Mike Bain/cvnznews.com
The final report of the Public Inquiry into the disappearance of the Phillips children has been formally delivered to the Governor‑General’s office and handed to Attorney‑General Hon Chris Bishop, marking a pivotal moment in one of New Zealand’s most unsettling and enduring family tragedies. The report, now under Bishop’s review, will be presented to Parliament once suppression issues and justice‑related considerations are resolved.
But behind today’s procedural milestone lies a story that has haunted the King Country for years — a story of a father who vanished into the bush with his children, a nationwide manhunt, and a violent ending that left the country stunned.
Who Are the Phillips Children?
The Phillips children — Jayda, Maverick, and Ember — became known to New Zealanders in December 2021 when their father, Tom Phillips, disappeared with them from Marokopa, a remote coastal settlement in the King Country. What began as a missing‑persons case quickly escalated into one of the longest and most perplexing manhunts in modern New Zealand history.
Phillips, described by locals as resourceful, intelligent, and fiercely independent, was believed to be living off‑grid in dense bushland with the children. Despite repeated sightings, police searches, and public appeals, the family remained hidden for more than three years. The children’s welfare became a national concern, with authorities unable to confirm whether they were safe, healthy, or receiving any formal education or medical care.
A Violent Ending
The saga took a dramatic turn in early 2026 when Phillips was involved in a burglary in Piopio. Police confronted him during the incident, and Phillips was shot dead, ending the manhunt but leaving the fate and wellbeing of the children unresolved. Their whereabouts and circumstances at the time of his death remain subject to court orders and ongoing welfare considerations.
The Inquiry and Today’s Report
The Public Inquiry, announced by then‑Attorney‑General Judith Collins in November 2025, was tasked with examining the disappearance, the police response, inter‑agency coordination, and the broader systemic failures that allowed the situation to persist for years.
Bishop acknowledged the sensitivity of releasing the report: “There are relevant suppression orders in both the Family Court and High Court that need to be considered as we work through the plan for releasing this report. We also need to ensure the welfare of the children is appropriately safeguarded.”
He thanked Inquiry Chair Justice Simon Moore KC and his team for their work, noting that the Government will respond to the recommendations in the coming weeks.
What Happens Next
Once redactions are settled, the report will be tabled in the House of Representatives. Its findings are expected to shed light on how a father and three children could disappear for years in plain sight — and what must change to prevent such a case from ever happening again.
