As put by Inspector Will Loughrin, Waikato Police:
Yesterday, Police received reports of multiple sightings of missing man Tom Phillips across the Waikato area.
A 2003 bronze-coloured Toyota Hilux flat-deck ute (pictured), which we believe was driven by Tom Phillips, was seen in the Pokuru area near Te Awamutu, around 12.30pm.
There was also a reported sighting of Tom later in the afternoon at Bunnings in Te Rapa, at 4pm.
The same ute was again seen in Kawhia around 6:45pm yesterday evening and believed to be driven by Tom.
Tom was involved in an altercation involving another vehicle.
Police were contacted, and responded immediately to the Kawhia area attempting to locate this vehicle, but unfortunately it was not found
Tom and his three children, Jayda (10), Maverick (8), and Ember (7), have been missing since December 2021.
Since then, Police have continued work to locate them, as our primary focus is the welfare of the three children.
We’ve received numerous pieces of information from the public, which we have followed up on over the past 18 months.
The sightings of Tom yesterday are the first confirmed sightings of him since February 2021.
This is incredibly encouraging, and we are imploring the public to please come forward with what you know.
We believe there will be people in the community helping Tom and the children, and we are urging those people to do the right thing and please come forward.
There are family who are desperately missing them, and Police want to ensure their welfare.
We’re asking anyone who may have seen the Toyota ute, anywhere in the Waikato area, over the last few days to please come forward to Police via 111 and let us know.
Please quote file number 211218/5611.
