A sweeping public inquiry into the case of Tom Phillips, who spent nearly four years in the New Zealand wilderness with his three children, has concluded that government agencies and police repeatedly ignored warning signs and failed to adequately protect the minors. The inquiry examined the actions of authorities both before and after Phillips, who did not have legal custody, vanished into the North Island’s rugged terrain in 2021.
The report highlights that police and Oranga Tamariki (OT), the ministry for children, frequently downplayed or overlooked the harm Phillips inflicted on his family. According to findings, authorities were slow to act on critical information, and the initial search effort was launched too late. The inquiry specifically criticized the police for adopting a “low-key approach,” which investigators noted was based on the “misconceived view that there were no concerns for the children’s welfare.”
Oranga Tamariki was also found to be dismissive of warnings from the children’s maternal family. Following Phillips’ first disappearance, the agency reportedly informed the family court that the children were “completely fine” and suggested that further involvement was unnecessary. The inquiry noted that had the agency listened to the children’s mother, Ms Smith, and the children's two sisters, it might have been possible to prevent or hinder the second disappearance. The sisters, who had lived with Phillips, were described as being “uniquely placed” to understand the family dynamics, yet it was deemed “regrettable” that the agency failed to consult them.
Ms Smith had previously reported Phillips’ controlling behavior and informed police that he had cached multiple firearms throughout the area. However, the inquiry found that police disregarded these allegations, questioning her credibility due to an ongoing custody dispute. Prior to his second disappearance, police had built a detailed profile of Phillips, noting his poor living conditions, excessive alcohol consumption, and a clear disdain for government agencies. Reports from 2021 indicated that police were aware Phillips was prepared to “put the children’s wellbeing at risk by hiding them” to deny access to their mother. Although his firearms license was suspended and police identified a need for mental health support, the inquiry found no evidence that such assistance was ever provided.
In May 2023, a potential opportunity to locate the family was missed near Marokopa. A local resident reported seeing a man matching Phillips' description with children in his car; however, the police unit dispatched to the scene was diverted to another incident, and there was no evidence of a follow-up visit to the site until 10 days later.
Following the report, which concluded with 41 findings and nine recommendations, Minister for Social Development Louise Upston apologized to the children. Oranga Tamariki chief executive Amanda Malu described the findings as “harrowing reading,” while Police Commissioner Richard Chambers acknowledged that “gaps” in communication and resource allocation existed. Phillips was eventually shot dead by police in August 2025.
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