A fugitive New Zealand father, who has been on the run with his three children for nearly four years, has died following a shoot-out with police. Tom Phillips and his children, Ember, 9, Maverick, 10, and Jayda, 12, reportedly disappeared into the wilderness in December 2021 after a custody dispute. Though some have reported seeing Phillips in the years since he took off, he managed to elude police until a failed burglary attempt on September 8, 2025. That incident ultimately led to Phillips’ death.
New Zealand Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers explained in a media release that police were notified of a suspected burglary at a remote feed store in Piopio at 2:30 a.m. When officers arrived at the store, they used spikes to stop Phillips’ quad bike around 3:20 a.m. He reportedly began shooting at police when the bike stopped.
A shoot-out between Phillips and officers ensued, leaving one officer injured. Emergency responders airlifted the officer to an area hospital. Officers shot Phillips in the head and the shoulder to subdue him. They administered first aid at the scene, but Phillips died of his injuries.
“Following the incident, we have been in contact with Phillips’ family, and we will be working to provide them with all available support,” Rogers shared in the release. “We are also providing support to our staff member who was injured, and other staff at the scene. This has been a confronting and challenging event for them.”
Police noted there was a child at the scene but did not give any further details. In a second news release, police confirmed they had found Phillips’ children safe in a remote area in Waitomo. Police noted they found the children alone in the woods but confirmed Ember, Maverick, and Jayna are safe. Rogers declined to comment on the children’s location or mental status because of the sensitive nature of the case.
“This is a result of incredible work by Police who had to contend with a high-risk situation and difficult circumstances both earlier this morning and throughout the day,” Police Commissioner Richard Chambers shared in the second release. “I want to acknowledge our colleague who was shot and faces a long recovery. I will be arriving back in New Zealand late tonight and travelling to Waikato first thing in the morning.”
The news of Phillips’ death has stirred mixed reactions online. Some think that Phillips did the right thing for his children years ago.
“Do I think the kids were worse off for living in the bush? Absolutely not. In fact, I worry more about what society will now tell them about how ‘damaged’ they are,” someone shared on Facebook. “That narrative alone can do more harm than a cold winter in a tent.”
“Whatever your stance, you’ve got to admit—Tom pulled off something most of us wouldn’t dare,” the person continued. “He lived a life outside the system, raised his kids in the wild, and evaded capture for years. That takes grit. That takes conviction. So yeah, maybe I’ve got a little bit of admiration.”
Others were not as kind to Phillips.
“Whatever the truth, which none of these ‘experts’ could possibly know, there are now three children who have become victims of their fathers selfish decisions and they will now require some considerable support to integrate back into whatever life they are to have going forward,” one critic shared on Facebook. “I would hazard a guess that their fathers selfish choices will have lifelong consequences for them. Humanity really is in decline.”
