New Zealand fugitive Tom Phillips killed after four-year, child-involved manhunt

WELLINGTON — New Zealand Police disclosed that fugitive father Tom Phillips was never going to surrender peacefully and was prepared to put his three children at risk to avoid capture, as officers announced the end of one of the country’s most long-running manhunts. Phillips, 38, was shot dead near the rural town of Piopio on September 8 after being intercepted with his eldest daughter following an armed robbery at a farm-supply store. He opened fire on officers with high-powered rifles when road spikes were deployed, wounding one officer critically in the head.

Police said Phillips and his three children had been located multiple times over the four years they were on the run, but intervening had been deemed too dangerous. Detective Superintendent Ross McKay stressed that intelligence was central to decision-making and planning for possible outcomes, noting that Phillips had access to firearms and showed a willingness to use them. He added that the police believed Phillips would not easily surrender and would risk harming the children to escape.

The pursuit, which began after Phillips vanished from the rural town of Marokopa in December 2021 amid a bitter custody dispute, drew in a wide array of resources and spanned several years. Phillips’s three children — including his eldest daughter Jayda, then 12 — were with him at various points and were guided by Jayda to a campsite about 2 kilometers from the final location where her siblings were found. Investigators noted that the younger two children were discovered at a bush campsite after Jayda directed officers to the area. In the aftermath of the fatal confrontation, Maverick, Phillips’s son, reportedly pointed a gun at officers when they arrived, according to coverage by local media.

The case has raised questions about how the family managed to survive off the grid for so long. Investigators described a pattern of frequent movement between bush camps and changes in routine, with Phillips and his children rarely staying in one place for long. While aerial and ground footage showed the family at various times in transit, authorities said they had only confirmed two primary sites so far, though other sightings occurred over the years. Authorities stressed that the objective throughout was the safe recovery of the children, not the capture of Phillips alone.

The hunt benefited from sophisticated technology and cross-agency collaboration. Drones supplied by Airbus clocked 111 flight hours over a two-week period in April this year, and specialist units—including the Special Tactics Group, Armed Offenders Squad, Search and Rescue, and the Tactical Operations Group—were deployed as needed. The New Zealand Defence Force contributed helicopters and ground teams, while investigators used geospatial and thermal imaging and covert tools such as motion-activated cameras. Police said thousands of hours were dedicated to the search and that the effort would continue in the wake of the incident to address outstanding questions about the family’s movements and supply chains.

Police have not closed the case and said further information would not be released while investigations and reviews remain ongoing. McKay emphasized that the release of information aimed to reassure the public about the lengths to which police and partner agencies went to resolve a complex situation and to illuminate the difficulties of pursuing suspects while ensuring the children’s safety.

The four-year chase attracted intense attention within New Zealand, with some locals in Marokopa supporting Phillips even as others condemned his actions. Commissioner Andrew Coster was clear: Phillips could not be portrayed as a hero. “No one who does this to children, no one who unleashes high-powered rifles on my staff, is a hero. Simple as that,” he said.

Background details show Phillips had previously disappeared with his children in September 2021, when his ute was found abandoned on a beach, sparking fears of the family’s drowning. They resurfaced 17 days later, claiming to have been camping, and Phillips faced a charge of wasting police resources. He vanished again in December 2021 before facing court. In the years since, authorities alleged Phillips escalated his criminal activity, including a 2023 armed bank robbery in which a member of the public was fired upon while one of the children was with him. He was later linked to break-ins to steal supplies, with the most recent incident occurring last month.

The family’s mother, Cat, spoke briefly earlier this month, expressing relief that the ordeal was over and confirming she looked forward to welcoming the children home. She noted the emotional toll of nearly four years and called for a peaceful and safe reintegration for the kids.

University of Auckland law professor Mark Henaghan urged restraint in how the children are treated in the wake of police investigations, warning against making them feel responsible for identifying potential supporters. “There were a number of sightings of Phillips and his kids since they went missing in December 2021,” Henaghan told the New Zealand Herald. “I’m worried the children are going to be made to feel responsible for identifying people who may well have helped them in good faith – and it’s not their responsibility.”

The timeline also includes earlier, unresolved questions about why the family was repeatedly able to evade capture for so long. In September 2021, after the ute episode, authorities suspected that the family may have drowned, a fear later contradicted by their reappearance. The case continues to unfold as investigators pursue what they describe as strong lines of enquiry into Phillips’s suspected accomplices and the possible networks that supported or supplied the family during their long bush-era. Authorities have not ruled out additional arrests or charges as the review proceeds, and McKay noted that the decision to publicly share details was made to provide transparency about the operation’s scope and challenges.

As the investigation moves forward, questions remain about how the children will adapt after years in seclusion and what support they will need to rebuild their lives. While some believed Phillips had created a form of vigilante mobility, others worry about the long-term impact on the children, who reportedly faced risks and exposure in hazardous rural terrain. The mother’s statement, police conclusions, and expert commentary reflect a broad debate about the role of families, communities, and authorities in complex, high-risk custody and criminal cases. The public response has been divided, but authorities have stressed that the priority has always been the safety of the children and the accountability for the actions that led to this multi-year pursuit.