Much time has passed, but........
Immigrants by the ship May Queen
http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=THA18781002.2.23&srpos=11&e=01-01-1878-01-01-1879--10--11----0Joseph+Phillips-ARTICLE%2cILLUSTRATION- Thames Advertiser, Volume XI, Issue 3131, 2 October 1878, Page 3
The following are the names of immigrants by the above vessel, which sailed from Plymouth for Auckland on July 20. She has on board 250 souls, equal to 215 1/2 statute adults, of whom 167 are English, 81 Irish, 1 Scotch, and one Australian; of which the following is the summary:-30 married couples, 73 single men, 57 single women, 30 boys, 21 girls, and 9 infants.
Arrival of the May Queen from London with 250 immigrants
http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AS18781019.2.3.4&srpos=28&e=01-01-1878-01-01-1879--10--21----0Joseph+Phillips-ARTICLE%2cILLUSTRATION-Auckland Star, Volume IX, Issue 2654, 19 October 1878, Page 2
Description of voyage.
"New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Passenger Lists, 1839-1973," database with images, FamilySearch (
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FST6-KYS : accessed 16 May 2016), Joseph Phillips, 19 Oct 1878; citing May Queen, Ship, Arrival Port Auckland, National Archives, Wellington; FHL microfilm 004411913.
John and Mary Phillips; Joseph and Emma Phillips
John and Mary are indicated as being 21. Joseph is indicated as being 24 and Emma 20. All are from Cornwall with John and Joseph noted as agricultural labourers.
May prove of some help. It is likely that they were NZ Government assisted immigrants.