Two men charged in connection with a Tauranga murder have entered not guilty pleas to all charges at the first day of their High Court trial.

Colin Richard Jeffries-Smith is facing one charge of murdering of Lance Wayne Waite, while Casino Heta Williams faces one charge of possession of a rifle and one charge of accessory after the fact of murder.

Both appeared at the High Court in Rotorua on Monday.

A jury of eight women and four men were sworn in for the trial, which is expected to last six weeks and will hear evidence from 81 Crown witnesses.

Lance was dropped off at Tauranga Hospital on January 3 last year with critical injuries and died that same day.

Trial judge Justice Mark Woolford excused the jury until Wednesday, when the trial will resume.

-Stuff/Benn Bathgate.