Tom Phillips shooting: NZ police race to find children before nightfall after fugitive father shot dead by police – latest updates

<p>Fugitive father who has been on the run with his children for four years was shot by police after an attempted burglary of a building in Piopio. Police are now searching for two of his missing children</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/08/tom-phillips-new-zealand-fugitive-father-shot-dead-nz-police">Full report: Tom Phillips shot dead after attempted burglary, NZ police confirm</a></p></li></ul><p>The mayor of Waitomo, <strong>John Robertson</strong>, told the Guardian this morning’s events were the worst possible outcome for the community.</p><p>“I’m shattered, to be honest, and there will be many in the community that are devastated that this was the outcome after three and a half, four years,” he said.</p><p>So it’s just devastating news. Really the worst outcome we could have expected.</p><p>No day that goes by that I don’t think about all four of them.</p><p>It hurts every time I see photos of the children and of you, and see some of your stuff that is still here, thinking what could have been if you had not gone away.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/sep/08/tom-phillips-shooting-live-updates-nz-police-search-for-children-of-fugitive-father-shot-new-zealand-police-latest-updates">Continue reading...</a>