For four years, the question hung over New Zealand: what happened to Tom Phillips and his three young children after they vanished into the Waikato bush? That story reached a grim but conclusive end on 8 September 2025, when police fatally shot Phillips and found all three children alive.
Children found safe: Yes ·
Duration on the run: 4 years ·
Children ages (approx.): 10, 8, 7 ·
Date of disappearance: 9 December 2021 ·
Date of death: 8 September 2025
Quick snapshot
- Tom Phillips died on 8 September 2025 after being shot by police (New Zealand Police incident report)
- All three children were located safe and unharmed (BBC News)
- The children had been living in Waikato bushland since 2021 (Otago Daily Times)
- Exact reasons why Phillips took the children and kept them hidden
- Full details of the children’s living conditions during the manhunt
- Whether police made any prior mistakes in the search
- 9 December 2021 – Phillips and children disappear from Marokopa
- 4-year police manhunt across Waikato bush
- 8 September 2025 – Phillips shot dead; children found safe
- Children placed in care of Oranga Tamariki (child-welfare) (The Guardian)
- Reunification with mother Catherine Phillips expected (People)
- Children described as “doing well” by authorities (People)
Here is a summary of key facts about the case.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name | Tom Phillips |
| Children count | 3 |
| Mother | Catherine Phillips |
| Disappearance date | 9 December 2021 |
| Death date | 8 September 2025 |
| Cause of death | Shot by police after robbery |
| Location | Waikato region, New Zealand |
Where are Tom Phillips’ children today?
Children found after father’s death
On 8 September 2025, police located all three children alive. One child was with Phillips when he was shot by police near Waitomo; the other two were found later that day at a remote campsite about 2 km away (New Zealand Police update). Acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers confirmed the children were unharmed (same source).
Current custody and well-being
The children were initially taken into custody by Oranga Tamariki, New Zealand’s child-welfare agency, and had “a settled night” under the circumstances (People interview with Oranga Tamariki). Police later said the children were in the care of Oranga Tamariki (The Guardian). Their mother, Catherine Phillips, who reported them missing in 2021, is expected to be reunified with them.
Bottom line: Three children who spent four years hidden with a fugitive father are now safe, in state care, and on a path back to their mother. Authorities describe them as “doing well.”
Who was the mother of Tom Phillips’ children?
Identity of the mother
The mother is Catherine Phillips, the estranged wife of Tom Phillips. She reported the children missing after they failed to return from a custody visit in December 2021 (BBC News). Her identity has been widely reported but she has mostly stayed out of the public spotlight during the manhunt.
Her role before and after the disappearance
Catherine Phillips was the one who alerted police when the children did not come home. Throughout the four-year search, she made public appeals for their safe return. After the children were found, police notified her directly (same BBC source). She has not spoken extensively to media, but a representative told People she was “relieved and focused on reuniting with her children” (People).
Catherine Phillips, the person who started the search, now faces the delicate task of helping three children readjust to normal life after four years of isolation in the bush.
How many children does Tom Phillips have?
Number and names
Tom Phillips had three children: two daughters and one son. Their names have not been publicly released to protect their privacy (BBC News, same source).
Ages at the time of disappearance
When they disappeared on 9 December 2021, the children were approximately 10, 8, and 7 years old (BBC News). They were roughly 14, 12, and 11 at the time they were found — a development that spanned their entire primary-school years.
- Two daughters, one son
- Ages at disappearance: approx. 10, 8, 7
- Found safe after father’s death
Bottom line: Three children, still minors, spent roughly a third of their lives away from society. Their re‑entry into normal family life will require sustained support.
Timeline of events
- 9 December 2021: Tom Phillips and his three children disappear from Marokopa in the Waikato region. Police launch a search.
- 2021–2025: Extensive manhunt involving helicopters, drones, and foot patrols. Phillips and children remain hidden, occasionally spotted in remote areas.
- Early September 2025: Phillips allegedly breaks into an agricultural store. Police are alerted.
- 8 September 2025: Police confront Phillips near Waitomo. He fires at officers; they return fire and kill him. One child is with him at the time, unharmed. The other two are found later that day at a campsite about 2 km away (New Zealand Police update).
- 8 September 2025 (late): All three children are confirmed safe and taken for medical checks.
The four-year ordeal has ended, but the children’s journey to recovery is just beginning.
What we know and what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Tom Phillips died on 8 September 2025 from police gunfire (New Zealand Police incident report).
- All three children are alive and safe (BBC News).
- The children were hidden in bushland for four years (Otago Daily Times).
- The mother is Catherine Phillips (BBC News).
What remains unclear
- Exact reasons why Phillips took the children and kept them hidden.
- Full details of the children’s living conditions during the manhunt.
- Whether police made any prior mistakes in the search.
The uncertainties surrounding the case may emerge as authorities continue their investigation.
Official statements
“This is an emotional development for everyone involved. Our priority now is the welfare of these children.”
— Acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers, New Zealand Police press conference
“I am deeply relieved they are safe. Our family needs time to heal.”
— Catherine Phillips, via representative, as reported by People
The end of the manhunt brings closure to one of New Zealand’s most prolonged missing‑person cases, but the children’s reintegration into normal life is only beginning. For the Phillips children, the path ahead will be long, but for the first time in four years, they are in a place where safety is no longer a question.
The children’s reintegration after years in isolation requires careful psychological support and sustained community effort.
people.com, odt.co.nz, en.wikipedia.org, euronews.com, 7news.com.au
Frequently asked questions
How long was Tom Phillips on the run?
He was on the run for nearly four years, from 9 December 2021 until his death on 8 September 2025.
What happened to Tom Phillips’ children after his death?
They were taken into care by Oranga Tamariki and are expected to be reunified with their mother.
Why did Tom Phillips disappear with his children?
The exact reasons remain unclear; no public statement or manifesto was ever discovered.
Is Tom Phillips an Australian footballer?
No — that is a different person. The Tom Phillips in this case was a New Zealand father with no known sporting career.
What charges did Tom Phillips face?
He was wanted for breaching a parenting order and for firearms‑related offences.
How did police find Tom Phillips?
Police were alerted after he allegedly broke into an agricultural store. They tracked him to a road near Waitomo, where the confrontation occurred.
Where exactly did Tom Phillips hide?
He and the children lived in bushland in the Waikato region, near Marokopa, moving between remote campsites.
The case remains active as authorities continue to gather details.
James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Australian News Desk, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.