Missing Marokopa family: Police spend less on search than reward

• Police have spent nearly $50,600 searching for Tom Phillips and his children, missing since December 2021.
• An $80,000 reward was offered for information leading to the children’s safe return.
• The offer was to remain up until June 25, 2024.

By Finn Blackwell of RNZ

Police in Waikato have offered more in reward money earlier this year than they have spent in their search for missing Marokopa man Tom Phillips and his children.

The police have spent just shy of $50,600 hunting for Phillips and his children Jayda, Ember, and Maverick, who haven’t been seen since December 2021.

Police announced an $80,000 reward for information leading to the safe return of the children in June.

Police have spent nearly $50,600 searching for Tom Phillips and his children, missing since December 2021. Photo / NZME

The reward was to be shared out if there was more than one claimant, and Phillips himself was not eligible to claim the cash.

The offer was to remain up until June 25, 2024.

Immunity against prosecution would also be considered for anyone who has committed an offence in assisting Tom Phillips if they provided information or evidence that led to the location and safe return of the children.

Their location was unknown but was thought to be in the King Country or Waitomo District.

Tom Phillips and his three children, Ember, Maverick and Jayda, were spotted in the Marokopa bush earlier this year by pig hunters.

Data revealed to RNZ through the Official Information Act shows costs have been recorded from August 2023.

The search has cost $50,593 as of December 5, 2024, with $34,341 going towards internal travel and $4721 on renting equipment.

Renting the Eagle helicopter for the search has cost $4192.

Other costs included transport and other specialist fees.

Police also recorded computer costs, photocopying costs and $153 spent at the McDonald’s fast-food restaurant in Ōtorohanga.

A police spokesperson told RNZ it was extremely difficult to produce an accurate cost for staff deployment because of the number of staff, work groups and various stages that they have been deployed at.

Phillips' father, Neville Phillips, spoke out in November for the first time since his son and grandchildren went missing.

He believed there was only one way for the manhunt to end.

“There’s one conclusion,” Neville Phillips told Stuff from his King Country home.

“Just leave [Tom] alone, walk away.”

Phillips explained his discontent with how the disappearance of his son and grandchildren has been reported and said there is more to the story than what has been revealed.

- RNZ