6pm update:
Police have confirmed the final two missing Marokopa kids have been found at a campsite not far from the Te Anga and Waipuna Rds intersection - about two kilometres from where their father Tom Phillips died.
They were by themselves and are cooperating with the police.
“I can confirm that the children are well and uninjured, and they will be taken to a location this evening for medical checks,” said Acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers.
3.30pm update:
Acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers confirmed the two children are still missing, with police still searching for them, with only a few hours of daylight left.
“It’s rough, it’s rugged, it will be down to near freezing point this morning, hence we want this situation resolved as soon as possible.”
She confirmed concerns that there has been support offered to the Phillips family and said that this must come to a conclusion as the Police believe they have children unaccompanied in the bush.
The child currently in custody has been cooperative with the police to identify the area of interest.
The injured police officer has commenced the first of many surgeries. He’s gone back into surgery this afternoon for an injury to his eye.
He was shot multiple times with a rifle, but has “survivable” injuries according to Rogers.
He is at Waikato Hospital, and his family is with him, providing support.
Scene examination will continue through the night and tomorrow, with ongoing road closures.
Resources have been deployed Eagle helicopter, specialist teams on the ground, A-risk officers and special tactics team deployed, and PNT (Police Negotiation Team) teams to help with negotiations.
Rogers confirmed Tom Phillips’ body was still at the scene.
Temperatures in Piopio overnight will drop to 6 degrees according to MetService. Southeasterlies, turning southwesterly for a time in the afternoon and evening. Isolated showers are expected tomorrow afternoon.
Article from earlier in the day:
The sister of the fugitive Marokopa father, Rozzi Phillips, has confirmed Tom Phillips died after being shot overnight following reports of a burglary at a commercial property in Piopio, reported by RNZ.
Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers said there was a quad bike with two occupants on it driving along Waipuna Rd, with the first officer on site meeting the offender by laying spikes down and stopping the quad bike.
She added that a police officer was shot in the head at the scene, with him being taken to the hospital, remaining in a serious condition.
This led to second responders shooting and killing a man they believed to be Tom Phillips.
Roger wouldn’t comment further on the identification. An autopsy is still to be conducted.
Phillips has been on the run with his three children for nearly four years, with multiple reported sightings and allegations of crimes involving him and the kids.
The other person on the quad bike has been confirmed to be one of the children. Police are currently searching for the other two.
“At this stage, our search is to locate those children as quickly as we can,” said Rogers.
The child is still in custody with the police.
Mother of the three tamariki, Cat, told RNZ she is relieved the ordeal is over.
“They have been dearly missed every day for nearly four years, and we are looking forward to welcoming them home with love and care.”
“At the same time, we are saddened by how events unfolded today. Our hope has always been that the children could be returned in a peaceful and safe way for everyone involved.
“We express our deepest aroha to the police officer who was injured in the line of duty.
“We also extend our aroha to those in the community who have been affected, and our heartfelt gratitude to the many people who have supported us over these past four years. Your compassion has sustained us.
“As a whānau, we are 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,” she told RNZ’s Mata Reports.
Police can’t comment further on the other two missing children, except to say that they have deployed teams in the area.
Police are remaining in the area for a “significant Police operation” and advise members of the public to respect the operation and cordons in place.
Leading investigator of the Marokopa case, Detective Senior Sergeant Andy Saunders, said this was not the outcome they wanted.
“We’ve got one child out safely, and our focus now is really finding the other children, getting them out safely,” he said.
He added that the child the police have in custody was cooperating, but could not comment on the circumstances at the scene.
