Fugitive father on run with children in New Zealand shot dead by police

A fugitive father who had been hiding in New Zealand's rugged wilderness with his three children for nearly four years has been shot dead by police investigating an armed burglary, police said yesterday.

- Eva Corlett

Tom Phillips's whereabouts have attracted headlines around the world since just before Christmas 2021, when he fled into the Waikato wilderness with his children Ember, now nine, Maverick, 10 and Jayda, 12, after a custody dispute with their mother.

Police, alerted to a burglary early yesterday, pursued two suspects on a quad bike before coming under fire from one of them from a high-powered rifle, authorities said. Police returned fire, killing the shooter, whom they believe to be Phillips, pending formal identification.

One of Phillips's children was located at the scene. Hours later, authorities located the two other children amid concerns they would be alone in the wilderness in temperatures that were forecast to reach freezing overnight. The police deputy commissioner, Jill Rogers, said the two children were found at a local campsite, adding: "I can confirm that the children are well and uninjured, and they will be taken to a location this evening for medical checks."

Earlier, Rogers said: "This has been a deeply traumatic incident this morning for those involved. It has been confronting and challenging in a small, rural, isolated location."

The prime minister, Christopher Luxon, said the morning's events were "sad and absolutely tragic".