Fugitive father filmed with children in New Zealand wilderness three years after disappearance | New Zealand

For the first time in almost three years, a fugitive father and his three children have been spotted together on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island.

Just before Christmas 2021, Tom Phillips fled with his children Ember (now 8), Maverick (now 9) and Jayda (now 11) into the Waikato wilderness after an argument with their mother.

Phillips has not been seen since last November after he allegedly stole a quad bike from a rural property and broke into a store in Piopio. CCTV footage showed two figures on a street, believed to be him and one of the children.

However, a breakthrough in the search for the family came when the group were spotted together on the farmland of Marokopa in New Zealand's Waikato region last Thursday, after a chance encounter with teenage pig hunters who pulled out their phones and began filming.

Det Insp Andrew Saunders described the sighting as “credible”, with police believing it was Phillips and his three children, of whom he has no custody.

Patrols began across the area on Thursday evening and a search operation was launched the next morning, but the group was not seen again.

“While we cannot go into detail, we want to reassure the public that we have the resources to respond to any incoming information or reports of sightings,” Saunders said.

“Our focus is very much on the safe return of Jayda, Maverick and Ember to their whānau (family) and we are doing everything we can to make this happen.”

In September 2021, Phillips and the children were reported missing and his truck was found abandoned, prompting a major land and sea search.

Nineteen days later they entered his parents' farmhouse just outside Marokopa and Phillips claimed he had taken his children on an extended camping trip. He was accused of wasting police time and resources.

But less than three months later, the four were reported missing again, and when Phillips failed to appear at a court appearance in January, a warrant was issued for his arrest.

The mother of the children, who she last saw in 2021, told the New Zealand Herald she was “relieved” to know they were alive.

“I’m so glad they’re all here,” she said, recognizing each child immediately. “I am so relieved to see all three of my babies. They’re all alive.”

Phillips' mother Julia also told the Herald She was happy to see her grandchildren and “would be happy when they came home.”

“We were relieved to see the children healthy and happy,” she said. “We thought they were, but you never know.”

John McOviney said his 16-year-old grandchild was one of the hog hunters who spotted the group.

He told 1News the teens were “only about 50 yards” away from the group when they first saw them, before approaching and briefly speaking to them.

“He said to them, ‘What are you doing here? Who are you? Does anyone else know you're here?' The boy said, 'Just you,' and then they just kept walking,” McOviney said.

The teens described Phillips having a long beard and carrying a gun, McOviney said, and all the children were masked “as if they were going into the bush for a while.”

In September 2023, an arrest warrant was issued for Phillips for an alleged aggravated robbery. Police allege two armed people entered a bank in Te Kuiti in May and demanded cash before fleeing on a black farm-style motorcycle.

In June this year, New Zealand police announced an $80,000 reward for information leading to the whereabouts and safe return of the three children. The offer expired before they were found.

Police had previously said they believed Phillips and the children were helped and urged “anyone who does this to stop, do the right thing and tell police what they know.”