A relative of a man missing on the Waikato west coast along with three young children says his family is hopeful he is hiding in the bush somewhere.
Thirty-four-year-old Thomas Phillips and his three young children were last seen at Marokopa Beach on Saturday evening.
The alert wasn't raised until Monday and so far the extensive hunt along the coastline and in dense bush has failed to find any sign of them.
Thomas Phillips' uncle Paul Phillips told Morning Report he has found the disappearance easier to handle after discussing it with his brother and sister-in-law.
"They're actually very positive, looking on the bright side. Probably coping a lot better than I am actually."
Paul Phillips said Thomas Phillips knew the local area well and was a very competent bushman, meaning the family was hopeful he was still in the bush.
"They're hoping he has just gone and hidden in the bush."
He said Thomas Phillips was a dedicated father who looked after his children well and he does not know why the family would have gone into the bush.
