Marokopa children returned to civilisation<\/a> is paramount for me and I am eager to follow this to its end.”<\/p>\nRutherford said she had been approached by an award-winning UK director of feature documentaries and his LA-based producer as well as one of New Zealand’s “most respected production companies”.<\/p>\n
She said her “bottom line” was that if any documentary was ever to be made on the case then “the children must benefit”.<\/p>\n
Working with police was “critical,” she said.<\/p>\n
“We would therefore like to sit down with you to discuss a formal arrangement whereby we shadow your team on various parts of the investigation, and showcase the amount of work going on behind the scenes, with a view to helping local and global audiences understand just what’s involved and the complexities you face.<\/p>\n
“We of course are aware any conclusion to all this remains up in the air and appreciate the need to keep the children’s interests at the forefront.”<\/p>\n
Clausen replied about an hour later and said there would be a number of considerations at police’s end and would come back to her.<\/p>\n
The wishlist<\/p>\n
On 2 December, Christie sent an email to Clausen, Police Commissioner Richard Chambers and Rutherford titled “Marokopa project”.<\/p>\n
She said they had, as requested, put together a wishlist.<\/p>\n
“If we are able to move forward – and we acknowledge there are some hurdles to that – our priority would be to be part of any current planning or operation, and then some of the other requests on this wishlist can be done much later.”<\/p>\n
The wishlist included the following:<\/p>\n
Speaking directly to the eight or 10 people most likely to be involved in any further operation
\nThat they could meet separately with the head of Armed Offenders Squad and Special Tactics Group to understand “what an end to the incident might look like”.
\nThat their camera operator, or Rutherford, could attend all operations\/planning meetings
\nHave sit-down interviews at the end of the operation with key members involved in the past
\nTheir camera accompanies any police personnel visiting Marokopa
\nThat any recovery operation would let them know “as soon as practically possible so we have the maximum opportunity to get to the location speedily”.
\nAccess to recordings of Phillips’ police interviews<\/p>\n
On 20 March, Clausen emailed Chambers to say an agreement was signed that afternoon for the documentary.<\/p>\n
“It’s been an interesting and useful exercise to work our way through the terms of Agreement, and what’s reassuring is the certainty that Police will have final sign off.”<\/p>\n
Clausen thanked Chambers for his support.<\/p>\n
“It’s been helpful being able to say this project had your support.”<\/p>\n
![\"Dame](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4K1E1PI_doco_1_4_jpg.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
\nDame Julie Christie is producing a Tom Phillips documentary.
\nPhoto: RNZ \/ Mark Papalii\n<\/p>\n
Interviews with staff were scheduled for mid-August, with Saunders emailing Waikato Field Crime Manager Detective Inspector Matt Cranshaw and a colleague on 14 August last year about timings for interviews.<\/p>\n
In response, Crawshaw asked where it was being filmed and what the interview was going to be on.<\/p>\n
“Just need reassurance that they won’t be filming in the OCS office or talking about upcoming phases, details etc until I see the contract signed off for the documentary team’s access etc.<\/p>\n
“We will need to see this before the above takes place unless it is filmed off premises and the content does not breach opsec.”<\/p>\n
Saunders said the documentary had been signed off, including the doco team having access to the team briefings, out on inquiries and filming staff in their work on the operation.<\/p>\n
The following week Clausen emailed Cranshaw about the documentary. She said the production team were on standby with a venue, staff and travel to Hamilton in two days time.<\/p>\n
“These are interviews to start back capturing much of what’s already occurred – people’s experiences, feelings, and to start to paint a picture of how the team has worked over the past few years.”<\/p>\n
Clausen said police would have the final review of interviews.<\/p>\n
“From my seat, this is BAU management of interview requests. I think if you’re looking for visibility, I’m happy to provide that. If we’re looking to introduce an added layer of approvals for these sorts of requests, I’d like to understand why that’s now required, and who is directing that shift in approach.”<\/p>\n
Clausen said she needed a “go\/no go response today”.<\/p>\n
“If these are not going to progress, I’d really appreciate some help with how I explain that to the doco guys, so full and frank feedback would help me with that!”<\/p>\n
Cranshaw replied saying they were working through clarifying what access the documentary crew should appropriately be given versus operational security.<\/p>\n
He also asked what Clausen was referring to in relation to an “added layer of approval”.<\/p>\n
Clausen said that previously approval for media statements had been for Saunders to sign off.<\/p>\n
“I’m okay to have approvals come to you, and if that emasculates Andy’s role, should I forego him and only deal with you?<\/p>\n
![\"Richard](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/4JUCMBX_Image_15_jfif.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
\nPolice Commissioner Richard Chambers
\nPhoto: Calvin Samuel \/ RNZ\n<\/p>\n
“I’m the other sign off at the comms end as often the media teams are the ones dealing directly with media requests.”<\/p>\n
