Fugitive father shot dead in New Zealand after four years on the run Andrea HamblinSeptember 8, 2025 at 6:52 AM 0 Tom Phillips had been on the run for nearly four years NZ Police A fugitive father who disappeared into the New Zealand wilderness with his young children nearly four years ago has been ...
- - Fugitive father shot dead in New Zealand after four years on the run
Andrea HamblinSeptember 8, 2025 at 6:52 AM
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Tom Phillips had been on the run for nearly four years - NZ Police
A fugitive father who disappeared into the New Zealand wilderness with his young children nearly four years ago has been killed in a shoot-out with police.
Tom Phillips had been evading capture since he fled in remote Waikato with his three children – Ember, now aged nine, Maverick, 10, and Jayda, 12 – in December 2021 after a custody row with his former partner.
Mr Phillips was shot dead in the early hours of Monday by police responding to reports of a ram-raid burglary at a farm supply store in the small town of Piopio, 135 miles south of Auckland on New Zealand's North Island.
He was accompanied by one of his daughters, who has since been taken into care by local authorities as police search nearby bushland for her siblings.
Christopher Luxon, the prime minister, said it was a "sombre day" for New Zealand as he paid tribute to an officer who was critically wounded when Mr Phillips opened fire on police.
"This was a constable who was out looking after his community – and what's happened is a reminder that police put themselves on the line every day, every time they put on that uniform," Mr Luxon said.
He continued: "New Zealanders thoughts are, of course, also with the children involved – and I know the whole country is anxiously waiting to hear that the missing children have been safely found.
"I doubt there is a New Zealander who has not followed, to some extent, the abduction of the children, of whom there have been only intermittent sightings since 2021.
"This morning's events are not how anyone would have wanted this to end, and I know that there will be many questions."
Jill Rogers, NZ police deputy commissioner, said investigators had been told two people "dressed in farm clothing and wearing headlamps" had been seen riding a quad motorbike on a rural road after the burglary was reported at 2.30am local time.
"Knowing the information that we had previously had, that had seen Tom Phillips also in this area, additional staff were called out and responded to that location," Ms Rogers said.
Police had previously released CCTV footage believed to be of Tom Phillips and one of his children in Piopio - NZ Police
Police laid spikes on a route they believed the motorbike would travel, and waited for the suspects to drive over them. The motorbike hit the spikes and swerved off the road.
It was then police were "confronted by gunfire at close range" and an officer was shot in the head, Ms Rogers said.
She said a second officer shot the suspect, who police alleged was armed with multiple firearms.
Mr Phillips was given first aid but died at the scene, while the injured officer was taken to hospital for emergency surgery.
Images published by the Waikato Times showed a body in the middle of the road near to a rifle which lay in a ditch. Several bullet holes could be seen in the police cars.
Ms Rogers said the "number one priority" for police was to find Mr Phillip's other children, who may be alone in the wilderness.
"We are making urgent enquiries to locate Tom Phillips' other children who we hold serious concerns for," she said.
"The child located at the scene is being provided wrap around support, and we will not be providing any other comment at this time on their location."
Ms Rogers added: "It's a deeply traumatic incident for those involved…confronting and challenging in a small rural, isolated town."
The mother of the three children, identified by national broadcaster RNZ as a woman named Cat, said she was relieved the "long and difficult journey" had ended.
"They [the children] have been dearly missed every day for nearly four years, and we are looking forward to welcoming them home with love and care," she said.
"At the same time, we are saddened by how events unfolded today. Our hope has always been that the children could be returned in a peaceful and safe way for everyone involved."
John Robertson, the mayor of Waitomo District Council, said the incident was "shocking, tragic".
"Now just thinking of the children and what's ahead for them," Mr Robertson told the New Zealand Herald. "It's really hard, very, very hard, very stressful."
Dubbed the "Marokopa mystery", the disappearance of Mr Phillips and his children had captivated the country, particularly in the Waikato area and the town of Marokopa where they were suspected of living off grid in dense bushland.
There had been only a few suspected sightings of the fugitive, the latest of which was last month when CCTV showed a man and child breaking into a supermarket in Piopio before fleeing on a quad bike.
Grainy footage released in October 2024 showed Mr Phillips and his children wearing camouflage gear and backpacks while tramping single file in the mountainous ranges of Te Anga.
The only previous 'credible' sighting of Mr Phillips and his three children occurred in October 2024 - TVNZ
Police had suspected Mr Phillips of serious crimes since his disappearance and believed he had several people giving him food, shelter and helping him evade capture.
They received sporadic reports about the health of the children and had decided against a full-on search for the family to avoid threatening their safety.
An officer involved in the investigation, who was not authorised to speak publicly, told Agence France-Presse that police believed Mr Phillips's support network may have crumbled in recent weeks, leading to more brazen burglaries.
"If you went to Marokopa, half the town seemed to support him and half the town thought he was a criminal," the officer told AFP.
Mr Phillips' mother, Julia, last month issued a public plea for her son to return home.
"Tom – I feel really sad that you thought you had to do this," she said.
"Not considering how much we love you and can support you.
"It hurts every time I see photos of the children and of you and see some of your stuff that is still here. Thinking what could have been if you had not gone away.
"Jayda, Maverick, Ember – I love you so much and really miss being part of your lives.
"Every day I wake up and hope that today will be the day that you will come home."
Rozzi Phillips, Mr Phillips's sister, confirmed his death on Monday.
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