For four years, Tom Phillips’ three kids survived in the dense, unforgiving bush of the Waikato’s west coast. Clad in camouflage, they tramped steep hills and hid in makeshift camps deep beneath the forest canopy.
Jayda was eight, Maverick was seven and Ember was five when they went into hiding – they’re now aged 12, 10 and nine. For all of them, life on the run with Dad – who was shot and killed by police in an armed standoff on 8 September on a remote Marokopa road – likely meant uncertainty on a daily basis.
They learnt to be wary of everyone. When police negotiators arrived at their bush camp to convince the younger kids to leave, Maverick was reportedly holding a rifle, but officers managed to persuade him to drop the gun.
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers says Jayda was “very, very helpful” in giving cops advice. She guided them on what to say to her siblings so that they didn’t feel threatened when the negotiators appeared at their ramshackle hideaway.
Jayda
Maverick
Ember
Grim makeshift camps reveal harsh living conditions
Made up of trenches dug into the dirt, where the children are thought to have slept, there was also a dry, well-covered tent with sleeping bags in it and a second area that appeared to be a kitchen, which contained bottles of iced coffee and cans of alcohol. Police say the makeshift set-up is likely to be just one of many the family was using.
Describing the terrain as steep and uneven, Detective Senior Sergeant Andrew Saunders says, “It’s a very grim, dimly lit area. We’re currently looking at a number of items at the site. Aside from the burglaries we are now able to link to Tom, it’s apparent that he had outside help.”
Children remain in Oranga Tamariki care
As Woman’s Day went to press, the kids were in the care of Oranga Tamariki and there were no plans yet to reunite them with their mother Cat or the extended Phillips family. Minister of Police Mark Mitchell says he has “absolute sympathy” for Cat but that it was a “complex situation” with authorities acting under court orders.
“We don’t know what they’ve fully been exposed to, but we know that they’ve been put in a fairly bad position by their father,” he adds.
“We know that one of them has witnessed him trying to kill a police officer, then having been killed himself. Everyone at the moment is just focused on trying to settle the children and figure out what is the best thing for them in terms of what they’ve been exposed to.”
Their loved ones are ready and waiting to welcome the kids home when the time is right.
Welcoming the children home with love and support
“We’re looking forward to welcoming them home with love and care,” Cat says.
“As a whānau, we’re now attempting to work in cooperation with the relevant government agencies to support the safe return and reconnection of our tamariki. They have endured a long and difficult journey, and we ask for privacy as we help them adjust and reintegrate into a stable and loving environment.”
The minister insists there was a “careful plan” in place for their recovery, adding, “They’ve seen and been exposed to things that children in our country should not be.”
Mark also expressed his sympathy for the family of the severely injured rural police officer, who was shot at close range by Phillips before his death.
“Although it’s going to be a long pathway for him, we’re all just extremely relieved that he’s on a pathway and that we didn’t lose him.”
Mark says the officer is a “good Kiwi bloke”, who is keen to get back on his feet.
“He’s got a lovely young wife and two young daughters… He loves his public service. He’s very good at it, so I have no doubt that he’ll just be wanting to get to recover as quickly as he can and get back doing the job that he loves.”
Mark also acknowledged Phillips, who was 38, and the late fugitive’s extended family.
A mother’s plea before the tragedy
“They’ve been through a lot as well,” he says.
“There’s no winners in this.”
Prior to the shooting, Phillips’ mum Julia penned a heartfelt note to her son, writing, “Tom, I feel really sad that you thought you had to do this… It hurts every time I see photos of the children and of you.”
In a tragedy that made headlines around the world, Phillips was killed by police after breaking into a farm supplies store, where he shot the cop responding to the burglary. His daughter Jayda was with him.
A history of risky incidents
It wasn’t the first time Phillips may have put his children at risk. Police laid charges of aggravated robbery, wounding and unlawfully possessing a firearm against Phillips in September 2023 after alleging he robbed a Te Kuiti bank with an accomplice, potentially one of his kids, fleeing with cash on a farm-style motorbike.
Then in November 2023, Phillips and one of his children reportedly stole a quad bike from a Waikato farm. CCTV later captures them breaking the front window of a shop, and they flee when the alarm goes off.
The first steps toward healing
In August 2025, more footage showed two masked individuals, believed to be Phillips and a child, allegedly breaking into a Piopio business. Having been exposed to criminal activities, taken on adult responsibilities and been out in the bush with their dad means the kids face a long road to recovery. For any child who experiences depravation in any form, the first thing they need is a quiet, secure environment where they can rest, explains Kiwi psychologist Sara Chatwin.
“To help them initially deal with the physiological and psychological trauma, it’s all about supporting them to eat well, sleep, get enough hydration and exercise,” says Sara.
Once their physiology improves, getting routines up and running helps create a sense of normalcy.
Helping the children feel safe again
“They will have been in a place where they were feeling on guard all the time, even though they loved their dad. Creating an environment where they can take baby steps helps build a sense of physical and emotional safety.”
The family will help the kids adjust to being around people as the next step in their healing.
“These children haven’t known anyone except him for four years,” says Sara.
“There may be recognition risk or memory issues because to get through each day, you wouldn’t want to think about what was. “With a period of time of healing and calm, they will be able to think about their past and reconnect with supportive people who are going to be there continuously, providing safety and care.”
Dr Emma Woodward, director of psychological services at Auckland’s Child Psychology Service, adds that giving them space is crucial.
“Children are resilient, but resilience isn’t instant. They need connection and help to process and integrate what they’ve been through, so the experience doesn’t define who they become. “Just as importantly, they need to be allowed to be children again – free from adult worries and safe enough to let go of responsibilities they are too young to carry.”
A timeline of trauma
September 2021
Phillips disappears with the three kids for the first time, before returning to his parents’ Marokopa home 18 days later with no explanation. Police charge him with wasting their time.
December 2021
Phillips doesn’t show up for court, instead disappearing with the children again.
September 2023
Police charge Phillips after alleging he robbed a Te Kuiti bank with an accomplice, fleeing with cash on a motorbike.
August 2023
Phillips disguises himself with glasses and a face mask in two Bunnings stores. He buys items likely useful on a campsite, including headlamps, buckets, gumboots and plants.
November 2023
Phillips and one of his kids reportedly stole a quad bike from a Waikato farm and attempted to break into a shop.
June 2024
An $80,000 reward for information leading to the location and safe return of the three missing children is announced, but it expires before anyone claims it.
October 2024
Pig hunters spot Tom and the children in Marokopa in October. The first time they’re all seen together since they went missing in 2021.
February 2025
Police appeal for the public’s help after a possible sighting of Phillips and his children camouflaged alongside State Highway 4.
August 2025
CCTV footage shows two masked individuals, thought to be Phillips and one of his kids, allegedly breaking into a Piopio business. Phillips had previously targeted the same business unsuccessfully in November 2023.
September 2025
After a break-in, Phillips shoots a responding police officer in the head. Another cop then shoots him dead. Police find Jayda at the scene and take her into custody, and they locate the other two in a bush camp shortly afterwards.
