The woman accused of abducting west Auckland toddler Alyssa Barker has been remanded in custody when appearing in Waitakere District Court on Monday afternoon.
The 17-month-old girl was reunited with her distraught parents on Saturday night after allegedly being taken on a 36-hour journey by Skye Mason, 27, who had been staying at the family home.
Mason has been charged with abducting a minor, assaulting police and failing to provide identification or particulars.
"Clearly she's not well and there needs to be further assessment of her," her lawyer Jo Wickliffe told the court.
The New Zealand Herald reports that Mason was remanded in custody until Tuesday.
Alyssa's parents, Scott and Sam Barker, had let Mason, a distant friend-of-a-friend, stay with them as she had been sleeping rough at a nearby shopping centre.
Alyssa was taken from her home in Makarau, north of Helensville, about 3pm on Friday.
Mrs Barker said she had been caring for her youngest child while keeping an eye on Alyssa and Mason as they played outside the family home when the pair disappeared.
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