A father who had been on the run in the New Zealand bush with his three kidnapped children for four years has been shot dead.

Tom Phillips and one of his children were caught by police driving away from PGG Wrightson, a rural farm supply store which he is said to have ram-raided.

The pair - riding on a quad-bike - were stopped by police road spikes near Piopio, in western Waikato, on the country's North Island, at around 3.30am local time.

After the vehicle came to a halt, the father was confronted by a single police officer, who he shot in the head with a rifle.

Another police car then arrived - with officers shooting Phillips dead and taking his child into custody.

His children - Ember, nine, Maverick, 10, and Jayda, 12 - were taken from their family home in December 2021 over an apparent custody battle.

Tom Phillips and one of his children were caught by police on September 8 | NZ POLICE

Deputy Police Commissioner Jill Rogers has now warned of "serious concerns" for his remaining two children.

Police are "actively seeking" them, she said.

"This is devastating news for Tom Phillips' family, and is the outcome that nobody wanted," Ms Rogers said.

Cat, the mother of the three children taken by Phillips, said she was "deeply relieved that for our tamariki [children] this ordeal has come to an end" in a statement to New Zealand outlet RNZ.

Last month, Phillips's mother wrote in an appeal: "Everyday I wake up and hope that today will be the day that you all come home."

PICTURED: Maverick, Jayda and Ember - the three children taken by Tom Phillips in 2021

His sister Rozzi told local outlet Stuff: "There's a lot of love and there's a lot of support, and we're ready to help you walk through what you need to walk through."

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers later revealed the shot officer "is conscious and talking to his fellow officers", and confirmed a "significant police operation" is underway.

"Police ask media and members of the public to respect the police operation and cordons that are now in place to ensure nobody is put at risk," Mr Chambers added.

PICTURED: Grainy images of the trio taken by pig hunters in the NZ bush in 2024

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he had been briefed by police - but would not be commenting.

Phillips vanished from the rural town of Marokopa on New Zealand's North Island in December 2021 with Jayda, Maverick and Ember.

The four are believed to have lived in the wilderness ever since, despite numerous police search operations and a NZ$80,000 (£35,000) reward.