Mum of Marokopa fugitive Tom Phillips writes him letter: ‘Every day I hope you come home’

Tuesday, 19 August 2025

Phillips’ sister, Rozzi, shares a heartfelt plea - in the form of a handwritten letter - from their mother, Julia, to her fugitive son in an exclusive interview with Paddy Gower.

This video is part of this week's episode of Paddy Gower Has Issues, made with the support of New Zealand On Air.

The family of Marokopa fugitive Tom Phillips have given their first interview, with his mum writing a heartfelt letter to him and her three grandchildren.

The Phillips family appear on the first episode of Paddy Gower Has Issues in a desperate bid to get Tom and the kids, Jayda, Maverick and Ember, to come out of the bush. You can watch an excerpt above - the full episode is available on ThreeNow, and screens on Three tonight at 7.30pm.

Tom’s mother, Julia, has put her plea down on paper, hand-writing a letter described by his sister, Rozzi Phillips as “from a mother’s heart, just to her son”.

Tom Phillips’ mother, Julia, has penned a heartfelt letter to her fugitive son.

Rozzi read out the letter on behalf of her mother during an exclusive interview with me.

“Tom - I feel really sad that you thought you had to do this. Not considering how much we love you and can support you. It hurts every time I see photos of the children and of you and see some of your stuff that is still here. Thinking what could have been if you had not gone away.

“Jayda, Maverick, Ember - I love you so much and really miss being part of your lives.

“Everyday I wake up and hope that today will be the day that you will come home.”

The Phillips children - Ember, left, Maverick, centre, and Jayda - have been missing since December 2021.

The children have been missing since December 2021 - three years and eight months.

That means they’re coming to the end of their fourth winter in the bush - and in all that time, his parents, Neville and Julia, and wider family have all refused to give interviews.

They have changed their stance, and decided to speak out, in the belief that Tom will see their pleas on Paddy Gower Has Issues through his own means or via people helping him.

SISTER’S MESSAGE: “WE’RE READY TO HELP YOU”

In an exclusive interview on Paddy Gower Has Issues, Tom Phillips’ sister, Rozzi, has broken the family’s silence, hoping it will help them be reunited with Phillips and the children.

“Maybe he's going to see this, and maybe he's going to get to see that he can come home, and that we are here for him, and it might just be okay,” Rozzi told me.

She also made a direct plea to Tom to come home with the children.

“There's a lot of love and there's a lot of support, and we're ready to help you walk through what you need to walk through. I miss you, and I miss being part of your life, and I really want to see you and the kids and be part of your lives again. You're very special to me. You’re my friend, as well as my brother, and I love you, and it’s okay.”

FAMILY DESCRIBE A SKILLED BUSHMAN AND BUILDER

In our interview Rozzi also revealed how accomplished Tom is as a bushman.

As part of his school education, Tom Phillips spent six months on an outdoor survival skills programme.

As kids they regularly went hunting with their father. As a student, Tom boarded at the exclusive private St Paul’s Collegiate School in Hamilton and part of his education involved a six-month outdoor survival skills programme at Tihoi near Lake Taupō.

Rozzi believes her brother is a capable builder and would have built a hut or “nest” in the bush to keep the kids warm.

“I don't believe that he would have the children suffering.”

AUNTY’S MESSAGE TO THE MAROKOPA CHILDREN

Rozzi also wanted to give a direct message to her nieces and nephew.

“I'm proud to be your auntie. I took a lot of joy in being a part of your lives. You're important to me and our wider family and I'd love to see you again and be part of your lives again - and know for myself that all is truly well in your world.”

Phillips and his children have been missing since December 2021.

Their disappearance was reported to police the following month.

In June 2024, police offered an $80,000 reward for information that led to the location and safe return of the children.

The most recent confirmed sighting was in October 2024. They were spotted close to Marokopa, a remote community surrounded by bush on the west coast of the North Island, about halfway between Auckland and New Plymouth.

My wide-ranging interview with Rozzi Phillips covers a lot of new information about her brother, such as his upbringing and schooling, his hunting and bush skills, descriptions of the children from the Phillips family perspective and the potential reasons he is in the bush and what might get him out.

Watch full episodes of Paddy Gower Has Issues on Three, Tuesdays at 7.30pm, or stream anytime on ThreeNow.