Tom Phillips: Police reveal shock detail about manhunt for fugitive father and his three children

Shock new details about the four year hunt for fugitive father Tom Phillips and his three young children have been revealed, including that they were detected a number of times but not confronted for fears it could end badly.

That became a reality on September 8 when he was shot dead by police after he opened fire and seriously injured an officer.

Phillips’ eldest daughter Jayda, 12, was with him, allegedly raiding a small business, when gunfire broke out.

Jayda later provided police with information that helped them narrow down the search for the other two children.

When officers found Maverick, 10, and Ember, nine, at a makeshift camp, Maverick was reportedly armed.

The New Zealand family first vanished into the rugged Waikato wilderness in September 2021 after a reported dispute with their mother.

Though they briefly resurfaced two weeks later, he and the children slipped back into hiding in December that year.

Police were criticised for the amount of time it took to bring the family in.

On Friday, Detective Superintendent Ross McKay said that police never stopped looking for them.

“Police never stopped trying – thousands of hours were dedicated to the search,” he said.

While specifics about the police response would be subject to debriefs and reviews, Det. Supt. McKay said he could now reveal some details about the massive search effort dubbed Op Curly.

“We knew Phillips had firearms and was motivated to use them,” he said.

“We also knew, based on previous actions and behavioural science analysis, that Phillips was unlikely to surrender easily and was prepared to put the children in harm’s way.

“The primary objective was locating and returning the children safely.”

Det. Supt. McKay said Phillips and the children were hiding out in a vast area that included difficult, steep terrain that was almost completely obscured from all angles by dense bush.

“The family regularly moved around and adapted their behaviour, meaning no sites were found.

“They were detected in transit on occasion but never in circumstances that allowed police to safely intervene.”

In August 2023, Phillips was seen at Bunnings in Te Rapa and in September 2024, the family was seen by a group of pig hunters in Marakopa bushland.

The search effort included specialist units such as Special Tactics Group, Armed Offenders Squad, Search and Rescue and Tactical Operations Group.

“There was also support from the New Zealand Defence Force, with helicopter and ground assets.

“Other resources included geospatial imagery, thermal imagery, covert technology such as motion-activated cameras, and Airbus Flexrotor drones.”

The children are now in the guardianship of the Family Court, with Oranga Tamariki, New Zealand’s Ministry of Children, as the agent of the court.

The officer injured during the final fatal confrontation with Phillips has been discharged from hospital and his recovery is progressing.