New Zealand

A father who fled with his three children in late 2021 has been seen for the first time in nearly three years along the west coast of New Zealand's North Island. 

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Disappearance in 2021

Tom Phillips, along with his children Ember (now 8), Maverick (now 9), and Jayda (now 11), disappeared just before Christmas 2021. The father took the children into the Waikato wilderness following a disagreement with their mother. Since then, there have been numerous unverified sightings of Phillips, but none that included his children.

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Recent footage

On October 3, 2024, new footage showed Phillips with the three children walking through farmland in Marokopa, New Zealand. The group, dressed in camouflage gear and carrying large backpacks, was spotted by pig hunters in the area. The footage reignited the search for the family, with authorities treating this sighting as "credible."

Reactions from family

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The children’s mother, who last saw them in 2021, expressed relief upon seeing the footage. She told the New Zealand Herald, “I’m so happy that they’re all there,” adding that she instantly recognised each child. “I’m so relieved to see all three of my babies. They’re all alive.”

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Phillips’ mother, Julia, also shared her joy at seeing her grandchildren. “We were relieved to see the children alive and well. We thought they would be but you never know,” she told the New Zealand Herald. She also expressed a desire for the children to come home.

Previous disappearance and ongoing search

Phillips and his children were first reported missing on September 11, 2021. A large search operation involving police, emergency services, and volunteers occurred for days. Nineteen days later, Phillips and the children returned to his parents' home, claiming they had been on an extended camping trip. Phillips was subsequently charged with wasting police time and resources.

However, nearly three months later the family went missing once again. When Phillips failed to appear in court, a warrant was issued for his arrest. 

Now, with this new sighting, authorities are once again on the lookout for Phillips and the children, hoping to bring them home safely.

(With inputs from agencies)