Tauranga lawyer to represent China drug accused

Tauranga human rights lawyer Craig Tuck, who has joined accused Kiwi-born drug smuggler Peter Gardner's defence team, will travel to China in the next couple of weeks.

Gardner, 25, a builder living in Australia, who has been detained in China on suspicion of drug smuggling for more than three months, is awaiting a decision whether his case would go to trial.

Gardner was arrested on November 8 last year in Guangzhou, where authorities have alleged he tried to smuggle 40 kilograms of methamphetamine out of China.

His travelling partner, Sydney woman Kalynda Davis, 22, was released in December after a month in custody without charge.

Tuck is also defending 52-year-old Whanganui grandfather Antony De Malmanche, who is being held in a Bali prison on charges of smuggling 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine onto the island.

If convicted De Malmanche also faces the death penalty.

Mr Tuck heads to Bali next week.