Police have "no regrets" over the $80,000 reward they posted to draw out those harbouring Marokopa father Tom Phillips and his three children.
And they've revealed Oranga Tamariki has been on standby to assume responsibility for the children, if and when they were found during the two-week period the reward was on offer.
The reward lapsed on Tuesday night, but police say they have 50 new pieces of information that may yet help lead to the safe return of Jayda, 11, Maverick, 9, and Ember, 8.
"I am very comfortable with where we are at with the investigation. I know it's frustrating that we still haven't found the children but I am very happy with the information that has come in in the last two weeks," said Acting Detective Inspector Andrew Saunders.
He said he had "no regrets" over the amount offered to bring the children home safe.
"I believe $80,000 was a very good amount. I've heard lots of people out there saying it should have been more, but for those people who have strong loyalty to Tom that may be helping him, if $80,000 wasn't going to do it, no amount of money would."
The children have been missing for two and a half years, after their father Tom Phillips breached a custody order when he took them on the run in December 2021.
Since then, he's been accused of serious offences, including the May 2023 armed holdup of the Te Kūiti ANZ bank and the alleged burglary of a Piopio superette.
Last week Jayda, Maverick and Ember's mother Cat pleaded with the public to help "bring my babies home".
She shared an historic letter she said was from Phillips showing "all is not as it seems". The pair had been apart for several years prior to the children's initial disappearance in September 2021, when Phillips sparked a major search and rescue operation taking them into the bush for 17 days.
Phillips also has a fourth child, as revealed by Newshub last year. The little boy was born to another woman, prior to him disappearing with Jayda, Maverick and Ember in 2021. Newshub understands she has been cooperating with the investigation.
Phillips is known to have links across Western Waikato, including Ōtorohanga, Honikiwi and Marokopa.
Police say they have had multiple reports of suspicious activity across the region in the past two weeks, including possible sightings of Phillips, vehicle thefts and a firearms incident in Honikiwi.
Acting Detective Inspector Saunders stressed anyone helping Phillips would still be considered for immunity against prosecution if they came forward with information, even though the reward has expired.
He told Newshub his team will continue to search for the three missing Marokopa children and say Oranga Tamariki is on standby to assume responsibility for them if and when they are found.
"Police re-engaged with Oranga Tamariki a couple of weeks ago when we posted the reward. Short term Oranga Tamariki has the care of them and they have already made arrangements where those children will go, until the family court can determine custody arrangements."
