A Gisborne osteopath has gone on trial charged with sexually abusing 10 of his female clients.

Richard James Davis, 53, pleaded not guilty to all 24 charges - 11 of sexual violation and 13 charges of indecent assault - in the High Court at Wellington today.

A jury of seven women and five men has been chosen for what is expected to be a two-week trial.

Opening the Crown's case this morning, prosecutor Steve Manning said women would go for treatment or a massage and be asked to take off all their clothes, or all their clothes except their underwear.

One woman who went to Davis to get her neck "clicked" had to take off her bra and was touched on the groin.

She said: "Hey, I have a sore neck, why do you need to touch me down there?"

Davis pointed to his practising certificate on the wall and continued touching her, Manning said.

Another woman who went for treatment for a sore neck and jaw was given a breast massage before she felt him sucking her breast.

Several of the women thought he was trying to sexually arouse them.

Davis would touch their breasts or genitals, or both. Most of the women were in their 40s or 50s and some had been long-term patients.

Manning said the touching was usually subtle and created an element of ambiguity and left some of the women uncertain because they trusted Davis as a health professional.

The jury would also hear evidence from two expert osteopaths about whether there could be any therapeutic purpose for the sort of touching the women described.

Manning said that the evidence would be that the touching was not therapeutic. Despite touching the women intimately Davis never wore gloves or washed his hands before or after the touching.

But Davis' lawyer, Tony Snell, said there was no form of sexual gratification or sexual motives to any of the consultations.

"That is absolutely denied, it is important that you understand that."

Defences to the charges differed, he said.

In some instances Davis said the actions complained of did not happen.

In others Davis agreed they happened, but said they were legitimate holistic therapeutic techniques.

In some cases the touching happened unintentionally or inadvertently in the course of legitimate techniques.

The case is continuing.