Police inquiries have stepped up following a reported sighting of missing man Tom Phillips last night.

Tom and his three children Jayda, Maverick and Ember were reported missing from Marokopa by family on January 18, 2022.

"Yesterday evening, police received reports of sightings of Tom in a brown/bronze 2003 Toyota Hilux flat-deck ute (pictured) on State Highway 31 in the Kawhia area," says Inspector Will Loughrin.

"The children were not with him."

"There was also a reported sighting of Tom later in the afternoon at Bunnings in Te Rapa, at 4pm.

"The same ute was again seen in Kawhia around 6.45pm yesterday evening and believed to be driven by Tom.

"Tom was involved in an altercation involving another vehicle.

"Police were contacted, and responded immediately to the Kawhia area attempting to locate this vehicle, but unfortunately it was not found."

Police are looking for any sightings of the above ute. Photo: NZ Police.

"Tom and his three children, Jayda (10), Maverick (8), and Ember (7), have been missing since December 2021.

"Since then, Police have continued work to locate them, as our primary focus is the welfare of the three children.

"We’ve received numerous pieces of information from the public, which we have followed up on over the past 18 months.

"The sightings of Tom yesterday are the first confirmed sightings of him since February 2021.

"This is incredibly encouraging, and we are imploring the public to please come forward with what you know.

"We believe there will be people in the community helping Tom and the children, and we are urging those people to do the right thing and please come forward.

"There are family who are desperately missing them, and Police want to ensure their welfare.

"We’re asking anyone who may have seen the Toyota ute, anywhere in the Waikato area, over the last few days to please come forward to Police via 111 and let us know.

"Please quote file number 211218/5611."