Police rule out sighting of Tom Phillips and his children

Wednesday 19 February 2025 · 6 outlets · 5 reports · updated Wed 19 Feb 2025, 6:49pm

Police have confirmed that a reported sighting of fugitive Tom Phillips and his three children was a case of mistaken identity. The group, seen in camouflage in a State Highway 4 layby south of Te Kuiti on Sunday morning, was not the missing family, according to authorities.

How they headlined it

6:11pm6:49pm

1. 1NewsWed 19 Feb 2025, 6:11pm

   Possible sighting of Tom Phillips and his children ruled out (opens in new tab)

2. StuffWed 19 Feb 2025, 6:13pm

   Fugitive father Tom Phillips and children not sighted in latest reported SH4 case, say police (opens in new tab)

   Also on Waikato Times (opens in new tab)

3. NZ HeraldWed 19 Feb 2025, 6:18pm

   Marokopa fugitive father Tom Phillips: Police say potential King Country sighting wasn’t him and children (opens in new tab)

4. RNZWed 19 Feb 2025, 6:25pm

   Possible sighting of missing Marokopa dad Tom Phillips and kids was not the family - police (opens in new tab)

5. Otago Daily TimesWed 19 Feb 2025, 6:49pm

   Possible Phillips sighting false alarm: police (opens in new tab)