Kids Found with Fugitive Dad Are 'Doing Well' — But Mom Still Doesn’t Know When She’ll See Them By Christina Coulter

The mother of three New Zealand children who were found safe at a remote campsite after vanishing with their father nearly four years ago says she still hasn’t been told when she’ll be reunited with them — even as authorities say the siblings are safe and “doing well under the circumstances.”

Cat — identified by just her first name in local reporting — told RNZ’s Mata that there is no timeline or plan for reunification with her children Jayda, 12, Maverick, 10, and Ember, 9, a point also reported by the New Zealand Herald and the Otago Daily Times. 

Police fatally shot Tom Phillips during an early-morning confrontation this week after a burglary call in the Waikato district. Acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers said in a press release that Phillips’ eldest child was with him at the scene; the other two were located more than 12 hours later at a remote campsite, about two kilometers away.

Police later released photos showing the well-hidden campsite in dense bush. Camouflage netting, tarpaulins and gas equipment — shown and described in New Zealand Police release — indicate that the site had been used for an extended period. Roughly 200 meters away, another site contained sleeping bags and cooking areas. Investigators also documented vehicles — like a quad bike — supplies and a cache of ammunition.

Rogers added the children were “well and uninjured” and were taken for medical checks. 

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Oranga Tamariki — New Zealand’s Ministry for Children, the country’s child-welfare agency — later said the siblings “had a settled night” and are “doing well under the circumstances” while engaging with staff supporting them. 

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“We are deeply relieved that for our tamariki [children] this ordeal has come to an end,” Cat said in a statement shared with RNZ, adding that the family looks forward to welcoming them home with love and care. 

Officials say any reunification must follow Family Court orders and child-welfare protocols. Police Minister Mark Mitchell told RNZ it is a “very complex situation,” noting agencies are focused on the children’s safety and recovery. 

Investigators are also examining how Phillips stayed hidden for years and whether others helped him. Police have said the inquiry is ongoing, and authorities have said they believe he received “outside help,” PEOPLE previously reported.