Family of NZ fugitive on the run with children pleads for return

Police believe this CCTV footage captured Tom Phillips with one of his children attempting to break into a store in Piopio, in the Waitomo region

The family of a father who vanished with his three children into New Zealand's wilderness almost four years ago have pleaded for him to come home.

A national search has been ongoing for Tom Phillips since he took Ember, nine, Maverick, 10, and Jayda, 12, from their family home in December 2021 over what police say was a custody battle.

They were seen in public for the first time since vanishing last October, when a group of teenagers spotted them trekking through the bush and filmed the encounter.

For the first time since their disappearance, Mr Phillips' family have directly appealed to him, with his mother writing: "Everyday I wake up and hope that today will be the day that you all come home."

"There's a lot of love and there's a lot of support, and we're ready to help you walk through what you need to walk through," his sister, Rozzi Phillips, told New Zealand news site Stuff in an exclusive interview.

"I miss you, and I miss being part of your life, and I really want to see you and the kids and be part of your lives again."

Ms Phillips said her brother was a capable builder who she believed would have built a hut or "nest" in the bush as shelter.

She also provided Stuff with a handwritten note from their mother, Julia, which reads: "Tom - I feel really sad that you thought you had to do this. Not considering how much we love you and can support you. It hurts every time I see photos of the children and of you and see some of your stuff that is still here."

"Jayda, Maverick, Ember - I love you so much and really miss being part of your lives."

Phillips does not have legal custody of his children

Police have said they believe Mr Phillips took his children after losing legal custody of them to their mother.

They believe Mr Phillips and his children have been hiding and camping in the North Island's western Waikato region and last year posted an NZ$80,000 (£37,200) reward for information on their whereabouts.

There have been occasional sightings of the family, including in October when a group of teenage pig hunters who had been trekking through an untamed area of Marokopa - a tiny coastal community where Mr Phillips hails from - spotted them and filmed the encounter on their phones.

In the video, Tom Phillips can be seen leading his children through the rugged terrain. They are all wearing camouflaged clothing.

New Zealand media reported the teenagers had briefly spoken to one of their children - asking if anyone knew they were there. The child had replied "only you" and kept walking, the father of one of the teenagers told New Zealand's 1News.

The teenagers reported that Mr Phillips had been carrying a gun and had a long beard while the children were masked and carrying their own packs.

New Zealand Police described the sighting as "credible". That prompted an unsuccessful three-day search involving police and army helicopters.

Last year, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Mr Phillips over his suspected involvement in a bank robbery in Te Kuiti, a small town on the North Island.

Police said he had an accomplice during the alleged incident, and cautioned the public against approaching him as he was probably armed.

Police have said they believe Mr Phillips is being helped in his evasion of the law by other parties.