Tom Phillips Sighting Captures Global Attention as Police Hunt Fugitive Father on the Run With Kids

Inside details reveal how a fugitive father has managed to survive in the wilderness with his three kidnapped kids - as a cabal of Kiwi cookers helps them hide from the cops |

Waikato, New Zealand — A fresh sighting of fugitive father Tom Phillips has reignited international attention on one of New Zealand’s most extraordinary missing persons cases. Police say new CCTV footage appears to show Phillips and one of his children breaking into a small-town shop before fleeing the scene — the latest chapter in a saga that has now gone global.

CCTV Break-In

On Monday, police released security footage from the Piopio Superette, a local convenience store in the King Country. The grainy clip, timestamped late at night, shows a man matching Phillips’s description forcing his way inside, with a child close behind.

Investigators believe the pair stole a number of supplies before escaping. While the footage does not show the other two children, authorities said it was strong evidence that the fugitive family of four is still together and surviving off the grid.

“This is the most concrete lead we’ve had in some time,” a police spokesperson said. “It demonstrates Phillips is willing to commit crimes to sustain life in hiding, and it reinforces the urgency of locating the children.”

An Elusive Fugitive

Tom Phillips, now 37, disappeared with his three children — then aged six, eight, and ten — in September 2021 from the coastal settlement of Marokopa. After sparking a massive search involving helicopters, drones, and ground teams, he briefly reappeared 18 days later before vanishing again.

For nearly three years, police have struggled to track the family. Sporadic alleged sightings, reports of campfires, and rumors of bush shelters have emerged, but until now, no confirmed evidence had been shared publicly.

The Piopio break-in marks the first time authorities have released visual proof they believe shows Phillips alive and accompanied by at least one child.

Global Fascination

News of the sighting has spread well beyond New Zealand, with international outlets covering the case and sparking debate online. The story of a father living in the wilderness with his children — evading one of the country’s largest ongoing manhunts — has captured global fascination.

🌍 “This case combines mystery, survival, and family drama in a way that grips people everywhere,” said media analyst Sophie Marshall. “It’s not just a New Zealand story anymore. It’s being discussed in Britain, Australia, and even the United States.”

Social media platforms were quickly flooded with commentary after the footage was released, with hashtags like #TomPhillips and #NZFugitiveDad trending worldwide.

Concerns for the Children

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While the story has gained sensational attention, child welfare advocates emphasize the seriousness of the case. Living in isolation for years, cut off from formal education and healthcare, raises urgent questions about the children’s wellbeing.

“We must remember these are not just headlines,” said KidsCan spokesperson Andrea Turner. “There are three young lives at stake. Every day in hiding poses risks to their health and development.”

Police have repeatedly appealed to Phillips to surrender peacefully, stressing that their priority is the safety of the children rather than punitive measures.

Criminal Allegations

Beyond the disappearance, Phillips is now wanted for questioning in connection with several crimes. In addition to the Piopio break-in, police have linked him to an armed robbery in Waikato earlier this year.

The escalating allegations suggest that life on the run has pushed Phillips deeper into criminal activity. Investigators warn he may be increasingly desperate, and potentially dangerous.

“We advise the public not to approach him,” the police spokesperson said. “Report any sightings immediately.”

A Mother’s Plea

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For Catherine, the children’s mother, the footage provided a bittersweet moment. On one hand, it offered proof her children are alive; on the other, it highlighted the ongoing ordeal of their secretive life with Phillips.

“I just want my babies home,” she told reporters. “Every day I wake up and hope this nightmare ends. Seeing that footage was both relief and heartbreak.”

Her words echoed the exhaustion of a mother who has waited nearly three years for resolution.

A Community on Edge

In Piopio and surrounding towns, the sighting has left locals uneasy. Some residents said they suspected Phillips had remained in the area all along, hidden in dense bushland. Others expressed concern about the safety of their shops and properties if the fugitive continues to rely on theft to survive.

“It’s unsettling,” one shopkeeper admitted. “To think he’s moving around with kids, breaking into stores — it makes you wonder what he’s capable of next.”

The Road Ahead

Fugitive Father Hiding in Wilderness with His Kids Seen in New Footage

Police have renewed their manhunt with added urgency, deploying additional resources to search rural properties and bushland near Piopio and Marokopa. The Independent Police Conduct Authority has also been briefed, given the heightened risk of confrontation if Phillips resists arrest.

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For now, the fugitive father’s story continues to unfold like a real-life thriller: a man on the run, three children hidden from the world, and a nation — and increasingly, a global audience — watching closely.

🚨 “Our focus is, and always will be, the safety of those children,” police reiterated. “We will not stop until they are found.”