Police have released the first images of what they believe is one of many campsites where a New Zealand father on the run hid with his three children for years. Two of Tom Phillips' children were found at the site in the Waikato region on Monday, hours after he was killed in a shootout with the police. Police found them with the help of the third child, who was with Phillips when he died. They said the children are doing well, but will take time to recover from the ordeal.

Shortly before Christmas in 2021, Phillips disappeared with his children – Jayda, Maverick, and Ember, then aged eight, seven and five respectively. Police believe he did so after losing legal custody of them. Phillips had no regard for the children's safety and quite literally put [them] in harm's way, Police Commissioner Richard Chambers told the media. A stash of firearms and ammunition was also found at the campsite, which is surrounded by dense vegetation.

By the time authorities arrived at the site, the search for the two children had been underway for nearly 12 hours. In the early hours of Monday, police responded to a report of an attempted burglary at a rural farm supply shop in Piopio, where they entered into a shootout with Phillips. An officer was seriously injured after Phillips fired at him with a high-powered rifle.

Phillips' case has captivated New Zealand since he became a fugitive nearly four years ago, and while recent events appear to draw this chapter to a close, many questions remain. Authorities continue to investigate how Phillips evaded capture and how he accessed firearms during his time on the run. The children's mother expressed relief over the conclusion of this ordeal while also mourning the circumstances surrounding the events of the day.