Cranshaw said the doco crew had the green light to film that week about “historic events” and not operationally sensitive matters that had taken place or were planned.<\/p>\n
‘Access should now end’<\/p>\n
On 24 September 2025 the then acting Executive Director of Media and Communications sent an email to several senior staff including the Police Commissioner and acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers.<\/p>\n
Trevett said a staffer, and she agreed, believed some executive level guidance was required “on the appetite for ongoing access to the Police operations and staff etc now that Op Curly has wound up”.<\/p>\n
“The contract specifies Op Curly: ‘The Documentary will be confined to Operation Curly and the search for the missing Phillips children as agreed with the National Criminal Investigations Group, Police Districts and Media and Communications.”<\/p>\n
Chambers replied saying “my view is that access should now end given Curly is closed”.<\/p>\n
Two days later, Christie emailed Chambers saying she hoped he could find time to meet with her but wanted to let him know that the documentary feature had paused filming until legal matters were dealt with.<\/p>\n
“I am hoping that you and your team will also feel that ‘pausing’, for however long, is the best option.<\/p>\n
“We began this journey with your staff a year ago, specifically to show that the Operation Curly detectives were doing a lot at a time when they were being heavily criticised by others via daily news media for doing ‘nothing’. What we captured over that period shows how much officers like Andy Saunders and Sally Welch really cared. It’s pretty special.”<\/p>\n
Christie said the crew were “in for the long haul”.<\/p>\n
“I hope there will come a time when the story can be told, we don’t know that yet, which is why I am asking you to consider a lengthy ‘pause’ over any other action.”<\/p>\n
Chambers said in response he agreed a pause was the right approach.<\/p>\n
Questions raised<\/p>\n
The Police Commissioner said on Thursday he had “consistently supported the documentary as a way to highlight the work police was doing in the search”.<\/p>\n
“There were strict conditions in place to protect the children and sensitive police operational information. I believed it was an important story to tell and that this format was a good one to allow that to happen,” Chambers said.<\/p>\n
“However, the information that has now come to light has raised questions about how the documentary project was handled by police.”<\/p>\n
The documents released to RNZ included a series of messages between Clausen and Christie.<\/p>\n
Clausen’s text at 6.14am on 8 September began “I’m on a flight to Hamilton now”.<\/p>\n
“I wanted to give u a heads up.. T [redacted] were involved in another burglary this morning. T has been shot – we have [redacted] We will do media but every man n dog there.”<\/p>\n
Christie and the documentary crew appear to have been at the police station by 8am.<\/p>\n
Clausen told Christie she had asked if they would be allowed to film the prep for the 11am media conference.<\/p>\n
Just before 8am, Christie also asked if they could film Police Commissioner Richard Chambers arriving at the scene.<\/p>\n
Christie was going to visit the scene with the officer in charge of the police investigation, dubbed Operation Curly.<\/p>\n
That evening, Christie asked Clausen to have a word about a media query about the documentary.<\/p>\n
The pair then met at a restaurant.<\/p>\n
The day after Clausen text Christie to let her know she was “about to get a call from Claire Trevett who is my acting exec director (boss)”.<\/p>\n
On 15 September, Christie asked if they could join the team looking for another camp.<\/p>\n
Clausen replied: “I think we need to leave some air space for now. People v sensitive. I’m hoping to talk to them tomorrow hopefully”.<\/p>\n
Christie said she hoped it was realised the filming showed “how hard the police team always worked to recover those children. It would be disappointing not to be able to complete that story in the best possible way. I’ll keep in touch. So grateful for everything so far.”<\/p>\n
In another message, Clausen told Christie police had received “a few OIAs”.<\/p>\n
“Our normal process would be to consult u as part of reviewing for release. Wont be a quick turn around as we’ll need legal advice re contracts. But I do need to check one thing with u as soon as you can call. Thanks.”<\/p>\n
‘Not always handled in line with protocols’<\/p>\n
Chambers said there was a “constructive relationship” between police and the documentary team.<\/p>\n
“However, it has become apparent this documentary was not always handled in line with the usual protocols and processes that apply to documentaries police take part in.<\/p>\n
“That included decision-making and oversight around the access the documentary crew were given at various points.<\/p>\n
“I would not have allowed access to what was an active crime scene and had not been aware that was happening ahead of time.”<\/p>\n
He said had he known it was to happen he would have stopped it.<\/p>\n
“I am also disappointed the documentary team was told ahead of the family and of other media about the events of the night Tom Phillips died.<\/p>\n
“The strict conditions that applied to the documentary project did give Police the ability to protect any sensitive information and that meant the documentary team could be given more access to Police operations than media would usually be given.”<\/p>\n
![\"Dame](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4K1E4OW_doco_1_2_jpg.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
\nDame Julie Christie’s production crew in Marokopa.
