Inside the makeshift campsite where NZ fugitive family lived

WorldFamily & Parenting
9 Sep 2025 • 7:55 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Fugitive Tom Phillips, who had been on the run with his three children since Christmas 2021, was shot dead by police in Waitomo, New Zealand, on Monday.
  • His three children, aged 9, 10, and 12, were found safe. One was with Phillips at the time of his death, while two were located at a remote, makeshift campsite.
  • The campsite is described as a cluster of tarpaulins and tents in deep bush, and items including quad bikes, tyres, guns, and cans of soft drink were found there.
  • The children have since been reunited with their mother and are now in the care of Oranga Tamariki, New Zealand’s Ministry for Children.
  • Police are continuing their investigation, probing potential accomplices who may have assisted Phillips in evading authorities.

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