New Zealand Man Killed After Hiding With Children 4 Years

Wellington, New Zealand – A man who had been hiding with his three children in the remote countryside of New Zealand for almost four years was shot and killed by a police officer on Monday, authorities said. The incident ended a long and mysterious case that had puzzled law enforcement for years.

At the time of the confrontation, one child was with the man, identified by authorities as Tom Phillips, but the other two children were still missing several hours after the shooting. A police officer was critically injured during the shootout.

Disappearance of Phillips and His Children

Phillips and his three children first disappeared in December 2021 from the small rural settlement of Marokopa on New Zealand’s North Island. The children, now around 9, 10, and 11 years old, had not been seen by the public for years. Investigators believed that the family had stayed close to the isolated area where they lived, but sightings were extremely rare.

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Authorities have not formally identified the man killed in the confrontation, but they are confident it was Phillips.

Police Officer Critically Injured

During the confrontation on Monday, a police officer was shot in the head and critically injured. New Zealand’s Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Jill Rogers told reporters that the injuries were serious but survivable. The officer was shot multiple times with a high-powered rifle and was undergoing surgery, with additional surgeries expected.

The child who was with Phillips at the time of the robbery was taken into custody and was cooperating with authorities.

Ongoing Search for Two Missing Children

Authorities remain deeply concerned about the two other children who were still missing after the confrontation. Deputy Commissioner Rogers said temperatures in the area were expected to fall below freezing within hours, making the search urgent.

“This must come to a conclusion now,” Rogers said, emphasizing that finding the children was the top priority. The cooperation of the child taken into custody allowed authorities to narrow the search area for the remaining children.

Phillips’ Criminal Activities

Earlier on Monday, Phillips reportedly robbed an agricultural supplies store in the Waikato region, south of Auckland. This region is also where Phillips and his family lived before disappearing. The robbery appeared to have triggered the confrontation with police.

Phillips had a history of criminal activity while on the run. In May 2023, he committed an armed bank robbery accompanied by one of his children and reportedly shot at a member of the public. Authorities had been investigating him for years, relying on limited surveillance footage showing him committing crimes in the area.

Lack of Legal Custody and Concerns for Children

Phillips did not have legal custody of his children, and authorities were concerned that the children had not received formal education or health care since their disappearance. Law enforcement believed Phillips had help in hiding his family, and some local residents in the rural community supported him.

In June 2024, a reward of 80,000 New Zealand dollars (about $47,000) was offered for information about the family’s whereabouts. However, no one came forward, and the reward was never claimed.

Previous Disappearances

Phillips and his family were no strangers to national attention. In September 2021, before the December disappearance, Phillips and his children went missing, prompting a three-week search on land and at sea. Phillips’ truck was found abandoned on a wild beach near his home.

Authorities eventually concluded that the family might have died in the wild. However, Phillips later emerged from the forest with the children, claiming they had been camping. He was charged with wasting police resources and was due in court in January 2022. Weeks before that scheduled court date, Phillips disappeared again with his children.

Authorities did not immediately launch a search the second time because Phillips, experienced in outdoor survival, told family members he was taking the children on another trip. He never returned.

New Developments in 2023

The search intensified in 2023 after several sightings of Phillips in the same region. In August 2025, he was last seen on surveillance video robbing a grocery store at night while accompanied by one of his children.

Mother’s Statement

The children’s mother, identified only by her first name, Cat, issued a statement expressing relief after the ordeal ended. She said the children had been dearly missed every day for nearly four years, and she looked forward to welcoming them home safely.

“They have been dearly missed every day for nearly four years, and we are looking forward to welcoming them home with love and care,” Cat said in her statement to Radio New Zealand.

Community and Public Reaction

The case had fascinated New Zealanders for years due to the mysterious disappearances and the isolated nature of Marokopa, a settlement with only about 40 residents. Despite regular appeals from authorities for information, sightings and tips were rare.

Many people were shocked by the violent end of the case and expressed concern for the remaining missing children. Authorities have vowed to continue searching until they are found and safely returned.

The case of Tom Phillips and his children is one of New Zealand’s most unusual and prolonged disappearances. It involved years of hiding in dense forests, criminal activity, and a dramatic police confrontation that left a man dead, an officer critically injured, and two children still missing.

Authorities continue to focus on finding the missing children and ensuring their safety. The story has captured national attention and highlighted the challenges law enforcement faces when individuals disappear into remote areas.