\nPhoto: RNZ \/ Mark Papalii\n<\/p>\n
Chambers said he would be concerned if there were any instances in which the documentary’s interests meant media did not get information or access they would otherwise have got.<\/p>\n
“That does not serve the public interest. This was a high-profile investigation and, in my view, it is crucial police share as much as they possibly can with the media during such investigations because of the legitimate public interest.<\/p>\n
“I have asked for further information to be sure this was handled appropriately at all stages and to allow us to consider whether police need to reassess the way we engage in such projects.”<\/p>\n
He said police had a long history of cooperating on documentaries or programmes involving ongoing investigations.<\/p>\n
“They offer unique and interesting insight for the public into police work and into the investigation in question.<\/p>\n
“I do not want that to change in the future, however I do want to be certain we have robust processes in place to ensure they are handled well and fairly.”<\/p>\n
Processes under review<\/p>\n
Police’s Executive Director Media and Communications Cas Carter said in a statement on Thursday the goal had “always been to give audiences an ‘inside view’ of Operation Curly in a way that ensures the young people involved are protected”.<\/p>\n
“It has become apparent that the media were not served well, as should be expected.<\/p>\n
“Police is now reviewing the processes around the management of this documentary, and considering whether we need to reassess the protocols for handling such projects.<\/p>\n
“Police has a long history of cooperating on documentaries or programmes involving ongoing investigations. They offer unique and interesting insights into police work and into the investigation in question.”<\/p>\n
Police wanted to be certain they had robust processes in place to ensure they are handled “well and fairly”<\/p>\n
Speaking to Checkpoint, Carter said when she learnt the documentary crew had been told of the shooting before family members she drove to Marokopa to apologise in person.<\/p>\n
“That is not the way police operate at all… it’s family first to let them know if anything like this has happened. Once we discovered that we immediately apologised on that.<\/p>\n
“I’m disappointed this has happened.”<\/p>\n
She said police were planning to undertake a review to check the processes that were undertaken during the documentary making.<\/p>\n
There were concerns about the timing of things and the process that was followed, Carter said.<\/p>\n
Carter did not say whether the documentary would go ahead, but said she agreed the idea of having a documentary was a good one and there was still a contract with the production company.<\/p>\n
“On the face of it I am quite concerned and I have numerous questions to ask and I’ll be able to tell you more once we’ve reviewed this further.”<\/p>\n
Sign up for Ng\u0101 Pitopito K\u014drero<\/a>, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Tom Phillips died following a shootout with police in September 2025. Photo: RNZ \/ Supplied \/ Police Detailed…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":127828,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[48,47,42,43,49,46,44,45,40,38,41,39],"class_list":{"0":"post-360379","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-headlines","8":"tag-audio","9":"tag-current-affairs","10":"tag-headlines","11":"tag-news","12":"tag-podcasts","13":"tag-public-radio","14":"tag-radio-new-zealand","15":"tag-rnz","16":"tag-top-news","17":"tag-top-stories","18":"tag-topnews","19":"tag-topstories"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/360379","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=360379"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/360379\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/127828"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=360379"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=360379"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=360379"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}