Ms Hoffman-Tamm, 51, went missing after last being seen on her red mountain bike on November 7, when she left the Philip St home she shared with her partner to visit friends.
Police found her body on November 23 in a forested area just off State Highway 38.
During the court appearance, Sloane was seen to turn to Ms Hoffman-Tamm's family in the public gallery and mouth words to them.
Ms Hoffman-Tamm's partner as well as her two children, Monique and Rhys, and other friends and family were in court yesterday.
Outside court, Monique, who has three children, said she felt numb.
"I saw her every day. I spoke to her every day. My kids saw her every day or every couple of days. I'm not sleeping, I'm not really eating, I've dropped a lot of weight ... I can't believe she has gone,'' Monique said.
She said she kept waiting for her mother to call her on the telephone and say "Muffin, come get me,''. Muffin was
Ms Hoffman-Tamm's nickname for her daughter.
"My kids keep asking, they want to see `nanny'.''
Rhys, who lives in Hamilton, told The Daily Post life had been really hard since his mother's death and said his children had never got to meet their grandmother.
"I'm just numb. I feel a lot of sadness.''
Close family friend Cassie Latemore said outside court that she had travelled from Tokoroa to be in court yesterday and said she planned to travel to Rotorua for every court appearance.
She had known Ms Hoffman-Tamm for more than 20 years and was devastated when she heard what had happened to her.
"I'm not a blood relative but I grew up calling her Auntie Michelle ... She was the most gentlest, kindest person.''
