Police are appealing for more information as the search for a missing man and his three children last seen near a beach in Marokopa on Saturday evening continues.
(clockwise from top left) Tom Phillips, Jayda Phillips, Ember Phillips and Maverick Callam-Phillips Photo: Supplied / NZ Police
Efforts to find Thomas Phillips, 34, and his three young children, Jayda Jin, 8, Maverick Callum-Phillips, 6, and Ember Phillips, 5, were continuing today around beaches at Marokopa and Kiritehere.
Surf Life Saving crews from Raglan and Surf Life Saving Rescue Squads from Taranaki and Omanu Beach are doing sea searches, while police staff are conducting ground-based searches.
The Auckland-based Eagle helicopter has also returned to the area to complete coastline searches, with police drones also in use today.
Surf Life Saving's Allan Mundy told media today items had been retrieved by search and rescue crew members and that these had been passed to police to determine if they were items of interest.
In a statement released this afternoon Waikato West Area Commander Will Loughrin made a further appeal for information, saying police were looking to account for two motorcycles Phillips had recently owned.
"We have information to suggest he has owned two motorcycles, a 2004 Honda XR400 and a 2019 Honda CRF50. Police would now like to account for their whereabouts.
"We appreciate this specific appeal for information may lead to speculation the motorcycles could be involved in some way. This is not the case, however police need to ensure we explore this line of enquiry and want to hear from anyone who might have seen them or know where they are."
Loughrin also asked anyone who found any items - including clothing - that could be relevant to the search along the Marokopa and Kiritehere coastlines to get in contact.
"If you locate an item please photograph it where you found it, take it with you, and contact police."
