The mother of the three children missing with their father near Marokopa has told Newshub she and her supporters have been at the sea "every day talking to the children and calling them home".
It's eight days since 34-year-old Tom Phillips and his young children Jayda, Maverick and Ember were last seen at the family farm in Marokopa.
The children's mother Catherine says she and her side of the family have been out all week looking for the children aged eight, six and five.
Tom had custody of the children after the couple separated almost four years ago.
Catherine told Newshub she and her support crew even hired a private plane on Saturday to search the sea after Tom's ute was found at treacherous Kiritehere Beach with the keys inside.
A land-based search by volunteers and LANDSAR crews on Sunday found no sign of the young family.
Police now say the current search base will be stood down, but "search efforts are not over".
The number of people involved in searching will depend on daily requirements and conditions.
