On the hunt for New Zealand’s most wanted father

A young hunter from New Zealand filmed an extraordinary scene at the beginning of October. Four people wearing camouflage clothing and carrying large backpacks hike through rough terrain in the Waikato region of the country’s North Island. This scene is unusual because it is probably Thomas Callum Phillips and his three children Ember (8), Maverick (9) and Jayda (11).

Phillips is one of New Zealand’s most wanted people after he disappeared following the split from his partner and their children in December 2021. In the Waikato region, one of the most dangerous areas in the country. The police then tried to track down the fugitive, but without success. The recordings are believed to be the first sighting of the children in almost three years.

Phillips might have some help

“The man had a long beard, the children were masked and wearing backpacks, and they weren’t very eager to talk to them,” John McOviney, the young hunter’s grandfather, told CNN. His grandson was hunting with a friend in Marokopa when they spotted the group.

Many New Zealanders wonder why Phillips and his children are so difficult to track down. “We’re not talking about a big country here,” emphasizes Lance Burdett, a former police inspector and senior crisis mediator for the New Zealand Police. “It’s very surprising that they haven’t been found primarily because the number of sightings are in a very similar area.”

One reason could be that the refugees have support. “We firmly believe that someone or some people will help him,” said Max Baxter, mayor of Otorohanga district, which also includes the rural municipality of Marokopa. Phillips grew up in the area and his parents still live there. The assumptions could also be correct. However, his mother denied in a New Zealand media last year that she had had contact with her son. Incidentally, Phillips is also suspected of robbing a bank with an accomplice in May 2023.

Phillips disappeared once with his children

In September 2021, Phillips triggered a search operation. His car was found on a beach, with no trace of him, Ember, Maverick and Jayda. The police mobilized all their forces for three weeks, searching with helicopters and drones, before the four suddenly appeared again.

Phillips reported that they were just camping. However, he received a court summons because he was accused of wasting police resources. However, he no longer attended the appointment because at that point he had disappeared again with his children – this time for good.

This marked the beginning of a terrible time of uncertainty for Mother Cat. They repeatedly published reports via the police asking for help to find their children. In June of this year, she personally addressed the public with an emotional message on Facebook.

“Hello world,” she said. “My name is Cat. I stand here before you today asking for your help to bring my children home.” Jayda, who had just turned 11, would need her mother, she appealed. Eight-year-old Ember had asthma and needed medical attention.

After the video recording from early October, the police searched the area for three days, but did not find the missing people. The mother continues to hope that her children will return home. “Many of you say that the children are doing well, that they are being well looked after.” “How do you know that, have you seen them, or is that just talk?” she asked. “What Thomas is doing is not okay, it’s not okay to isolate and control her.” This is child neglect. It is endangering the welfare of children. None of this is okay.”