Search for Tom Phillips and children

The story so far

A 24-year-old man has been missing since 17 January, and his vehicle was found burnt out on a Ngaroma farm in the Waikato on 18 January, with police urging the public to check properties and report sightings in the Waipapa and Mangakino areas.^{30 Jan 2025; 18 Feb 2025} Police investigated a possible sighting of a missing father, whom police describe as a fugitive, and his three children in a State Highway 4 layby, but said the group seen was not the missing family, a case of mistaken identity.^{18, 19 Feb 2025} A person was found dead in a burning car at Puketaha on 19 February, and police are treating the death as unexplained and seeking witnesses.^{19, 21 Feb 2025} Police have since launched a new search for the fugitive father and children, who have been missing since 2021, north of Marokopa, a move police said was not prompted by a specific sighting.^{12 Mar 2025} The search has been extended to remote Marokopa-area settlements, where police are speaking with residents.^{13 Mar 2025}

Latest

Police are speaking with residents in two small remote settlements in the wider Marokopa area, one of which is accessible only by boat.^{13 Mar 2025} Officers are also increasing their presence north of Marokopa, including Te Waitere and Te Maika.^{12 Mar 2025}

Key moments

1. 30 Jan 2025Man missing since 17 January; his vehicle found burnt out next day.
2. 18 Feb 2025Possible sighting of missing father and children reported on State Highway 4.
3. 19 Feb 2025Body found in burning car at Puketaha; death treated as unexplained.
4. 19 Feb 2025Police say the layby sighting was mistaken identity, not the missing family.
5. 21 Feb 2025Police seek witnesses to the fatal vehicle fire near Hamilton.
6. 12 Mar 2025New police search launched north of Marokopa, not prompted by a specific sighting.
7. 13 Mar 2025Police speak with residents in remote settlements, one reachable only by boat.

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.