A fresh appeal has been issued to New Zealanders to keep their eyes open for Tom Phillips and his children after fresh sightings of the missing family who haven't been seen for 18 months.
Phillips and his three children Jayda, Maverick and Ember disappeared from the Waikato town of Marokopa for a second time in December 2021.
That came after a major search and rescue operation was sparked in September 2021 when they went out into the bush. They emerged 17 days after they were reported missing.
Tom was charged with wasteful deployment of police personnel and resources but failed to attend a scheduled court appearance in January last year, he was however last seen in Februay 2022 when he went home for a night but disappeared again.
Insp Will Loughrin told reporters on Thursday there were fresh reported sightings of Tom in the Pokuru area near Te Awamutu at about 12:30pm on Wednesday.
He said the ute was then sighted a second time in the carpark of Te Rapa's Bunnings Warehouse at about 4pm.
Loughrin said the same ute was then seen at about 6:45pm, travelling on State Highway 31 near Kawhia. Tom was believed to be driving and was "involved in an altercation involving another vehicle", Loughrin said.
"The children were not with him," he said.
Loughrin said despite officers responding and making multiple investigations in the area, Tom wasn't located.
Now, the public was again being urged to keep an eye out for Tom and the children.
Sightings were also being sought of the ute, Loughrin said in a statement.
"The sightings of Tom yesterday are the first confirmed sightings of him since February 2021," the statement said.
"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."
Loughrin said there were family members desperately missing Tom and the children.
"Our priority is, and has always been, working to locate Tom and the children to ensure their welfare and we have continued to follow up on information reported to us where relevant.
"We are urging anyone who may have any information, no matter how small, to please come forward to police."
