Claire Achmad: Children's Commissioner calls to give the children of Tom Phillips space

The country is being urged to give Tom Phillips' children time and space to begin their long road to recovery. 

The children are now at an undisclosed location after their father died during an altercation with Police near Marokopa in western Waikato. 

Children's Commissioner Claire Achmad told Mike Hosking the children's needs must come first. 

She says over time, more can be understood about what's happened, but right now the privacy of the children is the most crucial thing. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
So the focus in the Phillips case as soon as
the children, what's required, what's being offered when it comes
to their needs and requirements. Doctor Claire acmade as the
Chief Children's Commissioner and is with us. Good morning, good morning.
In your observation, are we equipped for the uniqueness of
this case?

Speaker 2 (00:16):
I think that this case has been unprecedented in New Zealand.
I am really pleased that the police have safely located
the children and that they have been found safe and well.
I think that's the key thing that we need to
focus on now, as well as respecting the privacy of
these children. I'm glad also over time we can understand

(00:37):
more about this, but right now, the privacy of these
children is the crucial thing from my perspective.

Speaker 1 (00:43):
I'm glad you said that because I'm kind of over
the story now, not in the nasty way. I'm just
saying that there's there's a point in this country, and
we do it often where we start to become a
bit invasive, don't we, And that worries me.

Speaker 2 (00:55):
I share that concern, Mike. These children need space and time,
and my request now to the media and to the
public at large is that everyone respects that there are
three children at the heart of this situation, and we
do that by giving them their privacy.

Speaker 1 (01:13):
Are you confident, ot you're up to it?

Speaker 2 (01:17):
Well. I have sought assurances from Ordering a Tamariki about
the support that they have in place for these three children,
and I've received those assurances, and I think it's now
essential that Orning a Tamariki and the police are able
to continue to focus on the work that they have
in front of them, and that these three children have

(01:37):
all of the support wrapped around them that they need
to meet their specific needs.

Speaker 1 (01:42):
Do you worry about the suppression the court and the
stuff that you and I probably know that isn't allowed
to be published and yet it is online and probably
will end up internationally because the jurisdiction doesn't count there
that that's an issue going forward.

Speaker 2 (01:59):
Again, I just read for at my message Mike about
the importance of restecting the privacy of these children, and
that is in these coming days, in the weeks ahead,
and in the months in years ahead. We must remember
these are young children that we are talking about.

Speaker 1 (02:15):
And do you go well clear pressure Doctor Claire Arkman,
who's the Chief Children's Commissioner, It does dptail. I will
come back to the legals around this with probably Mark
after eight o'clock this morning. There is also the story
floating around that Julie CHRISTI, well known documentary maker, has
been given access to some of the police operation and
is looking to make a documentary in this Tremendous pressure
on her to pull the pin on that, because that,

(02:38):
in my humble opinion, ends is into the world of
ghoulish voyeurism, and when all the details are out, I
think you'll probably agree with me. For more from the
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