It has been confirmed that she will go on trial next year.
She was not allowed to appear in court after her medical team revealed it would not be in her best interests.
Lauren Anne Dickason is said to have murdered 6-year-old Liané and 2-year-old twins Maya and Karla at their home in Timaru on September 16.
Her husband, orthopedic surgeon Graham Dickason, found the three children dead and his wife in serious condition when he returned from dinner with colleagues.
The family had emigrated to New Zealand from Pretoria and had only been in Timaru for two weeks – after a stint at MIQ – when the children died.
The specific details of their deaths have been withheld.
Dickason has not attended any of her court hearings since her first appearance two days after the children were murdered.
The first appearance was in the Timaru District Court and subsequent dates were in the High Court in Timaru, held in Christchurch.
In October, her attorney pleaded not guilty to all three murders, with Dickason’s signed consent.
A trial date has been set for 2023.
Since then, several scheduled hearing days have been postponed as health assessments of the accused killer continued.
Today, Judge Cameron Mander apologized for Dickason’s presence, but the appeal for her case went ahead.
He said the appearance was excused on the advice of her treating physician.
He said it was thought best not to expose her to court at this stage.
Judge Mander continued her pre-trial detention – in the medium security psychiatric ward in Hillmorton – until her next appearance on July 29.
Dickason is also exempt from attending that hearing — largely an administrative appointment — in person.
Several members of the Dickason family reportedly viewed today’s court hearing through external access links from abroad.
After the three girls were found dead, Dickason was taken to Timaru Hospital in critical condition.
Within 24 hours she was arrested and charged with the three murders.
Dickason first appeared in the Timaru District Court on September 18.
She was remanded in custody and held in a forensic psychiatric facility for investigation.
A week after the alleged murders, Graham Dickason said he had forgiven his wife and felt she was also a victim of the tragedy.
He has since returned to South Africa.
It is unclear when or if he will return to New Zealand.
Details about a funeral or farewell to the little girls have not been shared by the family.