Patrick Gower has spoken out against the praise for fugitive father of three Tom Phillips following the fatal Waitomo shooting Monday morning, which left Phillips dead and a police officer critically injured.
In a recent episode of 'Paddy Gower Has Issues', Gower said the legendary status being attached to Phillips in response to the incident is not warranted.
Tom Phillips is NOT a hero. Do not think that Tom Phillips is a hero.
“The police officer who went out into the dark of night to investigate a burglary and got shot - he IS a hero,” Gower said.
“The kids who spent all that time in the bush - they are heroic.”
He added: “Tom’s sister Rozzi, who spoke to me against all of her wishes and thoughts and what she really wanted to do, is heroic because she tried to broker a peaceful resolution to this.
“She called on Tom to come out peacefully. She asked the police to do it peacefully as well.
“Tom’s mum, who wrote a letter, despite not really understanding the world of the media and feeling so confused by everything - she’s heroic.
There's lots of heroes involved with this, but NOT Tom Phillips.
Speaking to Mai Morning Crew yesterday morning, Gower said it goes without saying that the children have been through “way too much”.
After nearly four years in hiding with his kids in the Marokopa bush, Phillips was caught during a burglary at the PGG Wrightson building in Piopio around 2:30am on Monday morning.
During the incident, Phillips and his eldest daughter, Jayda, were confronted by a police officer, who was shot at and struck in the head, sustaining serious injuries. Phillips was killed at the scene, just 2km from his bush hideout on Te Anga Rd.
All three children have since been found unharmed and are now in the care of Oranga Tamariki.
Scene examinations are ongoing, and police are investigating anyone who may have helped Phillips stay in hiding for so long.
At a press conference yesterday, Bay of Plenty Regional Commissioner Warwick Morehu said Phillips “quite literally put his children in harm’s way.”
Police Minister Mark Mitchell added: “These children have seen and been exposed to things no child in this country should.”
The children are the ones to be recognising for their bravery, strength and the long journey ahead to recovery.
