Tom Phillips and his three children spotted for the first time in Marokopa, NZ after nearly three years on the run

A New Zealand father and his three missing children have been spotted for the first time in almost thee years, with a bizarre video capturing the backpack-laden family hiking in a remote part of the North Island.

Wanted fugitive Tom Phillips and his children Jayda, 11, Maverick, 9, and Ember, 8, disappeared in December 2021 following a dispute with the children’s mother.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Missing family spotted.

Phillips has since been spotted several times, including once in August 2023 at a Bunnings in Te Rapa.

There’s now been a fresh sighing of the family by a group of pig hunters in bushland in Marokopa, a rural community about 146km north of New Plymouth.

The group captured bizarre footage of the family walking through the bush wearing camo gear and carrying large backpacks last Thursday.

According to the New Zealand Herald, the children spoke to the hunters and asked if anyone knew they were there.

“The children asked: ‘Who else knows we’re here?’,” John McOviney, the grandfather of one of the hunters, said.

“And then they just kept on walking. They were all packed up, they had big packs on.

“I think the father sort of kept them moving.”

McOviney said the family were all wearing masks and that Phillips was carrying a gun.

His 16-year-old grandson called police after the interaction and handed over the footage.

New Zealand Police have labelled the sighting of the family as “credible” and say it’s the first time all three children have been seen.

“This is the first time all three of the children have been sighted, which is positive information, and we know it will be reassuring for the children’s wider family,” police said.

An extensive search was carried out in the area over the weekend with the help of helicopters however nothing was found.

Detective Inspector Andrew Saunders said residents in the Marokopa area should “remain alert” and report any suspicious activity no matter how small.

Children’s mother speaks out

Speaking to the Herald the mother of the missing children described Phillip’s actions as “child abuse” and said he was a criminal who was using the children as “pawns in his game”.

“It doesn’t get any easier ... it’s been nearly three years,” the woman, known only as Cat, said.

“They shouldn’t have to be worrying about where they’re going to sleep that night or whether they’re going to be warm.

“It’s like every day (I’m) grieving ... the loss of three childhoods, the loss of innocence, the loss of my babies, they deserve better.”

Cat said she was overwhelmed when she saw the footage of her children but she was disappointed that nothing had come of it.

She said she expected more action from the police and that at this stage, finding her children was “out of the police’s league”.

“I would expect them to be out there covert, not drawing attention to the situation,” she said

It’s understood Phillips does not have legal custody of the children and that his actions have stemmed from a dispute with Cat however the exact details are unclear.

She said Phillips was just trying to “teach me a lesson”.

“(The children are) innocent, they do not deserve this,” Cat said.

“We miss them and they’re amazing and they’re so strong and ... we’re waiting here, we’re waiting for them to come back.

“We’re waiting with open arms.”

December 2021 was not the first time Phillips had taken off with his children.

The group was reported missing by family members three months earlier, in September 2021, when Phillips’ abandoned car was found at Kiritehere Beach, about 6km south of Marokopa.

It triggered a multi-agency search through dense bushland and rugged coastline, which was suspended after 12 days.

After what the family called “17 days of hell”, Phillips and the kids reappeared safely at the family farm, with the dad telling police they had been camping in dense bushland.

He was charged with wasteful deployment of police personnel and resources, but he and the kids vanished again in December 2021, a month before his scheduled court date.

Since then Phillips has been linked to numerous crimes, including a robbery, and is facing several charges.

An $80,000 reward was offered for in June in return for information leading to the children’s safe return.

While police received a number of tips the children were not to be found.