Tom Phillips disappeared with his three young children for nearly four years in December 2021 before being shot in a stand-off with police in September last year.

Police were justified in shooting wanted fugitive Tom Phillips deep in the Waitomo bush last year, a decision has ruled.

Phillips was shot dead after a confrontation with Waikato police on Te Anga Rd, between Te Kūiti and Marokopa.

He had been on the run since December 2021 whenhe disappeared with his children.

In its decision released this morning, the Independent Police Conduct Authority ruled that the officer who fired the fatal shot did so in self-defence.