172:
His lawyer had not heard from him since first informing him of the court date. His ute was discovered parked on
Mangatoa Road in late January. Phillips returned home for about an hour at night on 9 February to get supplies, telling his family that the children were okay but not disclosing their location. By that point he had grown a beard. The police, the children's mother, and Ōtorohanga mayor
186:. There were two reported sightings of the children in May, but these were later dismissed by police. The children's maternal family planned for a search in June, but this was cancelled due to concerns from police. In August, police posited the idea that the Phillips family may have changed their names and started a new life elsewhere in the country.
153:
Phillips and his children were sighted in the morning of 30 September, riding a bike on
Mangatoa Road. Police dispatched a plane but were unable to find them. Later in the morning, they "walked through the door" of the family farm. Phillips' sister stated that he had "wanted space to clear his head"
171:
Phillips disappeared with the children again on 9 December 2021. Police did not initiate a search, stating that he had notified his family of where he was going and was not in violation of court restrictions., He did not show up to his court date on 12 January and thus an arrest warrant was issued.
108:
In May 2023, Phillips was charged with aggravated robbery, wounding and unlawful possession of a firearm after allegedly robbing a bank and shooting at a supermarket worker in Te Kūiti. In June 2024, Police offered an $ 80,000 reward for information that leads to the location and safe return of the
255:
was robbed at gunpoint by two masked individuals dressed in all black. While the identity of the armed assailant has not been confirmed lead investigators claim that it is Tom
Phillips. The identity of the accomplice is also unknown with leading theories belonging to one of Phillips children or an
104:
The family had previously been considered missing for 19 days in
September of the same year, sparking a major search effort. Phillips's truck was found abandoned on the Marokopa shoreline and was swamped with seawater. Almost three weeks later, Phillips returned with the children, claiming that he
158:
had been found. The children were perfectly healthy, described as "bouncy as ever" by their grandmother. A friend of
Phillips alleged that he had parked the ute in a car park near where he was camping but that it had been stolen, taken for a joyride and dumped at the beach. With the cost of the
231:
to anyone who may be assisting the
Phillips' if they came forward. They received information overnight and set up checkpoints around Marokopa the next day. On Jayda's eleventh birthday, the children's mother released a video pleading for the public to assist the police in their search.
126:. Phillips had been separated from his wife Catherine for several years and was homeschooling the children. Phillips had also been homeschooled as a child. He is an experienced hunter and camper. The Phillips family has farmed in the area for generations.
33:
359:
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After fleeing the bank the robbers had a brief altercation with a local. The two assailants later fled on a motorcycle which authorities presume to be stolen. A shot was fired during the robbery and nobody sustained any injuries.
179:
The older half-sisters of the
Phillips children launched a petition in May, calling on the police and relevant government ministries to do more to find them. Police subsequently made a public appeal for information on
100:
on 9 December 2021. New
Zealand Police believe that the children were taken by their father to a location somewhere in the western Waikato, "within Marokopa or the surrounding areas” after a dispute with their mother.
121:
in New
Zealand's Waikato district with his three children, Jayda (born 18 June 2013), Maverick (born 21 November 2014), and Ember (born 20 January 2016). They also spent much of their time at the family farm in
397:
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search estimated in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, Phillips was charged with wasting police resources, with a court date set for 5 November. This was delayed to 12 January 2022 due to
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Eight-year-old Jayda
Phillips, six-year-old Maverick Phillips, and five-year-old Ember Phillips disappeared with their father Tom Phillips from the isolated rural Waikato town of
146:
fishing. Searchers' initial assessment was that they had most likely been swept out to sea. Despite daily searches of land, sky, and sea, involving a plane, helicopter, jet ski,
138:
was found parked below the tideline at nearby Kiritehere beach, being battered by waves. The car keys were under the driver's side mat. Police launched a search operation and a
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150:, and heat-detecting drones, no trace was found. The search base at Marokopa Hall was stood down on 19 September and daily searches were suspended on 24 September.
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On 11 June 2024, the police announced a reward of up to $ 80,000 for information that would lead to the return of the children within two weeks. They also offered
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Police declined to offer a reward for the children's return in September, so in October their maternal family began fundraising on Givealittle to offer a
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640:
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360:"Marokopa mystery: Private investigator explains how easy it can be to go missing as Tom Phillips and children have not been seen for over a year"
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528:
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10,000 reward themselves. They managed to raise only around half of that, but said they will supply the remaining reward money themselves.
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had taken them on a camping trip in dense bush in an effort to clear his head. He was charged with wasting police time and resources.
