Camilla Jessen
After vanishing with his three children in 2021, Tom Phillips has evaded authorities for four years.
New Zealand father Tom Phillips vanished into the bush with his three young children in 2021.
Now, after four years, his family is breaking their silence.
The Vanishing
In 2021, Tom Phillips disappeared from the remote New Zealand town of Marokopa, taking his three children—Jayda (now 12), Maverick (10), and Ember (9)—with him.
The family has not been seen since, apart from a fleeting encounter in October 2024 when a group of teenage pig hunters spotted four figures crossing private farmland.
Dressed in camouflage and carrying backpacks, the group is believed to have been Tom and his children.
National Search and $80,000 Reward
Despite a national search effort, including a now-expired $80,000 reward, police have struggled to track the family’s movements.
This is largely due to Tom’s survival skills and suspected assistance from locals unwilling to come forward.
A Mother’s Ongoing Agony
Catherine (Cat), the children’s mother and Tom’s former partner, has repeatedly urged him to bring the children home.
She’s previously accused him of using them as “pawns” to “teach her a lesson” following a custody dispute that authorities believe triggered the disappearance.
“It felt like Christmas had come early,” she said, referring to the brief confirmation that her children were alive after the 2024 spotting.
A Family Breaks Its Silence
Now, after four years of silence, Tom’s own family has stepped forward in a deeply emotional appeal.
His mother, Julia Phillips, wrote a heartfelt handwritten letter, shared via the BBC:
“Every day I wake up and hope that today will be the day that you all come home. Tom – I feel really sad that you thought you had to do this… It hurts every time I see photos of the children and of you and see some of your stuff that is still here. Jayda, Maverick, Ember – I love you so much and really miss being part of your lives.”
Tom’s Sister Speaks Out
Tom’s sister, Rozzi Phillips, also spoke out in an interview with Stuff NZ.
“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.”
Living Off the Grid
Tom Phillips is a trained builder and experienced bushman, believed to have created a makeshift home in a converted bus somewhere deep in the dense, isolated forests of the North Island’s west coast.
The area around Marokopa is rugged and vast, ideal for someone intent on staying hidden.
Rozzi, who described her brother as “incredibly resourceful,” believes the family may be surviving off the land with help from sympathetic locals who refuse to report them.
Last Known Sighting
In October 2024, a group of 16-year-old pig hunters encountered four people on farmland just 4km north of Marokopa.
One of the teens told reporters he believed the oldest child, Jayda, responded when they confronted the group.
“I said, ‘this is private property’, and she said, ‘yeah… duh’,” he recalled. “Then I asked, ‘does anyone know you’re on here?’ and she said, ‘no, just you guys.’”
Tom, holding a firearm and sporting a long beard with a grey tip, reportedly turned but remained silent.
Ongoing Investigation
Police continue to treat the case as a missing persons investigation, and have not ruled out the possibility that Tom is receiving material support.
Despite the time that has passed, authorities stress they are still actively seeking leads and encourage anyone with information to come forward.
