A father and his three children are believed to have been spotted for the first time in three years after they disappeared to live in the New Zealand wilderness.

Mum of the three children, Catherine, has now shared a chilling theory about a potential cry for help her child may have made.

Tom Philips with his daughter Jayda, now 11, nine-year-old son Maverick and daughter Ember, eight, vanished from the town Marokpa in the north of the country in December 2021.

But new grainy footage shot on October 3 appeared to show the family dressed in camouflage gear walking along rolling hills outside of their former town.

Catherine said she is thrilled to see her children are still alive, but believes her daughter tried to get a ‘message’ out to the public when responding to hunters who took the footage.

One of the boys who took the footage recalled: ‘I said, ”This is private property”, and she was like, ”Yeah… duh”. Then I asked, ”Does anyone know you’re on here” and she said, ”No, just you guys.”‘

Youngest daughter Ember suffers from asthma (Picture: Waikato Police)

Jayda, now 11, went missing with her family in December 2021 (Picture: Waikato Police)

Maverick, nine, was spottted by his mother in the grainy footage (Picture: Waikato Police)Cat said: ‘Is that a cry for help? Is that ”Does anybody know that we’re here? Is anyone coming for us?” We don’t get to hear the tone of her voice but to me, that’s what I think,’ she said in an interview.

She added: ‘It’s like she’s trying to say something without actually saying something because her father is right there, and she’s worried if she says the wrong thing and words it the wrong way, she’s worried about later repercussions.’

The mum previously told the New Zealand Herald: ‘I’m so happy that they’re all there. I’m so relieved to see all three of my babies. They’re all alive.’

Catherine previously expressed her worry her children are in danger, slamming Philips for ‘child endangerment’.

She said: ‘Ember is asthmatic as am I and she needs medical care that cannot be provided from the land.

‘Many of you say that the children are fine and they are being well looked after.

‘How do you know? Have you seen them? Or is it just bush talk? What Thomas is doing is not OK. It is not OK to divide and conquer, to isolate and control.

‘It is child neglect, it is child abandonment, it is child abuse. My babies deserve better.’

Police Detective Inspector Andrew Saunders confirmed the latest sighting was ‘credible’.

He said: ‘While nothing further of significance was located, investigators will now assess information gathered to determine any next steps.

‘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.’

Thomas Phillip is wanted by New Zealand Police (Picture: New Zealand Police)

The family are believed to have spotted in grainy footage (Picture: TVNZ)
Philips and his three children first disappeared in September 2021, but returned to their farm 18 days later after living in a tent in the dense bushland.

But they disappeared again months later, with the last sighting being December 9, 2021.

Philips then failed to appear at court in January 2022 for a charge of causing wasteful deployment of police personnel and resources.

He is also wanted over an alleged armed robbery of a bank in Te Kuiti in September 2023.

They were seen in the bushland outside their old town of Marokpa (Picture: New Zealand Police)
The public have been warned to not approach Philips, despite there having been at least 40 sightings which officers have deemed significant.

Inspector Saunders said he believes the dad has had help while he has been on the run.

He said: ‘Immunity against prosecution will be considered for anyone who has committed an offence in assisting Tom Phillips, if they provide information or evidence which leads to the location and safe return of the children.’