A 26-year-old man facing a charge of murder has appeared at Tauranga District Court this morning.

The man was arrested yesterday, in relation to the death of 58-year-old Lance Wayne Waite.

Lance was dropped off at Tauranga hospital with critical injuries on Wednesday morning and died in hospital later that day.

Following his death police and AOS carried out raids at Wilrose Place in Gate Pa, where they believe the accused was prior to Lance being dropped off, and at an address in Ngatai Road, near Bureta.

Enquiries made at the Bureta address resulted in the arrest of the 26-year-old.

At his appearance this morning Judge Louis Bidios granted interim name suppression.

He is next set to appear at Rotorua High Court on February 7.