Polkinghorne

Inside the Trial of the Century

Steve Braunias

• Publisher: Allen & Unwin
• eBook ISBN:
  9781761506642
• Year: 2025

A remarkable account of the trial that gripped New Zealand by one of New Zealand's finest writers
In Polkinghorne, literary journalist Steve Braunias takes readers on an extraordinary and often chilling journey through the most high-profile murder case in modern New Zealand history. With unparalleled access to the key players, Braunias offers readers his unique insight into the investigation, the trial and the astonishing revelations that kept the New Zealand public utterly transfixed.
The death of Pauline Hanna in her home in Remuera, and the arrest of her husband, eye surgeon Dr Philip Polkinghorne, led to an epic trial that played out like a scandalous exposé of rich Auckland life. Braunias pieces it all together and presents it as an unforgettable opera - including an extraordinary encounter that will leave readers stunned.
Fascinating, engrossing, and filled with unforeseen turns, Polkinghorne goes deep inside the courtroom case that shocked a nation and explores the lusts and torments that we try to conceal. This is a must-read for true crime enthusiasts and anyone who has followed the case and wondered about the truth behind the headlines.

Table of contents

• COVER PAGE
• TITLE PAGE
• COPYRIGHT PAGE
• DEDICATION
• CONTENTS
• INTRODUCTION: THE LEGEND OF POLKINGHORNE
• 1 THE PALE AND DWARFISH DR JEKYLL
• 2 MALIGNANT SEX DWARF
• 3 THE MIDNIGHT CLOCK
• 4 PAULINE
• 5 POLKINGHORNE SHOPS AT THE SEX SUPERMARKET
• 6 MADISON
• 7 ‘I’M WORRIED SOME THINGS WILL COME OUT’
• 8 IN DEFENCE OF POLKINGHORNE
• 9 PHILIP
• 10 LUNCH WITH MADISON
• 11 A NIGHT AT THE OPERA
• 12 AFTERWARDS
• 13 AT HOME WITH POLKINGHORNE
• ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
• ABOUT THE AUTHOR