The half-sister of the three missing Marokopa children is urging people to join her side of the family in a fresh public search of remote bush near the coastal King Country town.
Jayda, 8, Maverick, 7, and Ember, 6, disappeared for a second time with their father Tom Phillips in mid December and haven't been heard from since.
"Anyone with any knowledge of the area, drones, even heat sensing technology we would absolutely love your help," the children's eldest half sister, who wished to remain anonymous told Newshub.
The search is planned for Saturday, June 11.
Phillips initially went missing in September 2021 when he is alleged to have taken his three young children into dense bush for 17 days, sparking a major search and rescue operation.
He was charged with wasteful deployment of police personnel and resources but failed to attend his first court appearance in January.
Police have revealed he returned home briefly one night in February without the children but Newshub understands he was gone by morning.
"Jayda turns 9 next month. I still have the childrens' Christmas presents, watering cans, seeds and gardening gloves in their favourite colours and they are just sitting there," the half-sister told Newshub.
She said "so many people don't know the kids but they care, we've spent all this time talking but it's time. We want to take control of the situation, we feel we have no choice".
Police were aware a community search had been planned for Saturday, June 11, Waikato West Area Commander Inspector Will Loughrin said.
But he said police were concerned and didn't want people people putting their own safety at risk.
Police have indicated they "strongly believe that Tom is getting assistance from someone".
"What I urge that person to do is to contact police. We're really worried about the well-being of the children as winter approaches," Loughrin said last week.
A petition was launched earlier this month urging Government agencies, Oranga Tamariki and the police to do more to find the children.
