The investigation revealed that New Zealand authorities were negligent in the case of Tom Phillips, who kept three children in a forest area for almost four years. The investigation began in November 2025 to determine how relevant bodies and involved individuals acted in this situation, which left the three children under the care of a father already deemed neglectful.
According to the document released on Tuesday and quoted by international press, the harm caused to the children as a result of the isolation was 'underestimated, minimized, or ignored' over 'significant periods.' Allegations were made not only against the police but also against the Ministry of Children's Affairs, known as Oranga Tamariki.
It was noted that the children's mother and relatives, including older siblings, repeatedly expressed concerns. However, these worries were 'often downplayed as part of the debate about the children's education.'
How the situation developed
It is explained that the children disappeared in December 2021, although this was not the first instance, but the longest. Since Tom Phillips had previously disappeared with the children—who were then 5, 7, and 8 years old—the authorities did not show 'urgency' in their actions.
The man went missing from Marokopa, a rural community on the North Island. The analysis also indicates that the police made mistakes during the investigation: another incident occurred before this disappearance, and two years after Tom Phillips' final disappearance in 2023, the authorities failed to conduct searches or use military force, which should have happened. Furthermore, no warrants were issued.
The report does not name the employees involved in this situation, which prevents the investigation from moving towards potential charges. Nevertheless, the New Zealand government has committed to implementing the recommendations contained in the report.
The children were found after Tom Phillips was killed by police agents in September while fleeing an attack in which he took one of his sons. During the escape, the man also injured a police officer, who, although not killed, sustained serious injuries. Subsequently, the police discovered the other two children near an 'arsenal of weapons' in an improvised camp nearby.
It is explained that the children likely did not stray far from the home from which they were taken throughout the years of isolation, without access to medical care or education. The younger ones lived in 'terrible' and 'precarious' conditions. Despite being found a year ago and the investigation being opened, it is unknown where or with whom the children are currently.