Agency actions regarding the children of fugitive Tom Phillips are going under the microscope, with a report due back mid-next year. 

Phillips was on the run nearly four years, ending only when he died in September in a police shootout.

Attorney-General Judith Collins says questions will be asked about what Government agencies did to protect the children, what they knew - and did or didn't do.

"In this situation, what we can look into is what the Government agencies knew, what they did, and what they didn't do. Should they have done more?"

LISTEN ABOVE