Share this @internewscast.com
A fugitive father killed in a shootout with police seemed to be feeding his three children animal food during their four years on the run in New Zealand’s wilderness.
Tom Phillips, 38, was shot dead at Waitomo in the North Island’s Waikato region early on Monday, concluding one of the country’s most extensive manhunts.
Phillips had previously burglarized a farm supply store in Piopio and shot an officer responding to the incident, before being apprehended in a shootout 33km away when police stopped his quad bike with road spikes.
His eldest child, Jayda, 12, who was with him during the heist, was unharmed in the event and later directed police to the family’s campsite, where the other two children, Ember, 9, and Maverick, 10, were safely found.
As police continue to investigate the shootout location on Te Anga Road and Phillips’ nearby campsite, photos have surfaced of the father-of-three’s quad bike, packed with farming supplies, being retrieved from the scene.
The items include a pair of gumboots and several bags of animal food, sold by agriculture retailer PGG Wrightson, which Phillips had stolen on the morning of his demise.
The bags included three different variations of maize – a barley blend, wholefeed, and kibbled feed – which is essentially dried corn.
Tom Phillips’ quad bike was stocked with animal food when it was towed away by police on Tuesday
Phillips was reported to police after breaking into the Piopio PGG Wrightson store (pictured) during the early hours of Monday
The retailer sells agricultural products, including livestock grains
Kibbled feed maize was among the items spotted on the back of his quad bike
The product, which is used to feed a multitude of animals such as pigs, cows, chickens, goats, deer, and horses, can be eaten by humans as a long-life option.
It is unclear why Phillips was stockpiling livestock feed, but there are several theories why the grains would have proved useful while the family lived off grid without easy access to a fridge or shops.
Survivalists say the maize can be rehydrated and used as food for the family, although it is more starchy and less sweet than corn typically eaten by humans.
But he could have also traded the livestock food for supplies or services from farmers in the area that may have been assisting the family.
Police believe the family was repeatedly helped by locals over the years in order to stay alive in extreme elements and the rough terrain.
Alternatively, the maize could have been used for other practical uses for life in the wilderness.
For example, it can be turned into corn whiskey (when mixed with other materials, like yeast, barley and sugar) or ethanol, which can be used as a disinfectant or component of fuel (though not the fuel typically used for quad bikes).
The farming equipment store also stocks a range of supplies that would have been useful for Phillips during his time on the run, including clothing, gumboots, metal tools, and chemicals.
Gumboots, like these ones seen in PGG Wrightson, were also seen strapped to the quad bike
The farm supply chain also sells other equipment that Phillips would have considered handy for life in the bush
The price of the maize items sold at the store
Tom Phillips was killed on Monday after he shot at police
Ember, nine, Maverick, 10, and Jayda, 12, are currently in the care of authorities after spending almost four years on the run with their father, who was shot dead on Monday
The revelation comes as police on Wednesday released new photos of Phillips’ bush hideout.
On Monday police initially found a smaller less-developed campsite around 2km from Te Anga Road.
That site – where Ember and Maverick were discovered – contained a few quad bikes, old tyres, and empty Coke and Sprite cans.
Authorities then later discovered a bigger, more established settlement 200m away in native scrub.
Images of the main campsite show a makeshift shelter built into the escarpment using bound sticks as beams and pieces of black tarp as a roof.
Stockpiles of wood, lidded buckets, and cook tops, gas bottles and gumboots were also scattered across the ground, while frying pans were hung up on trees with string.
Police said the location of the main campsite is difficult to access, well-hidden and highlights the challenging environment the family used as their base.
Police are pictured at the shootout site on Tuesday
The quad bike could be seen lying in a roadside ditch
Police released photos of the family’s main campsite on Wednesday
A shelter was constructed using tree branches and tarp
Items found at the site include gas bottles, drinks, and cooking equipment
The main campsite was 200m away from the area where the children were located (pictured)
Detective Senior Sergeant Andrew Saunders said police are working in steep and uneven terrain to document evidence from the scene.
‘It’s a very grim, dimly-lit area, surrounded by dense bush. The tent was well covered and dry,’ he said.
‘We are currently looking at a number of items at the site. Aside from the burglaries we are now able to link to Tom, it is apparent that he had outside help.’
The police vehicles and the quad bike from the scene of Monday’s shooting were removed from Te Anga Road last night.
Police expect to continue their examination of the area throughout Wednesday and Thursday.
Police said the officer who suffered critical injuries to his head after being shot by Phillips continues to recover in Waikato Hospital.
He is stable after undergoing emergency surgery and is being supported by the police community.
Detective Saunders said it was ‘highly satisfying’ for police that the children have been returned to society safely.
‘I want to take the opportunity to thank all our staff involved in Operation Curly at different times over the past four years, in particular our core investigation team,’ he said.
‘It has been a challenging operation, but I am relieved and delighted that we have been able to return the children to safety.
‘Operation Curly was an operation focused on locating Tom and the safe return of the children.
‘As the police work enters a new phase, our Operation Curly naturally comes to a conclusion.
‘We wish to thank the public for the ongoing support of Police, and in particular for the kindness and care people have shown in respecting the children’s privacy.’
Phillips disappeared with his three children into the rugged New Zealand countryside at Marokopa in December 2021 amid a custody dispute with the children’s mother, Cat.
In the years since they vanished, there had been several reported sightings, but they managed to continue evading authorities.
In October 2024, Phillips and the kids were filmed trekking across a private property in Waikato by pig hunters.
The group was dressed in camouflage gear, carrying large backpacks, and walking single file as Phillips, leading at the front, clutched a gun.
Tom Phillips and his kids were spotted a number of times as they evaded police
New Zealand father Tom Phillips and one of his children stealing grocery items from a store in the northern New Zealand region of Waikato
A search for the family was assembled the following morning, but failed to locate them, with locals saying police left it too late.
Phillips was again sighted alongside one of the children in August 2025 as CCTV captured the pair breaking into a store in Piopio to steal groceries.
The store had previously been targeted by Phillips, unsuccessfully, in November 2023.
Since their rescue, the children are being cared for by government organisation Oranga Tamariki.
It is unclear at this stage who will gain custody of the children after they finish receiving treatment and being interviewed by detectives.
An injunction banning certain details about the case from being reported was rushed through court on Monday.
The injunction matter will return to court on Thursday.
