Police have released new images believed to show the main campsite used by Tom Phillips and his children in recent months.
Detective Senior Sergeant Andrew Saunders said the wider site was approximately 200 metres away, across some difficult terrain, from where the younger children were found on Monday.
He said the area was "difficult to access, well-hidden and highlights the challenging environment the family used as their base".
“It’s a very grim, dimly-lit area, surrounded by dense bush. The tent was well covered and dry.
“We are currently looking at a number of items at the site. Aside from the burglaries we are now able to link to Tom, it is apparent that he had outside help.”
The images show a shelter built from branches, punga ferns, and a black tarpaulin.
Within the shelter, a Jack Daniels and cola RTDs carton and an empty Gordon's Gin box can be seen, surrounded by several empty iced coffee bottles.
A portable gas stove and gas bottle also sat nearby, alongside a pair of gumboots and several buckets.
'Very grim' - New images of second Marokopa family campsite released, watch on TVNZ+
A roll of wire mesh also lay close to the structure.
Saunders said the conditions of the campsite were "not very nice for children".
"It's not a camping trip for a couple of nights. It's very dirty, cramped conditions."
Tom Phillips had been hiding out in the dense bushland for nearly four years. A rural Waikato police officer was critically injured early on Monday morning after approaching Phillips' quad bike, which had crashed after a police pursuit and the deployment of road spikes.
As the officer arrived, Phillips opened fire with a "high-powered rifle", striking him in the head and shoulder.
A second officer responded and fatally shot Phillips at the scene.
Examination of the area continues
Saunders said police vehicles and the quad bike recovered from the scene of Monday’s shooting were removed from Te Anga Rd last night.
Police expected to continue their examination of the area today and tomorrow.
Multiple investigations are being carried out in the wake of the fatal shooting of the Marokopa fugitive and wounding of a police officer. (Source: Breakfast)
The injured officer remained in a "serious and stable condition" at Waikato Hospital and was being supported by the wider police family.
Acting Waikato district commander Andrea McBeth said: "Police continue to support the family of Officer A as well as the other staff who were involved in the incident on Monday."
Saunders thanked all the staff involved in Operation Curly, particularly the core investigation team.
"It has been a challenging operation, but I am relieved and delighted that we have been able to return the children to safety.
"Operation Curly was an operation focused on locating Tom and the safe return of the children.
"As the police work enters a new phase, our Operation Curly naturally comes to a conclusion. While no one wanted it to end in these circumstances, it is highly satisfying as an investigator that the children have been safely returned,” he said.
Saunders said there would still be scene examinations and a "tidy up" but a new operation was underway to identify and locate those who had helped Phillips.
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