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The Phillips family had last been seen on 11 September 2021, at the family farm in Marokopa. Two days later their
566:"A New Zealand family was feared dead after a mysterious disappearance. They had been camping the whole time"
398:"Police have 'serious concerns' for missing family, vehicle found on beach with waves crashing onto bonnet"
147:
1253:
213:
853:"Adult sisters of missing Marokopa children launch petition asking authorities to do more to find them"
1147:"Missing Marokopa family: Police issue arrest warrant for father Tom Phillips over alleged bank heist"
1091:"Police receive 'considerable number' of tip-offs about missing Marokopa family after offering reward"
738:"Marokopa mystery: Father Tom Phillips charged with wasting police resources fails to show at court"
205:
1218:
209:
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603:"Marokopa family 'missing' again: Friend says Tom Phillips and his children going bush 'normal'"
510:"Marokopa missing family: Daily physical search for Thomas Phillips and his children suspended"
547:"Marokopa mystery: Family of missing kids on weeks in dense bush – 'Didn't do it hard at all'"
891:"Police investigating two separate sightings of missing Marokopa children and their father"
872:"Family of Marokopa children missing with dad Tom Phillips say Oranga Tamariki closed file"
720:"Marokopa family missing again: Tom Phillips and his children haven't been seen for a week"
341:"Birthday boy turns 8: Fresh plea for missing Marakopa family to return home for Christmas"
1035:"Armed police swarm Marokopa after stolen ute found in search for Tom Phillips, children"
455:"Thomas Phillips: Search first believed family missing for 17 days likely swept into sea"
1128:"Mum of Phillips children breaks silence, appeals to public over Marokopa disappearance"
228:
182:
87:
797:"Missing family may have changed names, moved to another part of the country – police"
1202:
217:
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1003:"Watch: Police speak after reported sighting of father of missing Marokopa children"
622:"Marokopa family: Sister feared she'd never see Tom Phillips or his children again"
241:
197:
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663:"Marokopa dad Thomas Phillips a no-show in court on charge of wasting police time"
929:"Public search for missing Marokopa children and father Tom Phillips put on hold"
834:"Desperate mum pleads for safe return of missing Phillips children from Marokopa"
417:"Father, three children missing: Otorohanga residents shocked over disappearance"
379:"The mystery of the missing family – what's become of Tom Phillips and his kids?"
245:
154:
and had been living in a tent 15 km (9.3 miles) inland from the beach where his
1110:"Police checkpoints set up around Marokopa as Tom Phillips search intensifies"
966:"Sibling of missing Marokopa kids fundraises reward in appeal for information"
173:
32:
584:"Three missing Waikato children reunited with family after '17 days of hell'"
1185:"Te Kuiti bank robbery: Two escape on motorbike, supermarket worker shot at"
143:
985:"Family offer $ 10,000 reward for information on missing Marokopa children"
641:"Marokopa's vanishing dad not concerned about police charges, brother says"
491:"Missing family: Daily searches for family last seen in Marokopa suspended"
248:
in May with an unidentified accomplice believed to be one of his children.
201:
252:
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all stated that they believe he is receiving additional help to survive.
139:
123:
97:
527:
Satherley, Dan; Rutherford, Karen; Sadler, Rachel (30 September 2021).
221:
37:(Top to bottom, left to right): Tom, Ember, Jayda and Maverick Phillips
1166:"Two years on the run – How a rogue dad marked Marokopa kids for life"
947:"Family of missing Marokopa children trying to raise funds for reward"
816:"Town silent on missing Marokopa family after four months in the bush"
240:
In September 2023, police charged Phillips in connection to an armed
701:"Man and three children missing AGAIN after vanishing 3 months ago"
323:"Police rule out reward as hunt for Marokopa kids enters 9th month"
436:"From joy to frustration over Marokopa's lost-then-found family"
1054:"Stolen ute driven by Tom Phillips found by police in Marokopa"
682:"Marokopa family go bush again, no search initiated by police"
109:
children, who are now aged eleven, nine, and eight-years old.
167:
Second disappearance and robberies (December 2021 – present)
757:"One year on: Cop speaks out about missing Marokopa family"
1017:"Stolen ute used by father of missing Marokopa kids found"
297:"People come forward with information about Tom Phillips"
220:
to disguise himself. The stolen ute was later found near
529:"Family missing in south Waikato found 'safe and well'"
396:
Ensor, Jamie; Rutherford, Karen (14 September 2021).
473:"Marakopa search continues on land as base wound up"
83:
75:
42:
23:
910:"Sightings of missing Marokopa family prove false"
117:Before their disappearance, Tom Phillips lived in
776:"Wanted Marokopa dad returned home for supplies"
90:for 2 years, 9 months and 21 days
200:ute on 2 August 2023. He was seen driving near
1073:"$ 80,000 reward for missing Marokopa family"
8:
434:Wall, Tony; Kirkeby, Luke (2 October 2021).
