New photos have emerged of the remote campsite where police discovered Tom Phillips' children hours after the New Zealand fugitive was shot dead by police
Share this @internewscast.com

Recently released images provide a glimpse of the secluded campsite where authorities found Tom Phillips’ children just hours after the fugitive from New Zealand was shot and killed by police.

Phillips, who had been evading capture with his children for nearly four years—Ember, nine; Maverick, ten; and Jayda, 12—died in western Waikato early on Monday.

Police confronted him and Jayda on a quad bike following an armed robbery at a farm supply shop in the rural town of Piopio.

His two younger children were located at a campsite 2km from the deadly shootout hours later.

The photos depict quad bikes with blankets covering them, parked amidst the trees. Also visible are two cans of Sprite on one of the tires and a large container situated in front.

Police said they will carry out interviews with the children. 

New Zealand police commissioner Richard Chambers stated, ‘Our investigation aims to uncover if additional forms of transport were used or if others provided assistance.’

‘No one who does this to children. No one who unleashes high-powered rifles on my staff is a hero. Simple as that.

New photos have emerged of the remote campsite where police discovered Tom Phillips' children hours after the New Zealand fugitive was shot dead by police

Recently released images provide a glimpse of the secluded campsite where authorities found Tom Phillips’ children just hours after the fugitive from New Zealand was shot and killed by police.

Police will give the Phillips children time to settled but concdeded  would come a time where police need to speak to them.

He continued, ‘Our colleague was merely performing his duties as always, in his exemplary manner. Facing an individual intent on taking his life is beyond unacceptable.’

‘It’s been very, very tough on a lot of my staff. But they’ve done a remarkable job.’

 Police would not comment on if the children had seen their mother.

‘They are settled, they are comfortable. They are together.

Police say they are investigating how he was able to access weapons.

‘We are interested in how Mr Phillips was able to access multiple firearms.

‘There’s a lot of work to do over the next few months that will help us determine whether or not there is anybody else that’s been involved.’

Phillips vanished from the rural town of Marokopa on the North Island in December 2021 with his three children following a custody dispute with their mother.

Despite an NZ$80,000 reward and multiple search operations, the family had been living in the wilderness ever since.

On Monday morning, Phillips and daughter Jayda were spotted stealing from a PGG Wrightson farm supply store in Piopio.

A witness called police at about 2.30am, describing them as being in ‘farm clothing’ and wearing headlamps.

Phillips and Jayda took off on their quad bike, but were stopped by police road spikes about 33km away on Te Anga Road at 3.30am.

A witness called police after spotting Phillips and his daughter Jayda, 12, dressed in 'farm clothing' and wearing headlamps

A witness called police after spotting Phillips and his daughter Jayda, 12, dressed in ‘farm clothing’ and wearing headlamps

The pair fled on a quad bike (pictured) but were stopped an hour later by road spikes 33km away on Te Anga Road

The pair fled on a quad bike (pictured) but were stopped an hour later by road spikes 33km away on Te Anga Road

The two missing children of Tom Phillips were found after their fugitive father was killed during a shootout with police

The two missing children of Tom Phillips were found after their fugitive father was killed during a shootout with police

Phillips then confronted a lone officer and shot him in the head with a high-powered rifle.

When backup arrived, police returned fire, killing Phillips. 

Jayda was taken into custody.

Phillips’ two other children, Maverick and Ember, were not present when he was shot, sparking an urgent bush search for the pair.

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers told RNZ that Jayda provided ‘vital information to ensure a safe approach’ to help find the other kids.

She revealed her father had guns at a rural campsite where Maverick and Ember were later found. 

‘We knew that there were firearms,’ he said.

