Police will not prosecute Stuff over Tom Phillips audio reporting

Wednesday 5 November 2025 · 8 outlets · 6 reports · updated Wed 5 Nov 2025, 8:49am

In this story Richard Chambers

Police have decided not to take legal action against Stuff for publishing radio communications from the night Tom Phillips was shot dead. Although Commissioner Richard Chambers stated the publication broke the law and met the test for prosecution, authorities have opted not to proceed.

How they headlined it

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1. NZ HeraldWed 5 Nov 2025, 5:00am

   Use of police radio from Tom Phillips’ shooting broke the law – Police Commissioner Richard Chambers (opens in new tab)

2. StuffWed 5 Nov 2025, 5:00am

   Why publishing the Tom Phillips audio was the right call (opens in new tab)

3. The Press via StuffWed 5 Nov 2025, 5:00am

   ‘A very serious issue’, but police won’t prosecute Stuff over Tom Phillips audio reporting (opens in new tab)

   Also on Waikato Times (opens in new tab), Stuff (opens in new tab), The Post (opens in new tab)

4. RNZWed 5 Nov 2025, 5:00am

   The Tom Phillips recordings: Why the police say they won't prosecute Stuff (opens in new tab)

5. 1NewsWed 5 Nov 2025, 6:00am

   Top cop: The Tom Phillips shooting and release of ‘crucial, sensitive’ evidence (opens in new tab)

6. Otago Daily TimesWed 5 Nov 2025, 8:49am

   Tom Phillips recordings: Why police not prosecuting news website (opens in new tab)