One of the images of the site released by police today. Photo: Supplied/NZ Police
More details of how Tom Phillips and his children lived in the bush have been revealed in new photos of their camp site today.
Phillips died following a shootout with police in the early hours of Monday. A police officer was shot multiple times in the head and remains in hospital with significant injuries.
One of Phillips' children was detained after the shooting, and the other children were found at a campsite later that day.
A second campsite, which police believe has been used as the main site for several months, has also been found about 200m away from the first site across difficult terrain, with police releasing images of that area today.
The first site included a second quad bike, several spare tires and cans of Sprite lemonade.
Police have yet to determine if the equipment found at any of the sites was supplied by supporters or stolen by Phillips, but did say today that it was clear that Phillips had some outside help.
Images of the second main campsite, released today, clearly show the conditions Phillips and his children were living in.
Detective Senior Sergeant Andrew Saunders said the site was in a "very grim, dimly lit area, surrounded by dense bush".
He said the campsite was cramped and dirty.
Photo: Supplied/NZ Police
A tent could be seen beneath a tarpaulin and netting that had been erected over a small dug out area of bush on the side of a slope. The tarpaulin was held up by bush timber, and secured by what appears to be flax. More bush timber was used at the base of the tent to secure it.
Police said sleeping bags were also found at the camp.
Rubbish was strewn around the site, with multiple empty drink containers, including Mammoth iced coffee and chocolate plastic bottles. A number of large buckets with lids were also placed around the edges of the site.
Beneath the tarpaulin, conditions appeared to be dry. A small bench space had been created from a large plastic pelican case, and was covered in more empty drink bottles, a metal mug and a Jack Daniels and cola box, although it was unclear if the box contained any alcohol. Another rotting box of Gordon's premixed gin and tonic could also be glimpsed.
A 9kg LPG bottle and a small single-element campstove could also be seen in the images released by police. A bottle of that size could last months with careful use before needing to be refilled or replaced.
Photo: Supplied/NZ Police
All of the gear that can be seen in the photos could be obtained from any outdoor supplies store.
Dried firewood barely larger than twigs had been piled up in one section of the camp, and there was also an extra roll of mesh netting.
Cordons remain in place at the camp scene and it is not clear when they will be lifted.
The children who have been living with their father in the bush for several years are now in the care of Oranga Tamariki.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
