Desperate search for three young kids missing with their dad for SIX DAYS after the family vanished from a remote beach where his Toyota Hilux was found abandoned Family of four disappear from a remote beach on New Zealand's North Island Tom Phillips, 34, and his three young children went missing on Saturday night Waikato Police have launched land-and-sea search along Kiritehere Beach Father's 4WD found in rugged surf with fears it may have been swept into water By Miriah Davis For Daily Mail Australia Published: 15:41 BST, 16 September 2021 | Updated: 15:45 BST, 16 September 2021 Viewcomments Three children have gone missing along with their dad at a remote beach on New Zealand's North Island, with no word from the family for six days. Tom Phillips, 34, and his young kids Jayda, 8, Maverick, 6, and Ember, 5, were last seen on Saturday night after attending a family gathering. The next day Mr Phillips' grey Toyota Hilux was discovered abandoned in the surf on Kiritehere Beach. Tom Phillips, 34 and his three young children Jayda, 8, Maverick, 6, and Ember, 5, (pictured) were last seen on Saturday night with the family's Toyota Hilux abandoned in surf Waikato Police have since released an image of the family in a desperate attempt to find them as Surf Life Saving squads comb the water and ground rescuers scour coast line. With no new leads on the whereabouts of the family, police are appealing to the public for any information in an effort to broaden the search. 'We want to acknowledge the family’s incredible strength at this very difficult time and thank them for their on-going help,' Waikato Police wrote. Officers are particularly interested in speaking with anyone who may have been in Marokopa or Kiritehere Beach areas during the weekend. 'While you might not think you have seen something, we want to hear from you,' Waikato Police said in a statement. As a major search is underway, relatives remain hopeful the missing father had just taken his three children on a camping trip. A land-and-sea search is now underway with relatives hopeful Mr Phillips and his three children had just taken a camping trip at Kiritehere Beach (pictured) But Mr Phillips' uncle, Paul, remains doubtful on the family's survival as the land-and-sea search along the rugged coastline reaches its fifth day. 'It's looking more and more likely that it's not the answer we want,' he told the NZ Herald. 'Our biggest fear is that a rogue wave swept them out to sea. Because Tom was an extremely resilient person we're hopeful that Tom has taken the children camping.' A team of investigators are currently continuing to build a detailed timeline of Mr Phillips and the children's movement on the day they went missing. The full-time dad has been described by family as an experienced outdoorsman and devoted father. He lives in Otorohanga where he homeschools his three children, but would often drive down the winding, narrow road along the coast. Read more: Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility