Coroner’s inquest concludes into death of Pauline Hanna
An inquest into the 2021 death of Pauline Hanna, whose husband was acquitted of murder, has concluded after weeks of evidence and testimony.
A coroner's inquest into the death of Pauline Hanna has concluded following extensive testimony from her husband Philip Polkinghorne, who was acquitted of her murder in 2024, as well as family members and expert witnesses. The inquest examined the circumstances surrounding Hanna's death in April 2021 and whether it was self-inflicted or involved the actions or inactions of another person. Polkinghorne acknowledged telling lies since his wife's death but denied killing her, and the hearing included previously unseen documentary footage and expert evidence about her condition in the hours before she died. The coroner will now determine the cause of death.
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Coverage across the news outlets we track, as at publication.
What outlets are saying
NZ Herald
Media Insider: Why Philip Polkinghorne does not want to be filmed at coroner’s inquest into death of his wife Pauline Hanna
Herald publisher NZME argues 'significant and legitimate' public interest in inquest.
1News
Inquest to ask how Pauline Hanna, Philip Polkinghorne's wife, died
Hanna died in April 2021. Her husband was found not guilty of her murder three years later.
NZ Herald
Polkinghorne: Where are they now? Key figures return for inquest into Pauline Hanna’s death
Madison Ashton has submitted a statement and Pauline Hanna's sister will attend remotely.
RNZ
Inquiry into death of Pauline Hanna to begin today at Coroners Court
Hanna's husband Dr Philip Polkinghorne was found not guilty of murdering her after a high-profile criminal trial in 2024.
RNZ
Inquest into Pauline Hanna's death 'not a trial of Dr Polkinghorne'
A framed photo of Pauline Hanna and a bouquet of flowers from the family garden have been placed in the courtroom as an inquest works to determine how she died.
Stuff
Pauline Hanna inquest opens with Coroner saying ‘this is not a trial of Dr Polkinghorne’
The first phase of the inquest into Pauline Hanna’s cause of death will focus on whether it was self-inflicted or involved the actions or inactions of another person.
1News
Inquest into Pauline Hanna's death 'not a trial of Dr Polkinghorne'
A jury found Hanna's husband, Dr Philip Polkinghorne, not guilty of her murder after a criminal trial at the High Court in Auckland in 2024.
NZ Herald
Pauline Hanna inquest begins in Auckland after Philip Polkinghorne acquittal
Her husband, eye surgeon Philip Polkinghorne, was acquitted of murder two years ago.
Newstalk ZB
'Too many lies': Pauline Hanna's family speak out as coroner's inquiry begins
Almost two years to the day after Remuera eye surgeon Philip Polkinghorne’s trial began for the alleged murder of wife Pauline Hanna, many of the same friends, family and lawyers have returned to an Auckland courtroom as a new phase…
Newsroom
Polkinghorne, the sequel
Steve Braunias begins a series of reports from the inquest into the death of Philip Polkinghorne's wife, Pauline Hanna The post Polkinghorne, the sequel appeared first on Newsroom .
RNZ
Philip Polkinghorne breaks down at inquest into his wife Pauline Hanna's death
Two years after Philip Polkinghorne was found not guilty of Pauline Hanna's murder, an inquest is being held into her death.
Stuff
Polkinghorne’s tears as inquest hears of moment he found Pauline Hanna’s body
Inquest into high-profile 2021 death continues.
NZ Herald
Pauline Hanna coroner’s inquest: Philip Polkinghorne leaves court in tears
An inquest into the death of his wife, Pauline Hanna, is underway.
1News
Polkinghorne in tears as inquest views 2021 police interview
The inquest is examining the circumstances of Hanna's death at her home in Auckland's Remuera in 2021 and whether it was self-inflicted.
Newstalk ZB
Pauline Hanna coroner’s inquest: Philip Polkinghorne leaves court in tears
Retired Remuera eye surgeon and acquitted murder suspect Philip Polkinghorne left an Auckland courtroom in tears today as excerpts of his police interview were replayed for the coroner looking into the circumstances of wife Pauline Hanna’s death.
Newsroom
Polkinghorne: Last exit to Ōrākei
Steve Braunias continues his diary from the coronial inquest into the death of Pauline Hanna, the wife of Dr Philip Polkinghorne The post Polkinghorne: Last exit to Ōrākei appeared first on Newsroom .
Newsroom
Polkinghorne: It’s all in the forensics
Ron Mansfield attempts to dismantle the police theory of a ghastly charade in the Polkinghorne case The post Polkinghorne: It’s all in the forensics appeared first on Newsroom .
Newsroom
Polkinghorne: A widower’s tears
Philip Polkinghorne comes close to breaking down again at the coronial inquiry into the death of his wife The post Polkinghorne: A widower’s tears appeared first on Newsroom .
RNZ
Bedroom where Pauline Hanna slept alone the focus of inquest into her death
Bed sheets missing from Hanna's room were found in a washing machine when police searched the Auckland home.
1News
Pauline Hanna's bedroom the focus of inquest into her death
The first week of an inquest into Pauline Hanna's death has wound up on Friday afternoon, with her husband Philip Polkinghorne still to give witness testimony.
Newsroom
Polkinghorne: Waiting for the man
Philip Polkinghorne is set to give evidence next week at the coronial inquest into his wife's death The post Polkinghorne: Waiting for the man appeared first on Newsroom .
Newsroom
Polkinghorne: The questions that need asking
Dr Philip Polkinghorne is about to be cross-examined on the death of his wife The post Polkinghorne: The questions that need asking appeared first on Newsroom .
NZ Herald
Philip Polkinghorne gives evidence at Pauline Hanna coroner’s inquest in Auckland
He was acquitted of murdering Pauline Hanna in 2024. Now he is testifying at her inquest.
