A children's advocate says Tom Phillips' children are not "public property" and the public don't have a right to know and debate their lives. 

Authorities say the children are safe and healthy and continuing to receive support. 

Their father died on Monday morning after being shot by police near Marokopa in western Waikato. 

Child Matters Chief Executive Jane Searle told Ryan Bridge we don't need to know everything we want to know about the children. 

She says they have a lengthy process of reintegrating into society and rebuilding their lives, and for that to be a public story wouldn't be healthy for those children. 

The Police officer injured in Monday's altercation is still in hospital. 

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