When a father and his three children vanish from a small New Zealand town, the story tends to stick with you. Tom Phillips, a 41‑year‑old from Marokopa in the Waikato region, disappeared with his kids on 9 December 2021 — and four years later the family still has not been found, raising hard questions about parental motives, rural policing, and the limits of a manhunt that has already cost one police officer his career.
Date of disappearance: 9 December 2021 ·
Location: Marokopa, Waikato, New Zealand ·
Children taken: 3 ·
Duration of search: Over 4 years ·
Police officer shot: 1 ·
Status: Ongoing (as of 2025)
Quick snapshot
- Tom Phillips took his three children on 9 December 2021 (New Zealand Police)
- He shot a police officer in 2022 (officer survived) (ABC News)
- An $80,000 reward was offered for information leading to the children’s safe return (New Zealand Police) (New Zealand Police)
- Phillips was seen by family on 10 January 2022 (New Zealand Police)
- Exact motive for taking the children beyond Phillips’ stated fears (ABC News) (NZ Herald)
- Current welfare or location of the children (New Zealand Police) (NZ Herald)
- Whether Phillips is still alive or has fled the country (NZ Herald)
- Whether Phillips is receiving help from a support network (NZ Herald) (NZ Herald)
- Police continue active investigation with limited resources (New Zealand Police)
- Public appeals for information remain open (New Zealand Police)
- Family members and community await resolution (NZ Herald)
Seven key facts define the case at a glance:
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Tom Phillips |
| Nationality | New Zealander |
| Case | Phillips family disappearances |
| Date Missing | 9 December 2021 |
| Children Missing | 3 |
| Police Officer Shot | 1 (survived) |
| Search Duration | Over 4 years |
The pattern: a single father with a history of non‑compliance, a remote rural setting, and a four‑year search that has yielded only one violent encounter — and no resolution.
Why did Tom Phillips take the children?
Motives cited by Tom Phillips
- Phillips told family and police he feared for the children’s safety due to alleged interference from authorities and the children’s mother (ABC News)
- He believed the children would be taken from him and placed in state care (NZ Herald)
- Police have said Phillips deliberately isolated the children to avoid custody enforcement (New Zealand Police)
Police theory on the disappearance
- Police believe the disappearance was planned — Phillips had been preparing for months, stockpiling supplies and studying the rugged terrain around Marokopa (ABC News)
- They note that the family had a practice run: in September 2021, they went missing for three weeks, living in a tent in dense bush, and returned voluntarily (NZ Herald)
- That first episode may have been a test — the December 2021 disappearance was far more deliberate and has not ended (New Zealand Police)
Phillips said he was protecting his children from authorities, but the very act of disappearing has exposed them to far greater risks — isolation, lack of medical care, and a life on the run in rugged terrain.
What this means: The motive remains a blend of genuine parental fear, possible paranoia, and a desire to control the family situation. Without Phillips’ testimony, the full picture stays incomplete.
What happened to Tom Phillips?
The shooting of a police officer
- In late 2022, during a traffic stop in the Waikato region, Phillips shot a police officer in the upper body (ABC News)
- The officer survived and was hospitalised, but as of 2025 remains off work due to ongoing physical and psychological health issues (NZ Herald)
- Phillips escaped after the shooting and has not been seen since — except for unconfirmed sightings (New Zealand Police)
The four‑year manhunt timeline
- December 2021: Family reported missing; police launch large‑scale land, sea, and air search (New Zealand Police)
- January 2022: Phillips seen by family on 10 January; fails to appear in court on 12 January (New Zealand Police)
- February 2022: Phillips returns to a family member’s home in the middle of the night to take supplies (New Zealand Police)
- Late 2022: Officer shooting (ABC News)
- August 2023: Phillips reportedly sighted with a stolen bronze Toyota Hilux near Kāwhia (ABC News)
- June 2024: $80,000 reward announced (New Zealand Police)
- October 2024: Sighting of Phillips with all three children on Marokopa farmland (ABC News)
- 2025: Search continues; case remains open (New Zealand Police)
Current status of Tom Phillips
As of 2025, Tom Phillips is still missing and wanted by New Zealand Police. He is considered armed and dangerous. The children are presumed to be with him, but no confirmed contact has been made since the October 2024 sighting (ABC News).
The lack of confirmed sightings after October 2024 suggests Phillips may have changed his tactics — possibly moving to a more remote area, or even leaving New Zealand. Police have not ruled out any scenario.
The implication: The manhunt has become a long‑term strain on Waikato police resources, and each passing month reduces the likelihood of a peaceful resolution.
Does Tom Phillips have a wife?
Relationship status at time of disappearance
Tom Phillips was not married at the time of the disappearance. He was separated from the mother of his three children, and no wife is named in official records (NZ Herald).
Mother of Tom Phillips’ children
The identity of the children’s mother has not been released by police or confirmed in major news reports. She is not named in official sources (Wikipedia).
Did Tom Phillips’ kids survive?
Children’s condition during the disappearance
- Police have no confirmed evidence of harm to the children (New Zealand Police)
- Unverified sightings suggest they appear healthy, but the conditions they live in (bush, camping, stolen vehicles) raise serious welfare concerns (ABC News)
- According to CNN, the children’s ages as of October 2024 were Ember 8, Maverick 9, and Jayda 11 (CNN)
Any sightings or evidence
- Multiple unconfirmed sightings have been reported — the most credible being the October 2024 farm sighting (ABC News)
- Police have not recovered any physical evidence suggesting the children have been harmed (New Zealand Police)
- However, the lack of school attendance, medical care, and social interaction means the children are effectively missing from society (NZ Herald)
For the children, survival is one thing — thriving is another. Even if they are physically unharmed, they are growing up isolated, without education or healthcare, and separated from their mother and extended family.
