Missing Marokopa man Tom Phillips: Police won’t extend deadline for $80,000 reward for missing Phillips children

By RNZ

Police won’t extend the deadline for the $80,000 reward for information on a missing Marokopa man and his three children.

Ember, Maverick and Jayda Phillips have been missing since December 12, 2021, when they were taken by their father, Tom Phillips, to an unknown location, thought by police to be in Western Waikato, within Marokopa or the surrounding areas.

Police were working through more than 40 pieces of information as the deadline for the $80,000 reward ends on Tuesday.

Detective Inspector Andrew Saunders told Radion NZ’s Morning Report they had not received the “gold nugget” that led them directly to the children.

Saunders said information continued to come through daily including alleged sightings, suspicious activity and certain types of offences that had happened in the area of interest.

“We’ve got some good follow-ups to do but that might take a number of weeks.”

Investigators were still hoping to hear from the people they believe are helping the family stay hidden, he said.

The reward was deliberately set for two weeks to target those people.

“If they’re not going to come forward in that two weeks they’re probably never going to come forward.

“Once the reward is finished we’ve still got a considerable amount of work and inquiries to continue with.”

Saunders said a letter released on social media by the children’s mother was of no interest to the investigation as it was received well before they went missing.

But her appeals to the public, along with the reward offer, had “reignited” the public response.

“With a steady flow of information, that’s what’s always helpful to us.”

- RNZ