Local iwi bless Kiritehere Beach as search for missing south Waikato man Tom Phillips and children continues

Police are appealing to anyone who may have found items of clothing in or along the south Waikato coast this week to come forward. 

The search for missing Otorohanga man Tom Phillips and his three young children on Thursday focussed on the water from Taharoa in the north to 15 nautical miles south of Marokopa, where the family went missing on Saturday. LandSAR teams were joined by surf lifesavers as they were finally able to get out on the water after weather hampered the search on Wednesday.

Local iwi have blessed Kiritehere beach where the Phillips’ ute was found, asking Tangaroa God of the Sea to bring a resolution to the pain. 

Twenty surf lifesavers from Raglan to Taranaki have been scouring the coastline. Spotters are crucial - communicating with searchers about rogue waves and rocks is the biggest challenge. 

"We could hit [rocks] with an IRB [boat] and a jetski and it will take us out and the remoteness of it just adds that extra complexity of danger," said Allan Mundy of Surf Lifesaving NZ.

Top of mind is 8-year-old Jayda, 6-year-old brother Maverick, 5-year-old Ember and their dad, Tom.

"Anyone who has found any clothing at all we would appeal to you contact police on 105," Waikato west area commander Insp Will Loughrin said. 

Police said iwi are proving an integral part of this search - sharing knowledge of localised currents. 

Jayda, Thomas, Maverick and Ember.
Jayda, Thomas, Maverick and Ember. Photo credit: New Zealand Police/Supplied

"Right along this coastline we've got caves, we've got inlets, so our teams today - there will be swimmers in the water swimming into those caves making sure they're not held up somewhere, looking for any kind of evidence," Mundy said.

There was still nothing found on Thursday night but police aren't giving up.