Police have released the first images of what they believe is one of many campsites where a New Zealand father on the run hid with his three children for years. Two of Tom Phillips' children were found at the site in the Waikato region on Monday, hours after he was killed in a shootout with the police. Police found them with the help of the third child, who was with Phillips when he died. They said the children are 'doing well,' but will take time to recover from the ordeal. Shortly before Christmas in 2021, Phillips disappeared with his children – Jayda, Maverick, and Ember, then aged eight, seven, and five respectively. Police believe he did so after losing legal custody of them. Phillips had 'no regard' for the children's safety, and 'quite literally put [them] in harm's way,' Police Commissioner Richard Chambers stated, adding that the children are now under the care of authorities. A stash of firearms and ammunition were also found at the campsite, which is surrounded by dense vegetation, and two quad bikes were parked among the trees. By the time authorities arrived at the site, the search for the two children had been underway for nearly 12 hours. In the early hours of Monday, police responded to a report of an attempted burglary at a rural farm supply shop in the small town of Piopio. This led to a shootout with Phillips, during which an officer was seriously injured. Mr. Chambers maintained that police have 'absolutely no doubt' it was intended to kill the officer. The injured officer has since undergone several surgeries and faces a long road to recovery. The circumstances surrounding Phillips' evasion of capture for almost four years have kept New Zealand gripped with interest. Questions remain on how he accessed firearms and managed to hide from the authorities. The children's mother expressed relief at their recovery but sorrow over the tragic events that unfolded. Authorities are committed to ensuring the children's safety and providing necessary support as they process their trauma.