'Grim, dimly lit': More photos released of Tom Phillips' camp

Police believe they've discovered the main campsite used by Tom Phillips and his children in recent months.

It was found about 200 metres away from the site where the younger children were found on Monday, across some difficult terrain, of which pictures were released earlier.

Tom Phillips died following a shootout with police after they were called to reports of a burglary in the early hours of Monday. A police officer was shot multiple times in the head during the shootout and remains in hospital with significant injuries which police have described as "survivable".

One of Phillips' children, who was with him at the time, then began assisting police and said there were firearms at the campsite.

More than 12 hours later the remaining children were located in a remote campsite, deep in dense bush about 2km away from where Phillips was fatally shot.

On Wednesday, police said they believed they had discovered the main campsite used by Phillips and his children.

Speaking to media on Wednesday, Detective Senior Sergeant Andrew Saunders said based on information the investigation team had received they believed it was the main campsite in recent months. They did not believe it was the main place they'd lived in for the last four years.

Asked how he would describe the conditions, Saunders said "not very nice".

"It's not a camping trip for a couple of nights, so it's very dirty, you know, cramped conditions, yeah, so it's not very nice to children, I wouldn't think."

Police would be examining items found at the camp site.

"We've got to identify have they come from burglaries? Have people purchased them? Can we link them back to stores to see, has he stolen them or have people purchased them for him?"

Saunders said police had always suspected Phillips had received help.

"Given what's occurred in terms of the attempted murder of a police officer, we think it's absolutely important that we continue to look for those people that have been supporting Tom Phillips and hold them accountable."

Saunders thanked the local community as well as others who had provided information to police over the last four years.

He also acknowledged the "absolutely dedicated" team involved in the investigation.

"There's been highs and lows, but I'm very proud of their work, also other work groups within police that have supported Operation Curly."

Acting Waikato District Commander Andrea McBeth said the officer who was shot, Officer A, remained in a serious, stable condition at Waikato Hospital.

The family thanked the public and police for their support, and asked their privacy continue to be respected.

'Grim, dimly lit'

Saunders earlier said the site was difficult to access and well hidden, and police were now working on steep and uneven ground to document evidence from the scene.

"It's a very grim, dimly lit area, surrounded by dense bush," he said.

A tent was discovered, well-covered and dry.

Officers were analysing a number of items, he said, and it was now clear Phillips had outside help.

The police vehicles and the quad bike from the scene of Monday's shooting were removed from Te Anga Road last night, and police would continue their examination of the area today and tomorrow.

The officer injured on Monday remained in Waikato Hospital.

"Operation Curly", as it was known, which was focused on locating Phillips and the safe return of the children, was now at an end.

Police are now seeking anyone who might have helped Phillips.

"While no one wanted it to end in these circumstances, it is highly satisfying as an investigator that the children have been safely returned," Saunders said.

Documentary being made

It's been revealed today that a film crew from NHNZ Productions has been following the police investigation for a year and has been given exclusive access to the campsite. The crew is filming for a documentary being produced by Dame Julie Christie.

On the documentary , Saunders said he was unwilling to answer any questions.

Meanwhile, the children's mother has told RNZ's Mata she was yet to be told what the plan to reunite her and her children was and there was still no timeline.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell said he was sympathetic to Cat but it was "a complex situation" with authorities governed by court orders.

The shootout

About 2.30am on Monday police received a call from a Piopio resident to say they believed they were witnessing a burglary in action at PGG Wrightson.

The burglary involved two people on a quad bike dressed in farm clothing and wearing headlamps.

"Knowing the information that we had previously had that had seen Tom Phillips also in this area, additional staff were called out and responded to that location," Deputy Police Commissioner Jill Rogers earlier told media.

A quad bike was seen leaving the area along the Waipuna Road, a gravel road that intersects with Te Anga Road, the main road leading back to Marokopa.

A constable then decided to lay road spikes at the intersection about 3.20am.

The quad bike then ran over the spikes, with the bike coming to a rest a short time later.

The constable, who was first on the scene, came across the bike and was confronted by gunfire at close range and was shot in the head multiple times.

"He was getting out of the vehicle and has fallen to the ground. He's taken cover back in the vehicle," Rogers said.

A second patrol car then arrived and "engaged" Phillips who was shot and died at the scene.

One of Phillips' children was then taken into custody uninjured.

The officer was then flown to Waikato Hospital in a critical condition.

Once he arrived in hospital he was conscious and was able to speak to some of his colleagues.

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