Watch: First look inside Tom Phillips' camp.
Video / NZ Herald
Police suspect there may be more campsites concealed in dense Waikato bush that Marokopa fugitive Tom Phillips hid in with his children while on the run.
In the past two months, police have uncovered several campsites in steep King Country terrain they believe were used by Phillips as heevaded authorities for nearly four years.
“The bush around Marokopa is dense and difficult to navigate. While we believe we have found the primary campsites, it is not possible to say with absolute certainty that we have found every site where the family stayed,” police said.
Police investigating the disappearance of Tom Phillips and his children located what are believed to be the family’s primary campsites. Photo / Police
Last month, police revealed details about and photos of what are believed to be the main campsites used since December 2021.
Tom Phillips, the fugitive shot dead by police after hiding with his children in the bush near Marokopa. Photo / NZ Police
One of the main campsites Tom Phillips was believed to have used. Photo / Police
Phillips died in a shootout with police on September 8, in which an officer was critically injured, after being on the run for nearly four years.
The fugitive vanished in December 2021 with his three young children, from Marokopa, on the Waikato coast.
One of his children was with him when he died, while the other two were found alone at a campsite later that day.
The Phillips’ case divided the local Marokopa population, with some resenting what they felt were overbearing tactics by police during the long-running manhunt.
“We would like to send our sincere apology to all those in the Waitomo/Otorohanga districts, most especially those in the Marokopa/Te Anga community for all the trouble, inconvenience, loss of privacy and property caused by Tom,” the letter stated.
“We in no way supported him or agreed with any of his actions in the past 4 years.
