A father and his three children—Jayda, 12, Maverick, 10, and Ember, 9—have been missing in New Zealand since 2021. Their disappearance followed a dispute with the children’s mother, Cat, and the last confirmed sighting was on October 3, 2023. Recently, teenagers filmed the children with their father, Tom Phillips, walking through the bush.

For Cat, the sighting brought mixed emotions. She said it felt like “Christmas came early,” but accused Tom of using the children as “pawns” to punish her.

Tom’s mother, Julia, shared her grief: “Every day I wake up and hope that today will be the day that you all come home. It hurts every time I see photos of the children.” She also sent a message: “Jayda, Maverick, Ember—I love you so much and really miss being part of your lives.”

His sister Rozzi added, “There’s a lot of love and support. We’re ready to help you walk through what you need to walk through.”

Authorities believe Tom, a skilled builder, may have built shelter in the Waikato bush where the family is hiding.