Grace Millane's current profile picture on Facebook was uploaded on November 29 - two days before she disappeared.

A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of British backpacker Grace Emmie Rose Millane.

Millane, 22, an advertising graduate and artist, from Essex in the United Kingdom, had been on her OE in New Zealand just shy of a fortnight when she was last seen in central Auckland on December 1.

A 26-year-old man appeared at Auckland District Court on Monday morning in front of Judge Evangelos Thomas, where he was granted interim name suppression after an appeal by his lawyer.

The circumstances surrounding Millane's disappearance and death are still not yet clear, however, court documents show she was killed between December 1 and December 2.

Judge Thomas acknowledged the Millane family, who were present in court, and said he recognised the "desperate" grief they must be feeling.

"All of us hope that this is a fair, swift process and brings you some peace," Judge Thomas said.

The defendant's lawyer, Ian Brookie, opposed all media applications and sought interim name suppression.

"A lot has happened in the last two days," Brookie said.

SUPPLIED Grace Millane's family raised the alarm when she hadn't been in contact with them for five days.

Judge Thomas told the defendant he had been the source of a lot of media coverage over the past nine days.

The media applications for identifying the defendant were granted on the basis of open justice by Judge Thomas, who refused name suppression.

"I accept the publication will cause embarrassment and shame," Judge Thomas.

But Brookie appealed that decision.

Judge Thomas directed there was to be interim name suppression for 20 working days.

The police prosecutor opposed the interim name suppression and shared the Millane family's wishes for Grace Millane's accused killer to be named.

ABIGAIL DOUGHERTY/STUFF Judge Evangelos Thomas extended his sympathies to Grace Millane's family.

The defendant was remanded in custody without entering a plea and is expected to appear at the High Court on January 23.

As he was led back to the cells a member of the public gallery yelled out "scumbag".

The last confirmed sighting of Millane was at the CityLife Hotel, in Queen St, at 9.41pm on the evening before her 22nd birthday, with the 26-year-old man now charged with her murder.

Police charged the man, who lives in central Auckland, with murder on Saturday evening.

On Sunday afternoon, police scoured a bush area along Scenic Dr in the Waitākere Ranges, where they found a body believed to be Millane's.

Formal identification has not yet taken place but Detective Inspector Scott Beard, who is leading the investigation, said officers were certain it was Millane and said the search for her had come to an end.

Back home in Essex, where her family lives, church services were held to remember her.

LAWRENCE SMITH/Stuff Detective Inspector Scott Beard says his heart goes out to Grace Millane's family after the discovery of a body in the Waitakere Ranges.

Millane was on a year-long OE after graduating from the University of Lincoln in September.

The advertising graduate and keen artist arrived in New Zealand on November 20, after travelling through South America.

This was her first time travelling abroad alone.