State Apology for Children’s Ordeal | Global News

New Zealand’s government has formally apologized to the three children of Tom Phillips, who vanished in 2021 and were found nearly four years later—having endured horrific isolation and neglect. An inquiry revealed systemic failures: agencies ignored critical red flags, dismissed parental concerns about safety, and failed to act on sightings, allowing Phillips to evade capture for years—even while he secretly visited family and stocked up on supplies. The children, now in state care, suffered through squalid campsites, and Phillips died in a police shootout in 2025. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and officials expressed deep regret, acknowledging the lasting trauma inflicted on the kids and their mother.

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