Sister of man who vanished with children four years ago gives insight into disappearance in heartbreaking first statement

The sister of a man who is believed to have taken his children into the wilderness has spoken out for the first time in a heartbreaking plea.

Tom Phillips has reportedly been camping out somewhere in the vast New Zealand bush with his three children, Jayda, 12, Maverick, 10 and Ember, nine, since 2021 after taking the youngsters following a legal custody battle with their mom, Cat.

While a nationwide search for the past four years has failed to find Tom and the kids, the last known public sighting of the family was recorded on October 3 last year.

A group of teenage pig hunters reportedly spotted the dad and the three children trekking through the bush in Marokopa and took a video of them.

Cat said she was 'grateful' for the teens taking the footage and said it felt like Christmas had come 'early' but feared her former partner was treating their children as 'pawns' and is trying to 'teach [her] a lesson.'

The last suspected sighting of Tom and the family was in October (1News)

Now, Tom's own family have spoken out for the first time by issuing a heartbreaking appeal directly to him.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with New Zealand news site Stuff, his sister Rozzi Phillips revealed the emotional toll his disappearance and fugitive status is having on the family.

In her emotional interview, the woman revealed all her attempts to contact her brother have gone unanswered for the past four years, even though her emails and texts were marked as delivered.

In hopes he might be able to hear her message now, Rozzi said: "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 and you're my friend as well as my brother and I love you and it's OK.

"I want to see you again. I really want to see you again."

Rozzi has spoken out for the first time about her brother's disappearance (Stuff/YouTube)

To the children, she added: "I'm proud to be your auntie. I took a lot of joy in being a part of your lives 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."

Rozzi said before vanishing in 2021, Tom was a 'top man' and a 'good brother' who 'loves his kids [and] his family'.

She also said he's a skilled hunter, scavenger and builder, believing that he's likely made some sort of shelter or hut for the four of them to live in.

"I don't believe that he would have the children suffering," she added.

The aunt also hinted that Tom may be motivated to remain in hiding since it's likely the children would go into state care if he gives himself up.

When asked why she was breaking her silence now, Rozzi said: "In the hope that just maybe, 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 OK."

Tom's sister says the family just want them home (New Zealand Police)

Cops have also issued a warrant for his arrest over his alleged involvement in an armed bank robbery and suspect Tom might have had an accomplice and may also be receiving help to evade the law by other parties.

"Part of me hopes he is being helped so that he has people he can rely on to help him," Rozzi added. "But at the same time, I'll be very angry with anyone that is helping him and not telling us how they're doing."

An NZ $80,000 (US $47,000) reward has since been posted for information on the whereabouts of Tom and the children.