Police reveal details of search for fugitive Tom Phillips

Friday 26 September 2025 · 8 outlets · 6 reports · updated Fri 26 Sep 2025, 11:58am

Police have released new details regarding the four-year search for Tom Phillips and his children. Authorities say they detected the family in transit on several occasions but could not safely intervene. Phillips died following a shootout with police on 8 September after being called to a burglary.

How they headlined it

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1. StuffFri 26 Sep 2025, 10:39am

   Tom Phillips had been spotted ‘in transit on occasion’, but police say they’d been unable to act safely (opens in new tab)

2. NZ HeraldFri 26 Sep 2025, 11:02am

   Tom Phillips was unlikely to surrender - police (opens in new tab)

3. RNZFri 26 Sep 2025, 11:04am

   'Never stopped trying': New details released about search for Tom Phillips (opens in new tab)

4. Otago Daily TimesFri 26 Sep 2025, 11:19am

   Police detected Phillips but feared 'he was prepared to put children in harm's way' (opens in new tab)

5. 1NewsFri 26 Sep 2025, 11:22am

   Officer shot by Tom Phillips discharged from hospital (opens in new tab)

6. The Press via Waikato TimesFri 26 Sep 2025, 11:58am

   Police located Tom Phillips before shooting but were unable to ‘safely intervene’ (opens in new tab)

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