New Zealand police uncover a hidden campsite where Tom Phillips kept his three children after vanishing in 2021. Photos show harsh conditions before his fatal police shootout.
Police Release Photos of ‘Grim’ Campsite in Tom Phillips Case
Police in New Zealand have released shocking new images of a hidden campsite used by Tom Phillips, the father who disappeared with his three children in 2021.
Phillips and his children — Jayda, Maverick, and Ember — vanished four years ago, sparking one of the country’s most talked-about missing persons cases.
The Final Confrontation
On September 8, 2025, authorities announced that Phillips had been killed during a police shootout in the small town of Marokopa, on New Zealand’s west coast.
Police responded to a call about a break-in at a farm supply shop in the early hours of the morning. When officers arrived, they encountered Phillips and one of his children riding quad bikes. Gunfire broke out, leaving one officer critically injured after being shot in the head.
Phillips was pronounced dead at the scene. His child was taken into custody, while the other two children were later found safe during searches.
The Hidden Campsite
The following day, September 9, police revealed photos of a second campsite believed to have been used by Phillips and his children.
Detective Senior Sergeant Andrew Saunders described the site as “difficult to access, well-hidden, and extremely grim.”
“It’s a dimly lit area, surrounded by dense bush. The tent was well covered and dry, but it was dirty, cramped, and not suitable for children,” Saunders explained.
At the site, police found a makeshift shelter built from tree branches, a portable gas stove, gas bottles, and discarded gin and iced coffee bottles.
‘Not a Camping Trip, but Survival’
Authorities stressed that the conditions were far from a normal camping experience.
“It’s not a camping trip for a couple of nights. It’s very dirty, cramped conditions — not very nice for children,” said Saunders.
He added that Phillips likely had multiple hideouts and also received help from outsiders to survive undetected for so long.
Operation Curly: A Painful Ending
The years-long search for Phillips and his children was carried out under Operation Curly, which aimed to ensure the children’s safe return.
“While no one wanted it to end this way, it is satisfying as investigators that the children have been safely returned,” Saunders said, thanking everyone involved in the operation.
The tragic conclusion has left many questioning how Phillips managed to remain hidden for so long, and what life was like for his children during those years in the bush.
