New Zealand police have released images of the remote campsite where two of fugitive Tom Phillips’ children were found, following his death in a shootout with officers on Monday. Phillips had been on the run with his three children for nearly four years, hiding in the wilderness. He was killed after reports of a burglary in the remote town of Piopio, during which he shot a police officer in the head with a high-powered rifle. The officer is recovering in hospital.
Police commissioner Richard Chambers said the campsite, located about 2km from where Phillips was killed, contained at least one firearm and ammunition. The images show quad bikes, tyres and cans of soft drink in thick bushland. Chambers described the site as being in “deep bush … not an easily found location for anyone”. Authorities located the children after gaining the support of one of them to find the others.
Chambers said the investigation would continue for months, focusing on potential accomplices who may have helped Phillips access firearms and quad bikes. “A lot of work to determine whether there is anyone else involved,” he said. The children—Ember, 9, Maverick, 10, and Jayda, 12—are now in child protective custody. A suppression order has been granted in the High Court to protect aspects of the case.
Warwick Morehu from Oranga Tamariki said the children were settled and “doing well under the circumstances”, describing the situation as “unprecedented”. He appealed for privacy. Experts have expressed concern about the children’s reintegration into society after years in the wilderness.
Chambers stressed that Phillips should not be considered a hero. “No one who does this to children, who unleashes high-powered rifles on my staff, is a hero,” he said. Police minister Mark Mitchell added that Phillips had “no regard for the safety of those children”. Local residents expressed a mix of sadness and relief, with many feeling the violent confrontation should have been avoided.
