Most people never imagine that a routine custody dispute could spiral into a four-year national manhunt. But that’s exactly what happened in New Zealand, where Tom Phillips took his three children and vanished in December 2021.
Years on the run: 4 ·
Children involved: 3 ·
Outcome date: September 2025 ·
Fatal ending: Shot dead by police ·
Primary motivation alleged: Custody dispute
Quick snapshot
- Tom Phillips disappeared with three children from Marokopa, Waikato, in December 2021 (BBC News)
- Children Ember, Maverick, Jayda were aged 9, 10, 12 when found (The Guardian)
- Phillips died in police shooting on September 8, 2025 (The Guardian)
- Children recovered alive, placed in Oranga Tamariki care (CNN)
- Exact motives beyond the custody dispute
- How Phillips evaded capture for nearly four years
- Whether the 2023 robbery attempt was an isolated incident
- Dec 2021: Disappearance begins after custody ruling
- Mar 2025: Police renew manhunt with public appeals
- Aug 2025: CCTV shows Phillips with child breaking into store
- Sep 8, 2025: Fatal confrontation near Piopio
- Family Court proceedings for the children
- Police inquiry into the shooting
- Potential public inquiry into handling of the case
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Tom Phillips |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Event type | Parental abduction / fugitive manhunt |
| Duration | 4 years |
| End date | September 2025 |
| Outcome for Phillips | Deceased (police shooting) |
| Outcome for children | Safe |
Why did Tom Phillips take the children?
Alleged custody dispute motivation
The most widely cited reason behind the disappearance is a custody dispute. Police believed Phillips took his three children after losing legal custody to their mother, according to BBC News. The children — Ember, Maverick, and Jayda, aged 9, 10, and 12 in 2025 — had been subject to Family Court proceedings since 2018, according to Wikipedia.
A Family Court parenting order was varied in October 2021 to require Phillips to reside at a specified address, according to University of Auckland research. The variation occurred after Phillips had already disappeared for 19 days.
By the time a court order required him to stay put, Phillips was already gone. For anyone following the case, this mismatch between court orders and reality — a father acting before the law caught up — made the situation particularly charged.
Legal background of the case
The Family Court of New Zealand had guardianship of the children by September 2025, with Oranga Tamariki acting as agent of the court, according to a statement from the Principal Family Court Judge. This level of court involvement suggests the case was anything but straightforward.
After the children were recovered, they were placed in the care of Oranga Tamariki, New Zealand’s state child welfare agency, as reported by CNN.
The implication: the legal framework around custody gave Phillips limited options — and rather than comply, he chose to disappear with his children entirely.
Does Tom Phillips have a wife?
Marital status at time of disappearance
Tom Phillips was separated from his partner — the mother of his three children — at the time of the disappearance, according to BBC News. He did not have legal custody at the time.
The BBC report characterized the relationship as a separation, not a divorce, and noted the mother was the custodial parent under the Family Court’s interim arrangements.
Phillips’ marital separation — and the subsequent custody loss — is the core trigger for the entire case. Without that personal context, the four-year manhunt makes no sense.
Relationship with children’s mother
The mother reported the children missing after they failed to return following a scheduled visit with Phillips, according to The Guardian. Her identity has not been made public by New Zealand authorities.
The pattern: a custody arrangement intended to protect all parties instead became the detonator for the largest manhunt in recent New Zealand history.
Who is the mother of Tom Phillips’ children?
Identity of the mother
The mother of Tom Phillips’ three children has not been publicly named. Media outlets including BBC News and The Guardian have respected her anonymity, citing concerns for her safety and privacy.
Her role in the search
The mother reported the children missing in December 2021 and cooperated with New Zealand Police throughout the manhunt, according to The Guardian. She was the driving force behind the initial police alert.
For the children’s mother, the four-year ordeal meant waiting — and hoping — while the man she’d separated from kept her children out of reach. The relief of their recovery was tempered by the knowledge of how it happened.
