On September 11, 2021, Tom Phillips and his three children disappeared for the first time. His Toyota Hilux was discovered abandoned at a beach near his parents' home in Marokopa, prompting a large-scale search by authorities. After just under three weeks, the family unexpectedly returned, claiming they had been on a camping trip.
However, they vanished again on December 12, 2021. Despite sporadic sightings and some CCTV footage, the bushman and his children were not seen again until a police shoot-out on September 8, 2025, concluded a lengthy manhunt.
During the altercation, police responded to an attempted burglary when Phillips was shot, ending the search that had lasted nearly four years. Many questions remain about Phillips’ disappearance and the reasons behind his actions, particularly about taking his children into the wild.
Phillips had previously returned home to face charges regarding the resources wasted on the searches. It is believed he had been trying to evade capture due to a custody dispute with their mother over the children, now aged nine to twelve.
Despite being known as a survivalist, Phillips had difficulty sustaining his family in the harsh New Zealand wilderness. There were multiple alleged sightings of him and his children, recorded by teenage hunters, and police were led to believe he might have received assistance during his years on the run.
The situation escalated on September 8, 2025, when police laid spikes to stop Phillips' quad bike, only to be met with gunfire, which left one officer injured and resulted in Phillips’ death. Fortunately, his child accompanying him at the time was unharmed and provided information that led to the safe recovery of his siblings from a secluded campsite.
The children are now in the care of authorities, and while the community reflects on the events, many questions remain about the motivations behind Phillips’ actions and the support he may have received in eluding authorities for years.