277: – 1958 missing family case in Oregon
31:
20:
142:was placed on the area, disrupting local
791:
789:
656:
654:
316:
314:
1164:Lines-MacKenzie, Jo (15 January 2024).
287:
680:Blommerde, Chloe (20 December 2021).
508:Kronast, Hannah (24 September 2021).
7:
1145:Franks, Raphael (5 September 2023).
620:Rutherford, Karen (1 October 2021).
415:Preston, Nikki (15 September 2021).
358:Johnston, Caitlan (4 January 2023).
130:First disappearance (September 2021)
1239:Missing person cases in New Zealand
1224:Fugitives wanted on robbery charges
1005:. Radio New Zealand. 3 August 2023.
755:Moore, Rachel (10 September 2022).
718:Feek, Belinda (20 December 2021).
699:Lefroy, Emily (20 December 2021).
564:Shepherd, Katie (1 October 2021).
16:2021 disappearances in New Zealand
14:
1071:Hallberg, Andrew (11 June 2024).
983:Sharma, Akula (8 December 2022).
927:Rutherford, Karen (31 May 2022).
889:Rutherford, Karen (30 May 2022).
639:Moore, Rachel (13 October 2021).
601:Smith, Laura (22 December 2021).
453:McRae, Andrew (7 December 2021).
1108:Garcia, Maryana (12 June 2024).
661:Mather, Mike (12 January 2022).
377:Wall, Tony (18 September 2021).
321:Nixon, Jane (7 September 2022).
964:Dine, Jonty (13 October 2022).
814:Moore, Rachel (30 April 2022).
774:Moore, Rachel (21 March 2022).
208:, and shopping at two separate
1183:Morton, Nathan (15 May 2023).
1052:Mather, Mike (4 August 2023).
295:Moore, Rachel (11 June 2024).
270:List of people who disappeared
1:
1234:Missing New Zealand children
908:Nixon, Jane (16 June 2022).
275:Martin family disappearance
62:21 November 2014 (Maverick)
1270:
1209:2020s missing person cases
870:Leahy, Ben (18 May 2022).
851:Wall, Tony (6 May 2022).
30:
71:20 January 2016 (Ember)
1189:The New Zealand Herald
299:. Stuff Limited. Stuff
148:inflatable rescue boat
236:Te Kūiti Bank Robbery
161:COVID-19 restrictions
1249:New Zealand families
590:. 30 September 2021.
497:. 24 September 2021.
479:. 19 September 2021.
53:18 June 2013 (Jayda)
1244:Mass disappearances
1214:2021 in New Zealand
347:. 21 November 2022.
1229:History of Waikato
1151:New Zealand Herald
1114:New Zealand Herald
989:New Zealand Herald
953:. 11 October 2022.
951:New Zealand Herald
876:New Zealand Herald
744:. 12 January 2022.
742:New Zealand Herald
724:New Zealand Herald
607:New Zealand Herald
551:New Zealand Herald
421:New Zealand Herald
364:New Zealand Herald
345:New Zealand Herald
251:On 16 May 2023 an
210:Bunnings Warehouse
803:. 26 August 2022.
553:. 1 October 2021.
196:Phillips stole a
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1134:. 18 June 2024.
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79:9 December 2021
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840:. 31 May 2022.
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183:Ten 7 Aotearoa
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1254:Bank robbers
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301:. Retrieved
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242:bank robbery
239:
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216:. He wore a
198:Toyota Hilux
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136:Toyota Hilux
133:
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705:Yahoo! News
76:Disappeared
1203:Categories
282:References
212:stores in
174:Max Baxter
119:Ōtorohanga
113:Background
67:2016-01-20
58:2014-11-21
49:2013-06-18
1219:Fugitives
144:whitebait
669:. Stuff.
442:. Stuff.
264:See also
253:ANZ Bank
246:Te Kūiti
214:Hamilton
124:Marokopa
98:Marokopa
1095:Newshub
1077:Newshub
1039:Newshub
933:Newshub
895:Newshub
626:Newshub
533:Newshub
514:Newshub
402:Newshub
303:15 June
222:Te Anga
88:Missing
1021:1 News
914:1 News
327:1 News
206:Pokuru
202:Kāwhia
84:Status
1058:Stuff
857:Stuff
820:Stuff
780:Stuff
761:Stuff
686:Stuff
645:Stuff
588:Stuff
495:Stuff
477:Stuff
383:Stuff
140:rāhui
305:2024
204:and
43:Born
1132:RNZ
970:RNZ
838:RNZ
801:RNZ
459:RNZ
244:in
156:ute
1205::
1187:.
1168:.
1149:.
1130:.
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968:.
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836:.
818:.
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