The mother of three Marokopa kids missing for more than two years has appeared on video pleading for information leading to the safe return of her "innocent children", as daughter Jayda Phillips marks her 11th birthday.
It comes one week after an offer of reward was announced by police for help locating Ember, Maverick, and Jayda.
The children have not been seen since December 12, 2021, when they were taken by their father, Tom Phillips.
The family is believed to be in the Western Waikato, within Marokopa or the surrounding areas, police said.
The children's mother, Cat, issued an emotional video appeal today to mark her daughter's birthday.
“I’m standing here before you today, begging you for your help to bring my babies home,” she said.
"They are just innocent children. They do not deserve to be treated this way. They do not deserve the life that is being provided to them right now."
Through tears, she said Jayda was "a young woman now and she needs her mother", and said Ember was asthmatic and in need of medical care "that cannot be provided from the land".
"I can only imagine how Maverick is coping with the hand that life has dealt him."
Cat also called out critics who said the children were "fine and that they're being well looked after".
She blasted their father's actions, calling it "not OK".
"It is not OK to divide and conquer. It is not OK to isolate and control.
"It is child neglect. It is child endangerment. It is child abandonment. It is child abuse. None of this is OK.
"My babies deserve better."
Acting Detective Inspector Andrew Saunders said officers have received over 100 new reports of information on the subject of the missing people, via phone call, email, and personal approaches offering information.
"We’re continuing to assess the information and conduct follow-up enquiries," he said.
"As a result of our inquiries we have identified 40 reports that we think are worthy of consideration and which are now being investigated further.
"We cannot provide details while the investigation is ongoing, but we are committed to getting a result as soon as possible."
While investigators continue to focus on Marokopa, inquiries are also being carried out in nearby areas, including Honikiwi and Otorohanga.
"We’re appealing for anyone who has observed suspicious behaviour in these areas in recent months to please contact police," Saunders said.
"Our message hasn’t changed: we continue to urge anyone with credible, current information that will lead to location and safe return of Ember, Maverick and Jayda to the right thing and tell Police what you know."
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