"We are beside ourselves with worry and need more than anything to know the kids are well." The mother of three children who've been missing in the bush along with their father for more than five months has put out a statement pleading for them to be found.
Police are hunting for Marokopa man Tom Phillips and his children after they disappeared in December for the second time.
Phillips and his kids went bush in September, sparking a massive police search operation, only for him to wander home with the children safe and well after living in a tent in dense bush.
He was charged with wasting police time, but failed to show-up at his court appearance and went missing again with the children.
Ōtorohanga District Council Mayor Max Baxter says concerns for the missing Marokopa children are being heightened by the day, as winter approaches.
He told Checkpoint all evidence points to the three children still being in the bush with their father.
"The worry is when we're talking about three children and they're not particularly old as we know the bush is incredibly tough, we've seen the weather change considerably over the last few days, from frosty mornings ... to torrential rain on the way. So not easy conditions even for adults to be living in."
Baxter said he thinks someone must be assisting the father and missing children.
"You can't hide out for that long," without supplies, he said.
"Now's the time to come out. Look after the kids. Get them back in a nice warm house. Get them back to school."
