One of the campsites Tom Phillips lived in with his children.
Photo: RNZ / Supplied / Police
The military has confirmed members of its elite special forces were used to search for fugitive father Tom Phillips and his children.
Phillps was shot by police on 8 September – four years after he disappeared with the family in December 2021.
The defence force has confirmed members of the SAS were involved in the search for Phillips and his children on three occasions.
It said the service usually operated overseas, but in this case it was cleared to help Police.
The Herald reported that up to four SAS members – including expert trackers – helped police search for the family in remote Waikato bush in 2024 and 2025.
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