Police officers have been seen removing items from the camp site of fugitive Tom Phillips and his children

The cordon is still in place around the site of Phillips' death, but is expected to be removed later today.

Waikato Acting District Commander Andrea McBeth says examining items collected from the site will help them find out who helped the family.

Herald reporter Raphael Franks is in Marokopa and had been talking to people near the site.

He says they're just as desperate as the rest of the country for more information.