Launching a full public inquiry regarding a shocking case, the government of New Zealand on November 26, 2025, made its importance very clear.
The case, involving a father, Tom Phillips, vanished with his three children into remote forest land, where they remained hidden for nearly four years. Disappearing in December 2021 from his usual rural hometown in North Island along with his then 5-, 7-, and 8-year-olds, for years the family evaded authorities while surviving off-grid and living in camps in the deep rural wilderness.
The children had already been present subjects in family court meetings, specifically over custody and care arrangements, since 2018.
However, Phillips lost his life in September 2025 during a police confrontation over a robbery. One child, who was already with him at the time, was found by the authorities, and the other two were later located camping in a remote forest.
The New Zealand Attorney General announced the inquiry, which the government then ordered. It will be led by Mr. Simon Moore, the former High Court Judge. Its charge is to investigate thoroughly whether government agencies and law enforcement took “all workable steps” to protect the wellness and safety of the children and to analyze potential failures in policing as well as child protection over the last few years. The final report on this devastating matter is expected to be released by July 2026.
Shocking not only the civilians of New Zealand but also making a statement in the global view, many now question how Phillips and the children could avoid detection for so long, despite the claimed sightings and previous contact with legal and social services.
The inquiry represents a major attempt by the government to rebuild the trust of the public and examine failures in agency coordination and policing, as well as child welfare.
To quote one official, the investigation targets to assure that “systemic failures are addressed so no child ever again slips through the cracks.”
Though the questions remain on how Phillips managed such a living situation, or if they had third-party outside support, or what the full records of the law enforcement actions regarding this case are, its findings aim to strengthen child protection, improve agency coordination, and ensure such a prolonged disappearance can never happen again in New Zealand.
