By Heath Parkes-Hupton

Copyright news

The pictures were captured inside the police cordon about 7km from where Phillips died in a dramatic shootout with cops in the Waikato region.

Phillips had been on the run after disappearing with his three children – Jayda, Maverick and Ember – now aged 12, 10 and nine.

His eldest, Jayda, was with Phillips when he was killed and later led police to her siblings at a remote campsite.

New pictures published on Friday showed items police had gathered and placed at a staging point off Te Anga Rd, near Waitomo.

Among the pile of items were oil cans, plastic bins, a milk bottle, tarpaulins, cups, a jigsaw power tool, an air hose, tyres, camping poles and a bike helmet are visible at the site.

Phillips quad bike and motorbike, which were recovered from the first campsite police discovered, were seen next to an air compressor.

Other items included a toilet bowl and three large black plastic fans.

Police revealed this week one of the Phillips children was holding a gun when officers arrived at the family’s secret bush hide-out.

Phillips’ time on the run came to an end on Monday morning when police were called to reports of a robbery at a farm supply store in the town of Piopio.

Phillips shot one officer in the head, before another officer returned fire and struck the father-of-three. He could not be saved and died at the scene.

Special Tactics Group officers, heavily-armed and called in to assist in high-risk situations – were able to “persuade” the child to “drop the weapon”.

Police would not confirm the report when approached for comment, but told media the matter is part of their ongoing investigations.

“There was a negotiation which commenced with the children, and that proceeded, and they came out,” Detective Senior Sergeant Andrew Saunders said.

He revealed the family’s campsite was well hidden and difficult to access.

“It’s a very grim, dimly lit area, surrounded by dense bush,” he said.

Among the site were bags of livestock feed and, bizarrely, a large array of adult shoeboxes.

Asked about the find, Police commissioner Richard Chambers said Phillips was suspected of committing a “number of burglaries” but it was not believed he used stolen goods to stay afloat financially.

“Certainly a very interesting set of circumstances here, and I know that as the investigation continues and we put the information we have together and hopefully tell a clearer story for us all,” he said.

“I’m not sure that he would be running a business or trading on the side. He’s clearly had other priorities.”

Police Minister Mark Mitchell told the New Zealand Herald that authorities were also probing who might have been helping Phillips evade capture for so long.

“They’ve been very clear that they’re very focused on any people that may have been enabling Phillips to continue to elude police,” he said.