After nearly four years of living off the grid, the two missing children of Tom Phillips, New Zealand's most notorious fugitive father, have been found safe following his fatal shootout with police.

Phillips, who had been hiding in the wilderness of western Waikato with his three children, was killed during an armed robbery response. One child was with him and unharmed — and later helped officers locate their siblings in near-freezing conditions.

Missing NZ children found after fugitive dad shot dead in armed robbery standoff 

Tom Phillips, the New Zealand father who vanished into the wilderness with his three children in 2021, has been shot dead by police after allegedly robbing a rural supply store. Phillips had been living off-grid in the remote forests of North Island, evading capture for nearly four years.

His disappearance with children Jayda, Maverick, and Ember captivated the country — sparking speculation, manhunts, and mystery.

The saga came to a tragic end this week following a gunfight with police in Waikato. But why did he vanish in the first place? And how did he survive for so long?

Fugitive NZ dad killed in shootout after 4 years on the run with his kids 

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