The maker behind a controversial documentary following the hunt for the Phillips’ family says she has never asked to film the children involved and has abided by strict police rules at all times.
It comes after pushback from the children’s mother and family, who said they have not consented in any way to the production.
Reality TV legend Dame Julie Christie has defended the documentary, saying it follows the detectives tasked with the years-long search.
A film crew has been following their disappearance for most of the year, gaining exclusive access to the police investigation.
Herald NOW’s Ryan Bridge received a text from Christie which said she was abiding by the strict rules put in place by police.
“We have never asked to shoot anything with the children. We have been with the same small group of detectives only, for the past seven months. We have not seen the children. We abide by strict police rules at all times.” *
In a statement to RNZ, Phillips’ sister Rozzi Phillips spoke out against the documentary.
“Our family is disturbed that anyone would want to profit from our tragedy. At this worst of times, the children’s privacy must be protected. They should not be filmed. No footage of them should be published, and their ordeal and recovery should not be used for entertainment.”
The mother of the Phillips children, Cat, has told RNZ Māori news podcast Mata that she does not support or consent to a documentary being made.
Earlier, Police Minister Mark Mitchell told Breakfast that although he knows there is a high level of public interest, the children’s privacy must continue to be protected in the documentary.
He said it was his understanding that police had full editorial control.
“The broader question for me with the children is that we’re a free country.
“How do we make sure that they’re safe? That they are reintegrated, and that they’re protected from… public scrutiny, media scrutiny so that they can actually get on with their lives?”
Acting executive director for media and communications for police, Claire Trevett, said police had never given the documentary crew access to film anything involving the children, nor had such access been sought, she said.
“The agreement with police specifies that, beyond photos already in the media, the children will not be identified on screen in the film.”
Trevett said this applies unless there is written consent from both the children’s legal guardian and police.
She confirmed that police are not receiving any payment for participating.
The production is not allowed to be broadcast before the completion of any Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA), coronial or other inquiries, Trevett said.