Footage shows moment children who vanished three years ago are spotted in wilderness with dad

Footage of a man who went missing along with his three children in 2021 is believed to be the first time they've all been seen together since their disappearance. New Zealand man Tom Phillips went missing along with his three children; eight-year-old Jayda, six-year-old Maverick and five-year-old Ember back in 2021.

They returned after several days with Phillips claiming he'd just taken his kids on a camping trip, but an extensive search had been launched to find them, resulting in him being charged with wasting police resources.

He was given a court date but never made it, having disappeared once again with his three children this time seemingly for good.

There have been a few scant appearances since then, but on 3 October a group of pig hunters spotted a man with a gun and three children wearing camo gear walking nearby.

Tom Phillips and his three children were seen together for the first time since they went missing. (YouTube/1News)

Police called it a 'credible' sighting of Tom Phillips and the three children, and said it was good news for their family.

Detective Inspector Andrew Saunders said: "This is the first time all three of the children have been sighted, which is positive information, and we know it will be reassuring for the children's wider family."

According to Stuff, one of the pig hunters who interacted with the Phillips family was the grandson of John McOviney, who described the encounter his grandson had with the family.

McOviney recounted: "He said to them, ‘What are you doing here? Who are you? Does anybody else know you’re here?’ The kid said ‘only you’, and then they just kept walking."

The pig hunters described the man leading the children as carrying a gun and wearing a long beard, while the three kids were carrying packs of equipment.

Cat, the mother to Jayda, Maverick and Ember, welcomed the sighting of all of her children together.

Speaking to the NZ Herald she said: "I’m so happy that they’re all there.

"I’m so relieved to see all three of my babies. They’re all alive."

In response to the footage a three day police search was launched, failing to track down Tom Phillips or his children.

Tom Phillips, who three years ago took his children and disappeared. (NZ Police)

Police have said they believe that Phillips is being helped by others, with DI Saunders saying they were 'urging anyone who’s doing this to please stop, do the right thing and tell police what you know'.

There is a warrant for the arrest of Tom Phillips after he was suspected to have carried out an armed bank robbery in the New Zealand town of Te Kuiti last year.

Phillips has been charged with aggravated robbery, wounding and unlawful possession of a firearm for his suspected part in the bank robbery, and it is believed that one of his children was an accomplice.

This picture from 2023 is thought to show Tom Phillips and one of his children. (NZ Police)

Earlier this year police offered a reward of up to $80,000NZ (£37,000) for information that would lead to the safe return of the children.

The reward unfortunately expired without being claimed as Phillips and his children are still out there.

They also offered legal immunity to anyone who might have been helping Phillips and wanted to come forward.