A law expert says the Family Court's dismissed warnings before, like those raised about the Marokopa children. 

An inquiry's laid bare failures by police and Oranga Tamariki before and during the four-year search for fugitive Tom Phillips and his children.

Their mother repeatedly expressed fears before Phillips went on the run with them a second time, but Oranga Tamariki assured the Court, they were fine in his care. 

Auckland University associate professor Carrie Leonetti says such failures are well established.

She explained almost nothing stops fathers getting extensive, unsupervised access to their children - even mental health conditions, substance abuse and a history of violence. 

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