Tom Phillips case: New Zealand to hold public inquiry into disappearance of fugitive father and children

Original article by Eva Corlett in Wellington

A public inquiry will be held into the authorities’ handling of the disappearance of fugitive father Tom Phillips with his three children, who hid in New Zealand’s wilderness for nearly four years, the government has announced.

Phillips disappeared into the rugged North Island wilderness with his children just before Christmas in 2021, following a dispute with their mother. He did not have legal custody of his children.

In August, he was killed in an exchange of fire with police after reports of a burglary in the remote town of Piopio, in the central North Island. A police officer was shot and required surgery.

Two of Phillips’ children were found at a campsite in Waitomo later that day, and it is understood the third child was with Phillips at the time of the shooting. The children are now in the custody of Oranga Tamariki, the country’s child protection agency.

The attorney general, Judith Collins, said on Thursday the decision to establish a public inquiry was due to the significant public interest in the case, and concern with the children’s welfare.

“The inquiry will look into whether government agencies took all practicable steps to protect the safety and welfare of the Phillips children,” Collins said in a statement.

“It is important that we establish the facts and determine whether agencies could take steps to prevent or resolve similar situations more quickly and effectively in the future.”

The terms of reference cited the “exceptional, if not unique” facts of the case and said the inquiry would investigate agencies’ engagement with Phillips before and after he disappeared.

Justice Simon Moore KC has been appointed the sole member of the inquiry, which will be conducted in private to ensure the children’s safety. A report is due back in July 2026.

The vast Waikato region where Phillips hid is made up of long sweeping coastline to the west, forested terrain and farmland in the centre, limestone cave networks to the north and a smattering of small rural towns and settlements throughout.

The terrain frustrated police attempts to find him and prompted multiple searches, offers of rewards, and pleas for information from family members and the police.

New Zealand struggled to understand how, in a country of close-knit communities, Phillips could have evaded detection but police believe Phillips received outside help and inquiries into identifying those who aided him are under way.