New Zealand police say they have found evidence the fugitive Tom Phillips was assisted as he evaded recapture. He journeyed into the Waikato backcountry with his three children in December 2021. They identified a campground associated with Phillips. This camp is less than 200 meters from the safe house where his children were recently rescued.
So, in December 2021, Phillips made the radical decision to take his kids—Ember (9), Maverick (10), and Jayda (12)—off the grid, into the bush. This journey came after a traumatic dispute with their mother. This ruling had the unintended effect of keeping Phillips on the run for almost 25 years. It all ended grimly in Piopio, where he was shot and killed by police after being identified as a burglary suspect.
Detective Senior Sergeant Andrew Saunders said the campsite was “filthy” and close quarters. What he found was evidence of Phillips’ longterm occupation in the area, including tarps strung up between trees. Nightfall cast a threatening aura over the territory. Indeed, dense undergrowth lay around it, providing near perfect concealment such that no man could come within sight of it without being discovered.
It’s a pretty dark, depressing place, covered in thick greenery. The inside of that tent was nice and warm and dry,’ Detective Saunders recalled.
At the campsite, police found at least one illegal gun and ammunition. The site was only a little over two kilometers from where Phillips had died. This distance indicates the kind of makeshift base he would have needed to establish while on the run with his kids. Two of Phillips’ children were found safe at a campsite in Waitomo. At the same time, the third child was present and saw all of the shooting unfold.
Detective Saunders said it’s equally important to pursue others who may have aided Phillips. He encouraged everyone to keep searching for those who had backed Tom Phillips. We cannot expect them to do otherwise, but we need to hold them accountable to ensure they act rightly. He pointed out that the investigation had always indicated Phillips had assistance during the four decades he was on the run from law enforcement.
The Supreme Court has now issued a rare interim suppression order in Phillips’ case. This joint action, more than the others, highlights the sensitive nature of the continuing investigation. New Zealand Police Minister Mark Mitchell described the situation as “complex.” He underscored the burdening law enforcement is having to deal with in tracking down Phillip’s movements and finding out who may be helping him.
Authorities are still working to determine what happened. From there, we know they are identifying a number of objects recovered from the campsite, connecting them to Phillips’ movements and actions. A ‘first look’ at things we’re considering on the site. Saunders would ultimately determine that Tom was responsible for at least seven burglaries. What’s less clear is how he got external assistance.
Local resident Warwick Morehu said there were no words to explain the unprecedented event to hit the community. “The situation is unprecedented,” he noted. He was hopeful, as he reported “the children are adjusted and thriving.” His words offered an unexpected ray of hope amidst a very dark situation.