A King Country father charged with wasting police resources after he disappeared with his three young children has briefly returned home for supplies before leaving again

Last September, Otorohanga man Tom Phillips sparked a large-scale search when his ute was found abandoned...before he and the children emerged 17 days later.

A warrant was issued after he failed to appear at the Te Kuiti District Court in January.

His family told police he made a brief return to a property last month, where he also provided reassurances he and his children were well, but didn't say where they were living.

Police continue to make inquiries to locate him.