Overview

• New Zealand Police say they are willing to negotiate to secure Phillips and his three children safely, including engaging with anyone assisting him.
• The overture followed a televised appeal by sister Rozzi Pethybridge and a family letter urging Phillips to bring the children back.
• Authorities continue to focus on the Waikato and Marokopa area, reporting few recent confirmed sightings after nearly four years.
• A former detective and a private investigator suggest he is receiving help, possibly from a new partner, though this remains unconfirmed.
• Phillips is wanted over an alleged 2023 motorcycle theft and armed bank holdup carried out with a smaller female accomplice.