From:
MCKAY, Stephanie
To:
SMITH, Daryl; MCKAY, Ross
Subject:
RE: Updated Phillips release for Thursday/Friday
Date:
Wednesday, 22 October 2025 10:38:00 AM
Attachments:
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Lovely, thank you.
From: SMITH, Daryl <[email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, 22 October 2025 10:36 AM
To: MCKAY, Stephanie <[email address]>; MCKAY, Ross
<[email address]>
Subject: RE: Updated Phillips release for Thursday/Friday
Morning
Happy with updated release
Your correct Steph, not appropriate to refer to either of the sites by way of s 9(2)(a) OIA
And yes,s 9(2)(a) OIA
Thanks
Daryl Smith
Detective Inspector
Crime Manager (Relieving)
Waikato
( Mob: s 9(2)(a) OIA
š Email: [email address]
From: MCKAY, Stephanie <[email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, 22 October 2025 10:30 AM
To: MCKAY, Ross <[email address]>; SMITH, Daryl <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Updated Phillips release for Thursday/Friday
Thank you.
Sorry, one more thing – I need to caption the photos but I’m guessing it’s not appropriate to use
s 9(2)(a) OIA
I can refer to them by location, as per the release. s 9(2)(a) OIA
Thanks,
S
From: MCKAY, Ross <[email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, 22 October 2025 10:24 AM
To: MCKAY, Stephanie <[email address]>; SMITH, Daryl
<[email address]>
Subject: RE: Updated Phillips release for Thursday/Friday
Thanks Stephanie
I will approve release after interviews ( provided they go ahead ) on Thursday morning as
planned
Will just use media line is fine Ta
Rossco.
Ross McKay| Territorial Detective Superintendent |
Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Eastern and Central Districts.
National Operations : Investigations Group : Police National Headquarters.
O: Taupo Police Station Box 129 Taupo 3330
T: Mobile s 9(2)(a) OIA
|E: [email address]
From: MCKAY, Stephanie <[email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, 22 October 2025 9:47 AM
To: MCKAY, Ross <[email address]>; SMITH, Daryl <[email address]>
Subject: Updated Phillips release for Thursday/Friday
Hi Rossco, Daryl,
Copied below is an updated release incorporating your feedback. It’s also been seen/approved
by Jill Rogers and the Commissioner.
I made a call to use only the photos attached (metadata still to be removed) – I think they
satisfy the public interest element without being overly invasive.
Any further feedback, just sing out.
I’m on leave from 2pm tomorrow afternoon and Friday. Rossco, are you happy to let the Media
Team know when this is good to go please? I can nominate a specific person, if you prefer.
[email address] or 41222
I’ll also be available on my phone.
Thanks,
Steph
Further campsites found in Phillips investigation
Police investigating the disappearance of Tom Phillips and his children have located what are
believed to be the family’s primary campsites.
Two large, established and heavily concealed structures were discovered in recent weeks in
dense bush surrounding Marokopa.
Detective Superintendent Ross McKay says enquires to date indicate the Phillips family moved
regularly between these sites, the makeshift camps near Te Anga Road and a series of baches,
cribs and farm outbuildings around Marokopa.
“For the last few weeks, Police have been piecing together information and building a picture of
Phillips’ movements.
“What is now clear is that Phillips moved regularly from coast to farm to bush in a complex
manner that meant he was unlikely to be stumbled across.
“Local Search and Rescue staff located the new sites — one to the north of Marokopa, the
other to the east — which included partially buried, semi-permanent structures concealed by
large amounts of vegetation.
“Approaching Phillips in such circumstances would have been extremely dangerous.
“As we’ve said previously, we knew he had firearms and was motivated to use them.”
Investigators have removed a significant number of items from the camps, all of which will now
be forensically examined.
“This is a protracted and labour-intensive exercise that forms part of our ongoing enquiries to
identify anyone who may have assisted Phillips.
“We continue to make good progress and believe he was assisted by a small number of people
at different stages over the last four years.”
All campsites have been cleared, and Police will not be releasing their specific whereabouts.
In mid-December 2021 Phillips and his three children disappeared for the second time in three
months.
The Police operation to locate them, which would later become known as Op Curly, came to an
end in the early hours of Monday 8 September 2025 when Phillips shot and critically injured an
officer before he himself was shot and killed by Police.
The injured officer is making a slow but steady recovery.
Police will not be releasing any information regarding the children.
ENDS
Note for media:
NZ Police is releasing the above in recognition of the significant media and public interest in
this matter, however, due to the ongoing investigations there are limits on the amount of detail
that can be released.
Detective Superintendent Ross McKay will not be available for interviews at this stage.
Stephanie McKay
Team Leader
Media Relations
P s 9(2)(a) OIA
M s 9(2)(a) OIA
E [email address]
