Attempts by police to have the hearings of four men facing drugs charges after New Zealand's largest ever cocaine bust moved from Tauranga to Auckland have failed.

In the Tauranga District Court on Monday, police applied to have further appearances for Benjamin Northway, 35, Matthew Scott, 44, Mario Habulin, 45, and Deni Cavallo, 46 - who are accused of importing 46kg of the drug - transferred to Auckland.

All four defence lawyers resisted the move, successfully, and the predicted trial will now be held in Tauranga.

The cocaine was allegedly stashed in a hidden compartment on a commercial shipping vessel - the Maersk Antares - that arrived at the Port of Tauranga on October 31.

The men were all arrested the next day after police raided a number of properties in the Bay of Plenty and Auckland.

They are facing a combined total of 46 charges - up from the original 20 that they were originally charged with - including importing, possessing and supplying class A drugs, and being part of an organised crime syndicate.

Judge Philip Crayton further remanded them in custody without plea until their next appearance on December 18.

A man and a woman have also been arrested and charged with money laundering in the relation to the case and will appear in the Auckland District Court on Tuesday.