The man accused of murdering another man who was left at Tauranga Hospital with critical injuries is set to go to trial next year.

Colin Richard Jeffries-Smith, 26, appeared via audio visual link in Tauranga Court today accused of the murder of Lance Wayne Waite.

Jefferies-Smith pleaded not guilty to the charge when he appeared in Rotorua Court back in February.

Waite, 58, was dropped off at Tauranga Hospital on January 3 this year with critical injuries and died that same day.

The death prompted police and Armed Offenders Squad raids at Wilrose Place in Gate Pa, where they believed Jeffries-Smith was prior to Waite being dropped off.

The trial is estimated to take around four to six weeks and is scheduled to begin on May 6.

The accused has been remanded in custody until a case review hearing on June 6.