Inquiry into Tom Phillips Disappearance to Prioritize Child Welfare

The New Zealand government has launched an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Tom Phillips, with a strong emphasis on the welfare of his children. Attorney-General Judith Collins announced the inquiry, which aims to determine whether government agencies took all necessary steps to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the three Phillips children.

Tom Phillips vanished in December 2021 along with his three young children from Marokopa, located on the Waikato coast. The case has drawn significant public attention, particularly following the tragic events of September 8, 2023, when police fatally shot Phillips during an attempted apprehension. An officer was also critically injured in the encounter, which marked a dramatic turn in the long search for the family.

During an interview on Herald NOW, Judith Collins expressed the need for clarity regarding the efforts made to protect the Phillips children. She stated, “The Phillips children deserve to know who did what to try and save them, because actually they were [gone] almost four years in the bush with their father, and what they would have gone through would have been a very awful sort of hell, frankly.”

The inquiry will focus on the actions—or inactions—of government bodies during the nearly four years that the children were unaccounted for. The government’s commitment to uncovering the full truth is seen as essential for providing answers not only to the children but also to the community that has been deeply affected by the family’s ordeal.

Collins emphasized that the well-being of the children is of paramount importance. The inquiry aims to review the responses of various agencies, including social services and law enforcement, to explore whether adequate measures were implemented to safeguard the children’s welfare in the face of an increasingly complex situation.

As the investigation unfolds, it will delve into the timeline of events leading up to Phillips’ disappearance and the subsequent responses from authorities. This includes examining the support systems that were—or were not—available to the family during their time in hiding.

The inquiry is expected to provide a comprehensive overview of the government’s handling of the situation and may lead to recommendations for improving protocols regarding child protection in similar circumstances.

The community remains hopeful that this inquiry will not only shed light on the tragic events surrounding the Phillips family but will also contribute to better safeguarding measures for children in vulnerable situations. As the investigation progresses, the focus remains squarely on ensuring that the voices of the Phillips children are heard and that their needs are prioritized.