Almost five months since Thomas Phillips vanished with his three children near Marokopa, their family are launching a community search in hopes of finding them, saying they have little faith in authorities doing so.
(clockwise from top left) Tom Phillips, Jayda Phillips, Ember Phillips and Maverick Callam-Phillips Photo: Supplied / NZ Police
About 19 December 2021, the Ōtorohanga father took his three children into the dense bushland, for a second time.
The older sister of the three missing children, who wanted to remain anonymous told Stuff, they would try to rule out some areas of interest, but hoped the children would be found.
"I'm very doubtful he's going to choose to return on his own, when he came back in February he actually told his parents that he's never coming out of the bush," the older sister said.
"We have been looking ourselves occasionally, that's not getting much done, just because it's only just me and my Mum and my partner ... we know he's been getting around on a 50cc bike, so we've been looking for that primarily.
"I think the most useful people will be pig hunters and people who live out there, we're going to go around during the next few weeks and try to talk to people."
A Facebook post on the Missing Marokopa Children page inviting people to join the search detailed how it had been a restless period of waiting and how they wanted government agencies to do more to find them.
"Myself and my family would like to extend an invitation to anyone willing and able to help find our kids," it said.
"In a few weeks it will be six months since anyone has seen the children, and it will probably be another six years before any government agency will step in to enforce the law or intervene for the welfare of the children.
"On Saturday June 11 we will be organising a bush walk to find them."
Police were aware that a community search had been planned for Saturday, June 11, Waikato West Area Commander Inspector Will Loughrin said.
But they were concerned and didn't want people putting their own safety at risk.
"There are a number of other ways the community can assist in the search safely," Loughrin said.
"Following the renewed public appeal relating to the whereabouts of Tom Phillips and his children, police have received a number of calls from people wanting to provide information ... This information has been followed up on and Police have undertaken a number of searches in recent days, checking all possible locations of interest.
"We do believe Tom is getting assistance and support from someone and we strongly encourage anyone with information to come forward as soon as possible."
Phillips was briefly seen by his parents when he returned to collect supplies in February, but has not been spotted since.
This was months after he had 'gone bush' the first time in September 2021, taking the children with him, and was not seen or heard from for 17 days.
Phillips later returned safe and well on 28 September with the children and was charged with wasting police resources, but on the day he was due to appear in the Te Kuiti District Court on 12 January, he had disappeared again.
On top of the community led search, a petition has also been set up by the family, calling for government agencies such as Police and Oranga Tamariki to increase their efforts.
So far it has generated almost 2500 signatures - their goal amount.
"I kind of hope somebody is helping him, just because it is getting so far along that if he is just living in the bush and hunting, the kids are going to be malnourished ... the kids aren't used to that life.
"I want people to know that this will be taking a big toll on the kids, they know that they're not supposed to be in the bush," the older sister said.
Anyone with further information regarding the missing Phillips family can contact Police via 105 and quote file number 211218/5611.
* This story first appeared on Stuff