Newstalk ZB
Philip Polkinghorne gives evidence at Pauline Hanna coroner’s inquest in Auckland
Retired Auckland eye surgeon Philip Polkinghorne, acquitted of murdering wife Pauline Hanna in 2021, recounted cradling his wife’s lifeless body in his arms as he testified for the first time today about the circumstances of her death.
RNZ
Philip Polkinghorne deleted sex worker photos when he realised he was a suspect in wife's death
He told a coroner he felt "betrayed" by police who interviewed him in relation to his wife Pauline Hanna's death.
Stuff
Polkinghorne denies using meth in the days before Pauline Hanna’s death
Pauline Hanna was found dead on Easter Monday 2021. Her husband has taken to the witness box to give evidence at the inquest into her death.
1News
Polkinghorne deleted sex worker photos when he became a suspect
Found not guilty two years ago of the 2021 murder of Pauline Hanna, Philip Polkinghorne gave evidence today at an inquest into her death.
Otago Daily Times
Polkinghorne deleted sex worker photos, wife’s inquest told
RNZ
Pauline Hanna inquest: Philip Polkinghorne accused of 'pretending' during some of 111 call
He has been questioned about some of the actions he said he took the morning he found his wife dead in their home.
Newsroom
Polkinghorne: The longest day
Dr Philip Polkinghorne gave evidence in a long, tense day at the coronial inquest into the death of his wife, Pauline Hanna The post Polkinghorne: The longest day appeared first on Newsroom .
RNZ
Pauline Hanna inquest: Coroner orders footage of Philip Polkinghorne interview
The coroner has compelled documentary company Blonde Razor to hand over four hours of interview footage.
1News
Pauline Hanna inquest: Coroner orders footage of Polkinghorne interview
The Coroner has compelled documentary company Blonde Razor to hand over four hours of interview footage.
Otago Daily Times
Coroner wants to see footage of Polkinghorne interview
Newsroom
Polkinghorne: A tense pause
The coroner has ordered a surprise adjournment to watch raw footage of an interview with Dr Polkinghorne The post Polkinghorne: A tense pause appeared first on Newsroom .
RNZ
Pauline Hanna inquest adjourned while Polkinghorne documentary footage is narrowed down
The coroner had ordered Blonde Razor Productions to hand over four hours of raw footage from an interview with Dr Philip Polkinghorne.
Stuff
Unseen footage of Polkinghorne’s doco interview shown at Pauline Hanna inquest
Dr Philip Polkinghorne gave an interview to a documentary in 2022 before he faced a jury trial.
1News
Pauline Hanna inquest: Unused Polkinghorne documentary footage shown
Unused footage shown at the Coroner's Court were filmed in 2022 inside the Remuera home where Hanna was found dead the year before.
RNZ
Pauline Hanna inquest: Unused Polkinghorne documentary footage shown at Coroner's Court
Excerpts of interviews with Polkinghorne filmed in 2022 were included in a series which aired three years later.
Otago Daily Times
Unused Polkinghorne footage shown at wife’s inquest
Newsroom
Polkinghorne: Sex, inconsistencies, and videotape
Raw footage of a documentary about Dr Philip Polkinghorne is produced at the coronial inquiry into his wife's death The post Polkinghorne: Sex, inconsistencies, and videotape appeared first on Newsroom .
RNZ
Philip Polkinghorne denies direct accusations he killed wife Pauline Hanna during inquest
Polkinghorne was cleared of Pauline Hanna's 2021 murder at a trial two years.
Stuff
‘False, patently wrong’: Polkinghorne denies killing Pauline Hanna at inquest into wife’s death
Philip Polkinghorne has told an inquest into his wife’s death that he has told lies but he did not kill his wife.
1News
'Wrong': Polkinghorne denies direct accusations he killed wife
Philip Polkinghorne has denied killing his wife as the accusation was put directly to him at her inquest.
NZ Herald
Philip Polkinghorne admits lies as his testimony continues at Pauline Hanna coroner’s inquest in Auckland
The acquitted murder defendant acknowledged he has told many lies since his wife's death.
Otago Daily Times
Polkinghorne denies police accusation he killed wife
1News
Philip Polkinghorne denies direct accusation he killed his wife
Cleared of Pauline Hanna's 2021 murder at a trial two years ago, Polkinghorne chose not to give evidence there but has been compelled to at the coroner's inquest.
Newsroom
Polkinghorne: A cross-exam for the ages
Philip Polkinghorne is accused of killing his wife in a rigorous cross-examination The post Polkinghorne: A cross-exam for the ages appeared first on Newsroom .
RNZ
Pauline Hanna 'impaired but not incapacitated' – pharmacologist
A pharmacologist told the inquest into Pauline Hanna's death that she was likely impaired, but not unconscious, in the hours before she died.
Newsroom
Polkinghorne: the persecution continues
Pauline Hanna's last night alive is examined at the penultimate day of the coronial inquiry into her death The post Polkinghorne: the persecution continues appeared first on Newsroom .
RNZ
Philip Polkinghorne's sister describes morning of Pauline Hanna's death
Polkinghorne says he called his sister, Ruth Hughes, after he called 111.
1News
Polkinghorne's sister describes morning of Pauline Hanna's death
Giving evidence for the first time while under oath, Ruth Hughes said she found her brother cradling his wife on the floor.
NZ Herald
Pauline Hanna inquest testimony concludes with evidence from Philip Polkinghorne’s sister, pathologist
Ruth Hughes was never called to testify at her brother's murder trial.
Newsroom
Polkinghorne: the final day of reckoning
Philip Polkinghorne’s sister Ruth breaks her silence at the last day of the coronial inquiry into Pauline Hanna’s death The post Polkinghorne: the final day of reckoning appeared first on Newsroom .