The man accused of murdering Rae Portman has been refused bail.

Paraire Hori Te Awa - known as Friday - appeared at the Papakura District Court charged with the murder and kidnap of Portman and was refused bail.

Portman, 33, went missing in Auckland in June and her body was found at the back of a rural Ardmore property in September.

Te Awa was charged with Portman's murder in November.

He has been remanded in custody and will reappear in court next week.

Portman's mother, Rebecca Norton, revealed at a press conference in September that her daughter was four months pregnant when she disappeared.

Before going missing from a Mt Albert motor lodge, Portman - known as "Bok" - dropped off her car at a mechanic.

After her family reported her missing on July 2 and made online appeals for information, her car was returned to her friend Kristina Le Noel.

Le Noel was later charged with stealing the car after allegedly selling it without the Portman family's permission.

Brendon Wilson and Dean Addison were arrested while police traced Portman's whereabouts and are facing drugs charges.

- © Fairfax NZ News