The recent death of fugitive father Tom Phillips has cast a spotlight on one of New Zealand’s longest and most complex manhunts.
Police say Phillips was never going to surrender peacefully and was willing to put his own children at risk to avoid capture, creating extreme challenges for law enforcement.
A Fugitive on the Run with His Children
Phillips vanished in December 2021 from the rural town of Marokopa, taking his three children with him following a bitter custody dispute with their mother.
Over the next four years, police repeatedly located Phillips and his children but deemed intervention too dangerous.
“Police never stopped trying – thousands of hours were dedicated to the search,” said Detective Superintendent Ross McKay.
“Intelligence played a key role in informing our decisions and planning for all possible outcomes.
We knew Phillips had firearms and was motivated to use them, and that he was unlikely to surrender easily.”
The Deadly Confrontation
Phillips was shot dead near Piopio on September 8 after a dramatic standoff.
He had committed an armed robbery at a farm supply store and was intercepted while with his eldest daughter, Jayda, 12.
When officers deployed road spikes, Phillips opened fire at close range, critically injuring one officer.
Following the confrontation, Jayda helped police locate her two younger siblings, who were hiding nearby.
Phillips’ son, Maverick, was reported to have pointed a gun at officers upon their arrival.
Life Off the Grid
Throughout the four-year manhunt, Phillips and his children survived by moving between bush camps and constantly changing routines, frustrating police efforts.
Aerial drones, thermal imaging, motion-activated cameras, and specialist units including the Special Tactics Group and the New Zealand Defence Force were deployed to track the family, but officers often detected them in situations where safe intervention was impossible.
Photos released from the final campsite showed makeshift shelters, cooking gear, metal containers, and power cords, fueling speculation that Phillips may have had outside help, which remains a focus of ongoing investigations.
The Children’s Safety Remains a Priority
Det Supt McKay emphasized that recovering the children safely was the top priority throughout the operation.
Despite an $80,000 reward offered for information, no one came forward to assist authorities.
University of Auckland law professor Mark Henaghan stressed that the children should not feel responsible for identifying adults who may have helped them.
Community Reaction and Family Statements
The case has divided public opinion. Some residents in Marokopa supported Phillips, while officials, including Commissioner Andrew Coster, have been blunt:
“No one who does this to children, no one who unleashes high-powered rifles on my staff, is a hero. Simple as that,” Coster said.
The children’s mother, Cat Phillips, expressed relief that the ordeal was over and highlighted the hope for a peaceful and safe future for her family.
A History of Escalating Crimes
Phillips had a history of disappearing with his children, including an incident in September 2021, when he abandoned his ute on a beach, sparking fears they had drowned.
In the years following, he was accused of escalating crimes, from an armed bank robbery in 2023 to multiple break-ins for supplies, sometimes with his children present.
The family’s survival in harsh, freezing bushland remains a mystery, with police confirming only two confirmed sites, though aerial images suggest more sophisticated makeshift dwellings may have been used.
Ongoing Investigations
Police continue to pursue leads on Phillips’ suspected accomplices.
The officer shot during the fatal standoff has recovered well, according to police.
The focus now is on understanding how Phillips managed to elude authorities for so long while ensuring the children’s safety and bringing clarity to the four-year ordeal.