Members of the public set up a roadblock at the Kawhia Lookout on State Highway 31 on Wednesday night in an attempt to catch wanted man Tom Phillips.
Mr Phillips disappeared with his three children; Jayda, Maverick, and Ember, in December 2021.
On Wednesday, he was sighted three times around the Waikato region, the first such sightings in more than 18 months.
Locals say they recognised the stolen Toyota Hilux ute Mr Phillips was driving near the town of Pirongia, and pursued the vehicle in an attempt to retrieve it.
They organised a road block, but it was unsuccessful, with Mr Phillips turning off into a driveway near Kawhia, damaging a farm gate, and disappearing again.
Ruby is the caretaker of Te Kauri Lodge, near the driveway where Mr Phillips turned off, and she spoke to RNZ's Hamilton reporter Libby Kirkby-McLeod.
Now, the police are asking for any other sightings of Tom Phillips, and any help they can get to locate him and his children.
They believe he is being helped by people in the community.
The police declined to come on the programme today, but they say their primary focus is the welfare of Mr Phillips' children.
