(Clockwise from top left) Tom Phillips, Jayda Phillips, Ember Phillips and Maverick Callam-Phillips.
Photo: Supplied / NZ Police
8 September, 2025, was the day one of New Zealand’s most recent high profile cases came to a close.
The disappearance of Tom Phillips and his three children has gripped the nation for four years, but held the attention of most on Monday.
Phillips was shot dead, a police officer was shot in the head, and the missing children – Jayda, Maverick, and Ember – were found.
Here’s a timeline of the day it all came to a head.
2:30am – The burglary
Police were called to a burglary in Piopio at 2:30am by a member of the public.
They told police it involved two people on a quad bike dressed in farm clothing and wearing headlamps.
It was later confirmed Phillips had ram-raided PGG Wrightson on Piopio’s main street in a burglary attempt.
The cordon on the PGG Wrightson store in Piopio.
Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Around 3.20am – Tom Phillips killed, officer shot
The quad bike – with Phillips and one of his children – was seen travelling along Waipuna Road.
The responding police officer laid road spikes near the Te Anga Road intersection which brought the quad bike to a halt.
The officer at the scene was shot in the head with a high-powered rifle.
Phillips was killed in the shootout with a responding officer.
The injured constable was flown to Waikato Hospital a critical condition to undergo surgery.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers.
Photo: RNZ/Robin Martin
11am – Police press conference
At about 11am Acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers confirmed to media Tom Phillips had been killed and one child had been taken into custody.
She said the first officer at the scene was met with gunfire at close range and shot in the head.
They fell to the ground and took cover, Rogers said.
She said a second officer shot and killed Phillips.
Phillips’ father declined to comment on the unfolding situation, but his sister confirmed he had been killed.
Rogers said finding the missing children was the “number one priority” for police.
She said the news was devastating for the family of Phillips and it was not the outcome anyone wanted.
1pm – Mother of missing children speaks out
A photo posted on social media by Cat of her and her three children during a visit to the park in November 2021 before they were taken by their father, Tom Phillips.
Photo: Supplied
The mother of the missing children spoke out about the news of Phillips’ death at about 1pm.
Cat said it brought a “wave of complex emotions”.
“First and foremost, we are deeply relieved that for our tamariki this ordeal has come to an end.
“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.”
She also expressed aroha to the police officer who was shot.
3.30pm – Second press conference
Acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers confirmed at about 3:30pm that the missing children had still not been found.
“This must come to a conclusion now,” Rogers said.
There were 50 staff deployed in the area, with more working in Hamilton.
Police also had several specialist teams on the ground and the Eagle helicopter in the area.
4.30pm – Missing children found
The children were found safe and well at a remote campsite at about 4:30pm.
They were located roughly 2km from the location where Phillips died.
Police confirmed to media at 5:50pm that the missing children had been found.
In a statement, Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said: “This is a result of incredible work by police who had to contend with a high-risk situation and difficult circumstances both earlier this morning and throughout the day.
“I want to acknowledge our colleague who was shot and faces a long recovery.”
So what’s next?
A top lawyer acting for Phillips’ family has now been granted an urgent injunction to stop media, police and Oranga Tamariki from publishing certain details related to the case.
Lawyer Linda Clark went to the High Court in Wellington on Monday afternoon.
The interim order issued by Justice Cull lasts 48 hours currently, with the matter to be called in court later this week.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell will on Tuesday meet with the officer who was critically injured in the shootout.
He is arriving in Auckland tonight from Australia, returning early after attending the funeral of one of the two officers killed in Victoria.
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