Police are stitching together details on how Tom Phillips’ three children have survived during four years of isolation with their father.
The Police Minister and Commissioner of Police are travelling to the Waikato this morning in the wake of the dramatic end to the fugitive’s years on the run.
Phillips was shot dead by police in Waitomo yesterday after firing a high-powered rifle at a policeman, hitting him in the head. He had broken into a farm store in Piopio earlier.
One of his children was at the scene of the dramatic shoot-out early in the morning and helped lead police to their two siblings. They were found in a remote campsite at 4.30pm, roughly 2km from where their father died.
Jayda, 12, Maverick, 10, and Ember, 9, had been missing since December 2021.
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers arrived in New Zealand from Melbourne last night and said he would travel to the Waikato this morning.
Speaking from Auckland Airport, Chambers told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking Breakfast, the child found first told police there were guns at the makeshift campsite.
“It took us a while to ensure the safe recovery of the children yesterday, but we had to take that approach because we knew that there were firearms present and we could not risk anything playing out that might compromise the safety of those children or my staff.”
Police were confident the campsite was not where Phillips had been spending “considerable time” while on the run but there were “some structures”.
“We know the family liked to move around… that’s why our job was so hard.
“The terrain in this area is challenging. They’ve been on the move and they were deep in the bush, about 2 kilometres away from where the shooting occurred yesterday morning.”
Chambers said he got a telephone call about the unfolding incident at 1.47am yesterday. He said he was satisfied the response was done right.
“As soon as that happened, I jumped onto our police system and I had a look at the number of units that were in the area at the time. And yes, that support was close by and that obviously played out, thank heavens, with the backup that was there on the spot.
“[The injured officer] he was in a police car and on his own, but he was with his colleagues yesterday morning. I’m confident that support was what I would want it to be.”
Chambers had tough words for anyone who was supporting Phillips.
“I’m sure there are some in the community who may defend him - he’s not a hero.”
Chambers told Ryan Bridge on Herald NOW it was likely police had already canvassed the area the children were found.
He said police were hoping to learn details about what the children had been doing on a day-to-day basis, what they had been eating, and how they had been surviving.
“The impact on them psychologically over the last four years and the reintegration that’s going to occur will be significant.”
Chambers said it was still a possibility that someone had been helping Phillips and police investigations in the coming months would help clarify it. He said police would take “appropriate action” against anyone who did.
He told Radio NZ he was “very much looking forward” to seeing his colleague in Waikato Hospital, who sustained serious injuries to his head and shoulder.
“We always knew we were dealing with a very motivated person with Mr Phillips… we knew we were dealing with someone who was armed.”
Chambers told Bridge the officer has a long road to recovery ahead of him.
“He’s an outstanding policeman, well respected by his colleagues. He was doing his job, and he did it very, very well yesterday morning. Of course, none of us ever wants this to happen to our police officers in our country. But that is policing; it’s a challenging occupation.”
He said he will get more details of yesterday morning’s events when he visits the scene later this morning.
He said there were a “large number” of bullet holes in the constable’s police car.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell told Bridge that what occurred yesterday was a “total tragedy” for everyone involved.
“This was always in the forefront of police’s mind in dealing with this – what’s a really complex case – is primarily around the safety of those children.”
Mitchell said it was “great news” all three children had been found and were in good health, and said they were now in the care of wider family and Oranga Tamariki.
While an officer had suffered critical injuries, Mitchell said the constable had made great strides overnight following surgery.
Mitchell also thanked all those involved in the operation.
“We should be extremely proud of them. It was quite simply outstanding,” he said, describing it as a “very difficult situation to deal with”.
Child psychologist Sara Chatwin told Herald NOW yesterday morning what the children had been through would have likely been “deeply traumatising”.
Having the way of life they had become accustomed to stripped away from them will be a significant challenge to overcome, she said.
“You’ve been away from other family, you’ve been living with your dad, you love him, he’s your parent ... to have lost your dad, that is hugely significant, and it will take a whole lot of time.”
Chatwin said going forward, the children will need substantial support so they can re-establish links with the help of professionals.
Their education will likely have regressed, and they would have had minimal social interactions while they were on the run, she said.
“This is a lot of trauma. The trauma of living a different life, the trauma of living with one parent, and then the trauma of having that parent killed in a bizarre situation.”
Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Jill Rogers said yesterday that the children would have medical examinations and that police would “work very closely with our partners at Oranga Tamariki to ensure that they receive all of the support that they require at this very difficult time”.
The children’s mother, Catherine, told RNZ she and her family were “looking forward to welcoming them home with love and care.”
She said they were saddened by how the events unfolded.
“Our hope has always been that the children could be returned in a peaceful and safe way for everyone involved.”
Registered psychologist David Stebbing told the Herald last month that one of the children’s alleged involvement in a burglary indicates they had likely been conditioned into the life they were living.
“It’s problematic for their views on crime,” Stebbing said of Phillips’ children.
“Children develop socially in school, watching TV, being around family.
“These kids are living in a vacuum, learning from him and not living in a community.”