Parents of a Tauranga toddler left with permanent brain damage after an assault at his home last year are planning to defend neglect charges at trial.

The couple denied a joint charge of ill-treatment or neglect of a child aged under 18-years-old.

A Tauranga couple are planning to defend charges at a judge-alone trial sometime this year.

They briefly appeared in Tauranga District Court on Tuesday where their lawyers successfully sought continuation of interim name suppression in order to protect the victim.

Both were released on bail until their next appearance on May 19 when a judge-alone trial is expected to be scheduled.

The parents were charged following a police investigation into the incident last year.

SunLive understand the boy was taken to Tauranga Hospital with a serious head injury on October 18, 2013, three days after police believe the boy suffered the injuries in his home on October 15.

The child was later flown to Starship Hospital where he was diagnosed with permanent brain damage.

Police are yet to lay charges on anyone for assaulting the child.