How four-year hunt for New Zealand dad unfolded
Initial disappearance in 2021
Tom Phillips and his three children left their home in Marokopa, Waikato, in December 2021. The exact date remains undisclosed by police. The case became one of New Zealand’s longest-running manhunts, as reported by The Guardian.
Police search efforts
New Zealand Police renewed their hunt for Phillips and the children in March 2025, according to CNN. In August 2025, police released CCTV footage believed to show Phillips and one of his children breaking into a store, as reported by ABC News Australia. The footage was linked to the same store Phillips allegedly attempted to rob in 2023.
The implication: Phillips wasn’t hiding in the bush the whole time — he was active, making supply runs, and leaving traces.
Final confrontation in 2025
On September 8, 2025, police confronted Phillips near Piopio after responding to a burglary report. According to The Guardian, police deployed road spikes to stop his vehicle. Phillips opened fire, and police returned fire, killing him. A police officer was shot in the head during the incident and survived.
One child was found at the scene of the shooting, and the remaining two were located later that day. All three were alive and placed in the care of Oranga Tamariki, according to The Guardian.
What is Thomas Philips known for?
Tom Phillips the artist vs. Tom Phillips the fugitive
There is potential confusion between Tom Phillips the New Zealand fugitive and Thomas Phillips, the English artist (1937–2022). Thomas Phillips was a well-known visual artist and composer, according to Wikipedia.
The two are completely unrelated. The fugitive Tom Phillips is a New Zealand citizen with no known connection to the art world.
“The case has been one of New Zealand’s longest-running manhunts.”
The Guardian
The catch: anyone searching for “Thomas Phillips artist” will find a very different person — and the wrong answers could mislead readers about the manhunt entirely.
Timeline of the Tom Phillips case
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| December 2021 | Tom Phillips disappears with three children from Marokopa, Waikato |
| 2021–2025 | Police conduct nationwide manhunt; family remains hidden |
| March 2025 | Police renew public appeals for information about Phillips |
| August 2025 | CCTV footage shows Phillips with a child breaking into a store |
| September 8, 2025 | Police confront Phillips; officer shot; Phillips killed; children recovered |
For the children’s mother, the four-year wait meant one phone call: a police officer telling her the manhunt was over. The relief of recovery and the grief of a violent ending — that’s the trade-off no one prepares for.
bbc.com, upi.com, washingtonpost.com, auckland.ac.nz, southernscope.nz
For a deeper look at the timeline and key events, see the four-year hunt for Tom Phillips.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Tom Phillips take his children?
The primary motive appears to be a custody dispute. Police believe Phillips took his children after losing legal custody to their mother, as reported by BBC News.
How long was Tom Phillips on the run?
Phillips was on the run for nearly four years, from December 2021 until his death in September 2025.
Where did Tom Phillips hide?
Phillips evaded police for four years, including living in the bush near Marokopa, Waikato. He was found in September 2025 near Piopio after being spotted during a burglary.
Was Tom Phillips armed?
Yes. During the final confrontation, Phillips opened fire on police, hitting one officer in the head. A police officer shot him, according to The Guardian.
Are the children safe?
Yes. All three children — Ember, Maverick, and Jayda — were recovered alive on September 8, 2025, and placed in the care of Oranga Tamariki, according to CNN.
What happened to Tom Phillips in September 2025?
Tom Phillips was killed by police on September 8, 2025, after a confrontation in which he opened fire. A police officer was shot in the head but survived, as reported by The Guardian.
Who was the mother of Tom Phillips’ children?
The mother has not been named publicly. She reported the children missing in December 2021 and cooperated with police throughout the manhunt.
For New Zealand families caught in similar custody disputes, the Phillips case is a cautionary tale: when a court order becomes the trigger for a desperate act, the consequences ripple far beyond the court.
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Catherine Roy is Editor-in-Chief at Australia Focus, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.