Man Shot Dead, Officer Injured in New Zealand’s Waikato Region Amid Hunt for Fugitive Father

WAITOMO, New Zealand — A man was fatally shot by police and an officer was seriously injured early Monday morning in Waitomo, a remote area in western Waikato, New Zealand, where authorities have been searching for fugitive father Tom Phillips and his three children for nearly four years. The incident, which unfolded during a response to a burglary, has raised speculation about a possible connection to Phillips, though police have yet to confirm any link.

According to police reports, officers were called to a commercial property in Waitomo around 2:30 a.m. following reports of a burglary. A confrontation ensued, during which a suspect shot and wounded a police officer. Another officer returned fire, killing the male suspect at the scene. The injured officer was rushed to a hospital in serious condition but is reported to be conscious and communicating with colleagues. A second individual was taken into custody, though their identity and involvement remain undisclosed.

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers, currently in Melbourne for a colleague’s funeral, issued a statement confirming the officer’s condition and emphasizing the ongoing investigation. Acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers is en route to Waikato to provide further updates later today. Te Anga Road, between Waitomo and Marokopa, remains cordoned off as police continue their inquiries.

The shooting occurred in the same region where Tom Phillips, 38, has been evading authorities since December 2021, when he vanished with his three children—Jayda, 12, Maverick, 10, and Ember, 9—following a custody dispute with their mother. Phillips, believed to be living off-grid in the rugged Waikato wilderness, is wanted on charges including aggravated robbery, aggravated wounding, and unlawful possession of a firearm. Recent CCTV footage from August 2025 showed Phillips and one of his children allegedly breaking into a Piopio store, using an angle grinder to steal groceries. The incident sparked renewed efforts to locate the family, who were last spotted by pig hunters in October 2024, trekking through Marokopa farmland in camouflage.

Local speculation has tied Monday’s shooting to the hunt for Phillips. Ōtorohanga Mayor Max Baxter told the New Zealand Herald he is “getting the feeling” the incident may be related, citing “all sorts of rumours” in the community. Reports suggest the burglary involved a ram-raid at the PGG Wrightson building in Piopio, a tactic consistent with Phillips’ alleged prior crimes. However, police have refrained from confirming whether the deceased suspect is Phillips, stating only that investigations are ongoing.

The children’s welfare remains a focal point for authorities. “At the heart of this are three children who have been away from their home for four years,” Detective Senior Sergeant Andy Saunders said in a recent statement. The children’s mother, who has not seen them since 2021, expressed relief at earlier sightings confirming they were alive but condemned Phillips for using them as “pawns.” She highlighted concerns about their lack of education and Ember’s need for medical care due to asthma.

The incident has shocked the close-knit Waikato community, where Phillips’ case has gripped public attention. A NZ$80,000 reward for information leading to the children’s safe return expired last year without being claimed. Police continue to urge anyone with information to come forward, emphasizing the children’s well-being as their top priority.

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