The New Zealand government apologized to three of Tom Phillips' children, who had been hiding with him in a dense forest for years. This apology was made following a public inquiry that criticized officials for not paying enough attention to the risks and harms to the children.
Criticism of Officials
Christopher Luxon, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, said on Wednesday: "Important opportunities were missed, and we are sorry for the impact on these children." He added that the report showed there were opportunities for improvement.
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The inquiry report, published on Tuesday, revealed that the harms caused by Phillips' separation from his children during their absence were "minimized, overlooked, or downplayed." Additionally, the concerns raised by the children's mother and relatives were "often minimized as part of a family dispute."
Details of the Disappearance and the Children's Condition
The inquiry showed that this was not the first time Phillips had disappeared with his children from Marakopa, a small town on New Zealand's North Island, in December 2021. However, the officials involved in the case did not act quickly enough. Phillips was killed in September 2025 while fleeing from a robbery and during a shootout with the police.
Two other children were found in an unauthorized camp where a cache of weapons was also discovered. Phillips had forced the children to live in forest camps for years, and they had no access to education or healthcare. Since the children were found, officials have not disclosed details about their living arrangements or guardianship.
Amanda Malu, the executive director of Oranga Tamariki, said that this report was "troubling and in some cases heartbreaking." She praised the courage of the children's mother and older sisters, adding: "We did not listen in the way we should have, and this family deserved better than this."
Questions about the scope and intensity of the search efforts at the time of the family's disappearance sparked heated discussions in New Zealand and prompted investigations. Louise Upston, the Minister of Social Development, stated that important opportunities were missed in this regard.
She also noted that in 2023, after observing the family, officials did not act quickly enough.
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Source: independent.co.uk
