The campsite where Tom Phillips and his children were holed up. Photo: NZ police
By Sam Sherwood of RNZ

One of Tom Phillips' children was armed with a gun when police approached the camp where they were holed up, RNZ understands.

Tom Phillips died following a shootout with police early on Monday. A police officer was shot multiple times in the head and remains in hospital with significant injuries.

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 on Monday, the remaining children were located in a remote campsite, deep in dense bush about 2km away from where Phillips was shot.

Police earlier said multiple guns were recovered from the quad bike and camp site.