Footage of fugitive father Tom Phillips and his three children together has been shared for the first time since they went missing after the group were spotted by young pig hunters walking across North Island farmland last week.
Yesterday, police confirmed the sighting was “credible”, but said a three-day land and air-assisted search over the weekend in the Marokopa area located “nothing of significance”.
Footage of the sighting sent to 1News shows Phillips and Jayda, 11, Maverick, nine, and Ember, eight, tramping behind their father, who was carrying a rifle.
Police say it’s the first confirmed sighting of all three since they went missing in the Waikato area nearly three years ago. (Source: 1News)
The group were all seen carrying large packs.
Phillips and his children have been missing since December 2021.
The encounter saw the children briefly speaking to the pig hunters.
John McOviney, the grandfather of one of the witnesses, said the sighting took place on Waikato’s west coast, around 3km south of Marakopa.
“My grandson rang me. He was out there and they do a bit of hunting,” he told 1News.
“He and his friend saw this guy with three kids walking along the trail, and you know these kids today, the first thing they do is pull out a phone.”
McOviney said his grandson “clicked onto it” and recalled the children going missing with their father.
John McOviney, the grandfather of one of the witnesses, said the sighting took place on Waikato’s west coast, around 3km south of Marakopa. (Source: 1News)
“You don’t see many adults with three kids walking around with packs on their back in the Marokopa area without joining the dots, do you?”
Phillips was described as having a big beard, carrying a gun and appearing “bush savvy”, said McOviney.
“I think he thought they were actually in quite good health.”
‘Reassuring’ – police speak on first sighting of three children
Detective Inspector Andrew Saunders said about the encounter: “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.”
Phillips has been on the run from police for months, and there is a warrant for his arrest related to aggravated robbery, aggravated wounding, and unlawful possession of a firearm. He does not have legal custody of the children.
An $80,000 reward for information leading to the safe return of the missing children was offered by police earlier this year. The reward was only available for two weeks and did not lead to the children’s return.
Police said there were at least 50 pieces of information worthy of consideration while the reward was outstanding.
A member of Phillips’ family has previously said that he was home-schooled and so was most likely home-schooling the children.
The well-being of the three children was a main concern for the community, those in the region said at the time.
Locals believed someone was helping Phillips, providing food, shelter and clothing.
