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1001 Heroes, Legends, Histories & Mysteries Podcast
1001 Heroes, Legends, Histories & Mysteries Podcast
Where History Comes Alive! A fast-paced, well-researched weekly podcast covering a wide range of historical events, persons, places, legends, and mysteries, Hosted by Jon Hagadorn, the selection of stories and interviews includes lost treasure, unsolved mysteries, unexplained phenomenon, WWII stories, biographies, disasters, legends of the Old West, American Revolutionary history, urban legends, movie backstories, and much more. Available wherever podcasts are found, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Comcast & others. Episodes air Sundays at 12pm ET and "Best Ofs" on Fridays early around 12:05 AM. Easiest way to search categories or leave a review is at our website here: https://www.bestof1001stories.com/show/1001-heroes-legends-histories-mysteries-podcast/ Follow us at www.Facebook.com/1001Heroes and Twitter @1001podcast.
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June 29, 2025

MISSING DOWN UNDER: THE TOM PHILLIPS STORY

MISSING DOWN UNDER: THE TOM PHILLIPS STORY
MISSING DOWN UNDER: THE TOM PHILLIPS STORY
1001 Heroes, Legends, Histories & Mysteries Podcast
MISSING DOWN UNDER: THE TOM PHILLIPS STORY
Crimes Stories True Stories

Tom Phillips and his three young children disappeared from the isolated rural Waikato town of Marokopa on 9 December 2021. New Zealand Police believe that the children were taken by their father to a location somewhere in the western Waikato, after a dispute with their mother. Phillips is alleged to have committed a bank robbery in September 2023, but the first sighting of all three children with their father was on 3 October 2024, when they were spotted walking through Marokopa farmland. However, despite a three-day search of the area, including the use of a military helicopter, they have not yet been located.

Background

Marokopa seen from above
Before their disappearance, Tom Phillips lived in Ōtorohanga in New Zealand's Waikato district with his three children.[ They also spent much of their time at the family farm in Marokopa. Phillips had been separated from his wife Catherine for several years and was homeschooling the children.[citation needed] He is an experienced hunter and camper. The Phillips family has farmed in the area for generations.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phillips_family_disappearances

https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/11/world/new-zealand-tom-phillips-missing-children-intl-hnk-dst

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/532022/missing-marokopa-family-detective-spearheading-the-search-for-tom-phillips-and-his-three-children-reveals-what-he-believes-phillips-motive-is

https://nypost.com/2024/10/11/world-news/new-zealand-mothers-chilling-theory-as-missing-kids-re-emerge-in-bushland-with-father-tom-phillips/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9DnIfQ_EuM
(use this one for finding–middle of the story)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0lvbGxGfuY
(supportive of the father)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pVjMwhYr7M
(too long)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O0xExooPio
(use for starting of story)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH4E9dM69PI
(good mom info)

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/17/three-years-in-the-wild-how-a-fugitive-father-has-hidden-his-children-for-so-long-ntwnfb

https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/10/08/timeline-disappearance-of-tom-phillips-and-marokopa-children/

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/missing-marokopa-family-waikato-ute-owners-plea-for-sightings-after-theft/GBX5NWPJRBAKBIJVA4RKOUDFN4/