New Zealand's authorities remain engaged in an extensive search for Tom Phillips, who disappeared with his three children—Ember, 9, Maverick, 10, and Jayda, 12—in December 2021. The disappearance followed a legal battle over custody, with police stating that Phillips does not hold legal custody of his children. Recently, the family has publicly urged him to return home, marking the first direct appeal since his disappearance.
In an emotional message, Phillips' mother expressed her longing for her son, stating, “Everyday I wake up and hope that today will be the day that you all come home.” His sister, Rozzi Phillips, shared her desire to reconnect, promising support during this troubling time. “There's a lot of love and there's a lot of support, and we’re ready to help you walk through what you need to walk through," she articulated in an interview with Stuff.
Sightings of Phillips and his children have been sporadic but notable, most recently last October when a group of teenagers spotted the family trekking through the bush in Marokopa, North Island. The teenagers recorded the encounter, noting that Phillips appeared unkempt with a long beard and carried a firearm. Despite the interactions being brief, the police deemed the sighting credible, prompting a failed three-day search with police and army helicopter support.
The family is believed to have been living in makeshift camps around the Waikato region, prompting authorities to offer a substantial reward of NZ$80,000 for information on Phillips’ whereabouts. Complicating matters, a warrant has been issued for Phillips' arrest in connection with a bank robbery in Te Kuiti, raising concerns regarding his armed status and urging the public to refrain from approaching him due to potential danger.
As the search continues, Phillips’ family hopes their public plea will prompt him to return to them and the children to a safe environment.
In an emotional message, Phillips' mother expressed her longing for her son, stating, “Everyday I wake up and hope that today will be the day that you all come home.” His sister, Rozzi Phillips, shared her desire to reconnect, promising support during this troubling time. “There's a lot of love and there's a lot of support, and we’re ready to help you walk through what you need to walk through," she articulated in an interview with Stuff.
Sightings of Phillips and his children have been sporadic but notable, most recently last October when a group of teenagers spotted the family trekking through the bush in Marokopa, North Island. The teenagers recorded the encounter, noting that Phillips appeared unkempt with a long beard and carried a firearm. Despite the interactions being brief, the police deemed the sighting credible, prompting a failed three-day search with police and army helicopter support.
The family is believed to have been living in makeshift camps around the Waikato region, prompting authorities to offer a substantial reward of NZ$80,000 for information on Phillips’ whereabouts. Complicating matters, a warrant has been issued for Phillips' arrest in connection with a bank robbery in Te Kuiti, raising concerns regarding his armed status and urging the public to refrain from approaching him due to potential danger.
As the search continues, Phillips’ family hopes their public plea will prompt him to return to them and the children to a safe environment.
