The two men charged in relation to the shooting of Tauranga man David Kuka in 2018 have pleaded not guilty to murder.

One of the accused can now be named after interim name suppression lapsed today.

Luke Belmont, 34, of Raetihi, has been charged alongside Adrian Rewiri, 36, from Tauranga, in relation to the murder of David at a Pyes Pa address on February 11, 2018.

David, a talented carver and artist, was fatally shot at an address in Wilrose Place, Tauranga. It was the second shooting at the same address in the space of a month.

Belmont and Rewiri both appeared at Tauranga High Court via Audio Visual Link this morning and entered pleas of not guilty to a charge of murder.

Belmont previously had name suppression after his arrest on December 17, 2021.

At that time, further arrests were not ruled out and Rewiri was subsequently arrested on January 20, 2022.

A seven-week trial will begin on July 17, 2022, and the pair will remain in custody.

An application from a media outlet separate to SunLive for photos was rejected in court.

Defence lawyer Bill Nabney, representing Belmont, argued it would be 'prejudicial to his client's defence” at such an early stage of proceedings.

Rewiri's counsel Chris Stevenson echoed the same sentiment, saying he also opposed photos published at this stage as it 'might be unfair” to both clients.

A case review has been set for April 6, 2022.

Both men are expected to appear in person unless that is not possible due to Covid-19 restrictions.