A wanted Waikato man who went bush with his children made a brief return to a family property, police say.
Missing man Thomas Phillips. Photo: Supplied / Police
Thomas Phillips first went missing with his three children on 11 September 2021.
A large search and rescue operation was suspended after 17 days when he and the children walked into his family's farmhouse.
He was charged with wasting police resources. But after failing to appear at Te Kūiti District Court for a scheduled hearing in mid-January, a warrant for his arrest was issued.
Waikato west area commander Inspector Will Loughrin today said Phillips made a short return to pick up supplies last month and reassured the family that he and the children were well.
Loughrin said the family told police Phillips did not say where they were living.
Officers are attempting to make contact directly.
After the family's reappearance on 30 September, police said they had been living in a tent in dense bush, inland from Kiritehere beach.