun, chased the terrorist and threw it at his departing car, smashing the back window.