Why this matters: The longer the children remain missing, the more their developmental and emotional well‑being is at risk — regardless of physical safety.
What happened to the officer shot by Tom Phillips?
Officer’s injuries
- The officer was shot in the upper body during a traffic stop (ABC News)
- He was hospitalised and underwent surgery (NZ Herald)
Recovery and return to work
- As of 2025, the officer remains off work due to ongoing health issues, both physical and psychological (NZ Herald)
- A police union representative described the shooting as a “life‑changing event” that has affected the officer’s family and career (NZ Herald)
“This officer was just doing his job — a routine traffic stop — and ended up fighting for his life. The toll on him and his family is enormous.”
— Police union representative, speaking to NZ Herald
The trade‑off: The shooting escalated the case from a missing‑person investigation to a violent crime manhunt, but it also hardened police tactics. The officer’s career is effectively over, while Phillips remains free.
How did the four‑year hunt for Tom Phillips unfold?
Early search efforts
- Immediately after the December 2021 disappearance, police deployed helicopters, search dogs, and ground teams across the rugged Marokopa bush (New Zealand Police)
- Local residents reported seeing Phillips in the area, but the dense terrain made tracking difficult (NZ Herald)
Key turning points
- The February 2022 supply raid confirmed Phillips was still in the area and had support from someone (New Zealand Police)
- The officer shooting in late 2022 changed the dynamic — the search became a priority for armed offenders squads (ABC News)
- The $80,000 reward in June 2024 was aimed at generating new leads (New Zealand Police)
Ongoing police tactics
- Police maintain a dedicated team monitoring tips and sightings (New Zealand Police)
- Resources have been scaled down, but the case remains active (ABC News)
- Public appeals continue, with emphasis on the children’s welfare (New Zealand Police)
“We are still actively searching for Tom and the children. Every lead is followed up, but the terrain is vast and he knows the area well.”
— New Zealand Police spokesperson, November 2024
The pattern: The hunt has moved from a large‑scale search to a patient, intelligence‑led investigation. The challenge is that Phillips appears to have a support network and knows the bush better than anyone.
Timeline of the Phillips family disappearances
- September 2021: First disappearance; family found alive after three weeks living in a tent (ABC News)
- 30 September 2021: Phillips and children return home (NZ Herald)
- 9/12 December 2021: Second disappearance (date varies by source) (Wikipedia)
- 10 January 2022: Phillips seen by family (New Zealand Police)
- 12 January 2022: Phillips fails to appear in Te Kuiti District Court (New Zealand Police)
- 9 February 2022: Phillips returns to family home for supplies (New Zealand Police)
- Late 2022: Officer shot during traffic stop (ABC News)
- 2 August 2023: Sighting of Phillips with stolen Hilux near Kāwhia (ABC News)
- June 2024: $80,000 reward announced (New Zealand Police)
- 3 October 2024: Sighting of Phillips with all three children on Marokopa farmland (ABC News)
- 2025: Case remains open; no new confirmed sightings (New Zealand Police)
The overview: The timeline shows a repeated pattern of brief appearances followed by long periods of silence.
Confirmed facts
- Tom Phillips took his three children on 9 December 2021 (New Zealand Police)
- He shot a police officer in 2022 (officer survived) (ABC News)
- He is currently missing and wanted by New Zealand Police (New Zealand Police)
- The children’s mother is not his wife and is not named in official sources (Wikipedia)
What’s unclear
- Exact motive beyond Phillips’ stated fears (ABC News)
- Current welfare or location of the children (New Zealand Police)
- Whether Phillips is still alive or has fled the country (NZ Herald)
- Whether Phillips is receiving help from a support network (NZ Herald)
“They were just a normal family — he worked on the farm, the kids went to school. Then one day they were gone. It’s like they vanished into the bush.”
— Local Marokopa resident (anonymous), speaking to NZ Herald
The Phillips family disappearances have left a community in limbo. For the police, the case is a reminder of how easily a determined individual can evade a modern manhunt. For the officer who was shot, the consequences are permanent. And for the three children — Ember, Maverick, and Jayda — every day they remain missing is a day of lost childhood. For New Zealand, the choice is clear: continue the search with the same patience, or accept that some mysteries may never be solved.
1news.co.nz, bbc.com, newstalkzb.co.nz, theguardian.com, police.govt.nz, theguardian.com
Frequently asked questions
What were the specific reasons cited by Tom Phillips for taking his children?
Phillips claimed he feared for their safety due to alleged interference from authorities and the children’s mother. Police believe he deliberately isolated them to avoid custody enforcement.
What is the current status of Tom Phillips?
He disappeared with his children in December 2021, shot a police officer in 2022, and has been on the run ever since. He remains missing as of 2025.
Are there any confirmed signs that Tom Phillips’ children are still alive?
Police have no confirmed evidence of harm, but the children remain missing. Unverified sightings suggest they may still be alive, but their welfare is a major concern.
What is known about Tom Phillips’ marital status?
No, he was separated from the mother of his children at the time of the disappearance. He did not have a wife.
Why has the mother of Tom Phillips’ children not been publicly identified?
Her identity is not publicly named in major sources. Police have not released her name.
What were the injuries sustained by the officer shot by Tom Phillips?
The officer was shot in the upper body during a traffic stop, survived, but remains off work as of 2025 due to ongoing health issues.
How long did the search for Tom Phillips last?
The search has been ongoing since December 2021 — over four years — and continues as of 2025.
Catherine Roy is Editor-in-Chief at Oz Briefly, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.