Marakopa fugitive Tom Phillips spent several months outdoors learning bushcraft and survival skills at one of New Zealand's most prestigious private schools

Phillips' nearly four years on the run with his three children ended in a deadly shootout with police early on Monday morning.

Our newsroom can reveal Phillips spent several months at St Paul's Collegiate Tihoi Venture School.

The school describes the course as New Zealand's most significant outdoors programme.

Activities include firearms and range shooting, as well as teaching students in the outdoors for three full days.