Long recovery ahead for officer shot in confrontation with Tom Phillips

The police officer shot during the confrontation that ended the search for Tom Phillips faces a long recovery, colleagues say.

The officer sustained serious injuries in the incident in the Waikato and underwent surgery. Police described his condition as stable but said the rehabilitation ahead would be measured in months rather than weeks.

Colleagues spoke about the immediate aftermath and the support being provided to staff involved, including those who responded to the scene and the communities in the area who had lived alongside the search for nearly four years.

Formal reviews of the operation are expected, covering both the events of the day and the conduct of a manhunt that stretched across difficult terrain and multiple jurisdictions.