Phillips and Jayda took off on their quad bike, and were stopped by police road spikes about 33km away on Te Anga Road at 3.30am

Phillips and Jayda took off on their quad bike, and were stopped by police road spikes about 33km away on Te Anga Road at 3.30am

Jayda Phillips watched on as her father was shot and killed by police

Jayda Phillips watched on as her father was shot and killed by police

Commissioner Chambers said police discovered that Phillips and the children, Jayda, 12, Maverick, 10, and Ember, 9, had spent time at a campsite not known to them, and that there were some structures found.

‘We know Mr Phillips has been moving around this very vast region frequently, so he hasn’t stayed in one location for the entire time,’ Commissioner Chambers said.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell also said Phillips had ‘multiple high-powered firearms’ and was ‘very unstable in his thinking’.

‘I think the whole country has seen play out in the last 24 hours just how dangerous the situation was and how it could have ended an even worse tragedy, and that would have been the loss one, two or three young lives,’ Mitchell said.

Commissioner Chambers said the officer shot by Phillips spent ‘a good chunk’ of Monday in surgery with serious injuries to his head and shoulder.

‘It was very, very close for him,’ Commissioner Chambers said.

The children’s mother Cat broke her silence in a statement, saying she was relieved the ordeal had come to an end.

‘They 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. 

The children Ember, Maverick and Jayda (pictured)

The children Ember, Maverick and Jayda (pictured) 

Members of the media stand on the side of a road where a police shootout occurred near the town of Piopio, in New Zealand's Waikato region

Members of the media stand on the side of a road where a police shootout occurred near the town of Piopio, in New Zealand’s Waikato region

‘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.’

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Urgent warnings for Aussies in travel destination after protesters killed by police

Emergency Alerts for Australians in Travel Destination Following Police-Related Protest Deaths

The Australian federal government has released urgent advisories for its citizens in…

Thai Court Sentences Thaksin Shinawatra to One Year in Jail

Thailand’s Supreme Court has ordered the country’s most powerful and polarising statesman,…
Two-in-five credit card holders don't prioritise paying down their balances, new research from Finder shows.

11% of Australians Rely on Credit for Daily Expenses

Australians are using credit cards to cover everyday expenses, new research from…
A Good Guys store.

Australian Retail Giant Hit with $13.5 Million Fine for Misleading Promotion

The appliance retail giant, The Good Guys, has incurred a hefty penalty…

Six Fatalities Reported in Shooting Incident at Jerusalem Bus Stop

Two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a bus stop on the outskirts…

Australia Post Resumes US Shipping Services, but Delays May Persist for Some Customers

Australia Post says it plans to lift its partial suspension of parcel…
French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou leaves after addressing the National Assembly, prior to a parliamentary confidence vote that could bring him down, in Paris, France.

French Government Falls After Prime Minister Fails Confidence Vote

French legislators decided on Monday to remove Prime Minister François Bayrou from…

Minister for Indigenous Australians Highlights Importance of Truth-Telling Following Neo-Nazi Incident

Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy has said national truth telling processes are…
Emergency crews were called to Hoffman Engineering in Bassendean, in the city's north-east, about 2.40pm today.

Father’s Factory Death Called a ‘Preventable Tragedy’

Unions have labelled the death of a 45-year-old apprentice a “preventable tragedy”.…
Appeals court upholds $126 million defamation judgment against President Trump

Appeals Court Confirms $126 Million Defamation Ruling Against President Trump

A federal appeals court has confirmed a civil jury’s decision that President…

Banksy Artwork at Royal Courts of Justice Quickly Concealed After Mysterious Overnight Appearance

An overnight appearance of a new Banksy mural on the Royal Courts…
Countries which refuse to ‘play ball’ and take back their migrants could face curtailed access to visas, new Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced. It means citizens seeking to travel legally could be penalised if their governments fail to co-operate with deportations from Britain and other major economies. Members of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance – the UK, United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand - were meeting in London today to discuss the plan.

Mahmood Threatens Visa Restrictions for Nations Refusing Migrant Returns

Countries that are unwilling to cooperate by taking back their migrants might…