Subj : Marokopa: Police helicopter combing area after $80k info reward
To   : All
From : News
Date : Wed Jun 12 2024 01:17 pm

By 1News Reporters
10:10am

The police Eagle helicopter has been deployed to Marokopa to assist with the
search for fugitive Tom Phillips and his three missing children following an
$80,000 reward offered for information on the case.


Yesterday police announced the reward for information that leads to the
location and safe return of Ember, 8, Maverick, 9, and Jayda, 10, who have
been missing since December 2021 after they were taken by their father Tom
Phillips.


In an update shortly before 10am, police said the Eagle helicopter was
deployed into Marokopa last night in support of the investigation.


"Residents of Marokopa and the surrounding area can expect to see an
increased Police presence in the area over the next days and we continue to
urge anyone that has credible, current information on the whereabouts of the
Phillips children to make themselves known to our officers," a police
spokesperson said.


Acting Detective Inspector Andy Saunders earlier told Breakfast police have
received "a number" of emails and calls since the reward was offered.


"We've had a number of members of the community engage with our police staff
out on the ground, we've had quite a number of emails through to our email
inbox and a number of calls."


He said this morning police staff would be "sifting through that information"
and prioritising it as to what further inquiries need to be made.


Saunders said over the two-and-a-half years since Phillips took his children
into the Marokopa bush, police have made multiple appeals for information to
no avail.


"We have collected a lot of information, but we haven't got the result we've
been hoping for."


"It's frustrating, but ultimately we have collected a lot of information in
that time, but we feel [a reward] is the next step."


He said the reward is targeting those with direct knowledge about the
whereabouts of the children and "inviting those people to come forward".


"Certainly, it is going to generate a lot of interest and information and
we're hoping within that we find the result we're looking for."


'It's time to come out' - mayor

Otorohanga District Mayor Max Baxter said the community want the children
back "safe and sound".


"Two-and-a-half years is a long time for these children to be missing from
society. The biggest concern out there for myself and as echoed in the
community is the welfare of the children.


"We just want them back safe and sound," he said.


Baxter said the Marokopa countryside is "isolated and rugged" and police have
poured a lot of resources into the investigation over the years.


"This here is backcountry New Zealand and anybody who has been for a fly over
New Zealand and looked down can see how dense our bush and native flora and
fauna is, you'll understand the challenges in front of the police.


"Unless you're a seasoned hunter and seasoned bushman, its very, very
challenging when you're looking for this family."


Baxter said the reward was "a considerable amount of money" for someone in
Marokopa who could be helping Phillips.


"I find it very hard to believe that he doesn't have help. It's a very long,
long time and he has three young children with him."

Regardless of the rewards, it's really about time Tom, to come out, come out
with your children for the sake of your whanau, the sake of your friends and
Marokopa.


"The sooner these kids come back out, then the better everybody is."

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