Father and Three Children Still Missing in New Zealand

In 2021, Tom Phillips and his three children—Jayda, 12, Maverick, 10, and Ember, 9—vanished from their family home in New Zealand. Reports suggest the disappearance followed an argument with the children’s mother, Cat.

The last confirmed sighting of the children was October 3, 2023. Since then, the search has continued, with few leads until teenage boys recently captured video of the children walking with their father through the bush.

For Cat, the sighting brought both relief and heartbreak. She described the moment as feeling like “Christmas came early,” but also accused Tom of using the children as “pawns” to punish her during their family conflict.

Tom’s relatives have also spoken out, making emotional appeals for him to return home. His mother, Julia, shared her grief with the BBC, saying, “Every day I wake up and hope that today will be the day that you all come home. It hurts every time I see photos of the children.”

Julia also sent a direct message to her grandchildren: “Jayda, Maverick, Ember—I love you so much and really miss being part of your lives.”

Tom’s sister, Rozzi, echoed these pleas in an interview with Stuff, expressing her desire to reunite. “There’s a lot of love and support. We’re ready to help you walk through what you need to walk through,” she said.

Rozzi suggested it was possible Tom, a skilled builder, may have constructed a hut in the bush to shelter himself and the children during their time in hiding.

The disappearance reportedly came after Tom lost legal custody of the children. Authorities believe he and the children have been camping in the remote North Island’s western Waikato region ever since.