A Tauranga defence and human rights lawyer is preparing for the international trial of a man accused of drug smuggling in China.

Peter Gardner, a young New Zealander and Australian citizen, was detained in China on suspicion of drug smuggling on November 8 and is set to go to trial on May 7.

Tauranga's Craig Tuck is defending a dual Australian and New Zealand citizen accused of smuggling methamphetamine in China.

'This is considerably earlier than expected,” says his lawyer Craig Tuck.

'The trial will take place in Guangzhou Municipal Intermediate Court and is expected to last no more than two days.

'The Gardner family have requested privacy at this time and will not be making any comments to the media.”

Gardner, 25, is facing execution for allegedly attempting to export 60kg of methamphetamine.

The dual Australia and New Zealand citizen was with Australian woman Kalynda Davis, who he had met through an online dating site, when the pair were detained by officials in Guangzhou on November 8 after a three-day visit.

Two bags being checked in by the couple were allegedly found to have 60kg of methamphetamine inside with their zips glued shut.

Davis was released after four weeks of negotiations and her lawyers argued she had no knowledge of the alleged drugs.

Craig says the reason for Gardner's trial being fast-tracked six months is not known.

According to Amnesty International, China executes thousands of people every year and has killed at least a dozen foreign nationals in the past 15 years.