‘Harrowing reading’: what the inquiry into NZ fugitive father Tom Phillips revealed
Inquiry uncovered missed opportunities and failures by New Zealand police and government agencies that could have avoided four-year hunt
TL;DR
- Authorities underplayed or overlooked harm inflicted by Tom Phillips on his children over significant periods before and after he disappeared into the wilderness.
- Concerns raised by the children's mother and sisters about Phillips' controlling behavior and isolationist patterns were not adequately considered by Oranga Tamariki and police.
- Police questioned the credibility of allegations about Phillips' firearms due to a custody dispute and did not respond promptly to concerns.
- Phillips' anti-vaccination views and stated intention to 'disappear' with his children if another lockdown occurred were not sufficiently addressed.
- A public sighting of Phillips in May 2023 was a missed opportunity, with a dispatched police unit being diverted and follow-up occurring 10 days later.
- The inquiry made nine recommendations, including improved communication between agencies and prompt action on gun safety concerns.
- Government ministers and agency heads have apologized and accepted all findings and recommendations from the inquiry.