The accused will re-appear on February 14.
Meanwhile, Ms McGrath's whanau and hundreds of other people marched through central Whangarei this morning to protest against domestic violence.
Her brother John McGrath led the march to raise awareness that domestic violence was unacceptable and communities needed to stand up and help those caught in violent relationships.
About 500 people turned out for the peaceful march and included Queenie Dunn, mother of murdered 17-year-old Mairina Dunn, Karen Edwards, mother of Ashlee Edwards, and Steve Elliott, uncle of murdered woman Sophie Elliott.
Those who marched carried posters of those they had lost to domestic violence. The march went down Bank Street through the town's major intersection and back into Laurie Hall Park where a number of speakers voiced their message to the hundreds gathered.