Police released a photo of a man they believe is Tom Phillips at Bunnings Te Rapa, Hamilton. Photo: NZ Police
Police have released a photo of Marokopa father Tom Phillips after the first confirmed sightings since early last year and have appealed for more information.
Phillips has been missing with his three children Jayda, 10, Maverick, 8, and Ember, 7, since December 2021, but was spotted several times on Wednesday.
Police said they had received a number of tips from the public after Thursday's appeal for information on a ute believed to be driven by Phillips, including a new sighting of him at Bunnings on Kahikatea Drive in Hamilton South on Wednesday afternoon.
"We've always been open to every possibility, which is why we've made enquiries all around the North and South Islands" - Waikato police inspector Will Loughrin
The stolen 2003 bronze-coloured Toyota Hilux flat-deck ute was also seen in Pokuru near Te Awamutu, in Te Rapa, and in Kāwhia on three separate occasions on Wednesday.
"Police continue to urge the public to report sightings of this vehicle, as it is the best chance we have to locate Tom and his three children and ensure their welfare," Waikato police inspector Will Loughrin said.
Phillips had been disguising his appearance, Loughrin said.
A photo of the man they believe is Phillips, seen at Bunnings in Te Rapa about 4pm on Wednesday, showed him wearing a white beanie, a surgical mask covering his face, glasses and a blue jacket.
Phillips was involved in an altercation in Kāwhia on Wednesday evening involving another vehicle, Loughrin told Nine to Noon.
"There was a confrontation between someone that Tom knows, an associate of his," he said.
"We were contacted and informed of the situation and significant amount of police resources and the police helicopter also deployed as we were able to piece together that it was likely it was Tom Phillips involved.
"But unfortunately, on Wednesday night, we were unable to locate the vehicle."
Residents told RNZ the altercation was a car chase, which began after a member of the public recognised the stolen ute Phillips was driving in the Waikato town of Pirongia.
Asked why police had not been able to find Phillips following the altercation in Kāwhia, Loughrin said they were aware of locals' comments to media that the man driving the ute had reportedly turned off his headlights, turned into a carpark of a lodge about 16km from Kāwhia, driven through a gate and onto a farm track.
"What occurred following the altercation and where he went, I can reassure you that that information was provided to us on the night and we deployed all police resources we could to the area."
However, Loughrin said it was a "really large area" and police had been unable to locate the vehicle that night.
He said they needed the public - particularly those in west coast Waikato communities - to "keep their eyes and ears peeled".
"The vehicle's really identifiable," he said.
On 2 August, police received reports of sightings of Tom Phillips in a brown/bronze 2003 Toyota Hilux flat-deck ute on State Highway 31 in the Kāwhia area. Photo: Supplied / Police
Police had a dedicated investigation team working to bring Jayda, Maverick, and Ember home, Loughrin said.
He said that team had never ruled out any scenarios about where Phillips and his children might be.
"We've always been open to every possibility, which is why we've made enquiries all around the North and South Islands; there's also been information received about sightings overseas, which we've followed up on as well."
He appealed again for anyone who may be assisting Phillips to contact police.
"We've always maintained that Tom has had support to enable him to do this for this period of time," he said.
"My message to that person or that group of people ... is the time has come, we need them to come to police and speak about what's happened so we can bring this to a resolution and bring the children home."
He said the public could expect an increased police presence in the areas where Phillips was believed to have been sighted on Wednesday.
Loughrin said the disappearance of Phillips and his children had been "really hard on everyone involved" and police were keeping both sides of the children's family updated on all the latest developments.
"We know that they haven't seen their kids for 19, 20 months and we want to bring this to a close."
Police asked anyone who may have seen the bronze-coloured Toyota ute anywhere in the Waikato area over the last few days to call 111.