New three-part Sky Original documentary series Polk: The Trial of Philip Polkinghorne to launch exclusively on Sky and streaming service NOW on June 15

Wednesday 28 May 2025

Polk: The Trial of Philip Polkinghorne is a three-part documentary series that explores the case of a prominent New Zealand eye doctor accused of the murder of his wife. Was it suicide? Or did Dr. Polkinghorne stage Pauline Hanna's death? In an exclusive, never before seen interview conducted while he was awaiting trial for murder, Dr. Philip Polkinghorne reveals his version of events for the very first time. Sexual deviance. Illicit drugs. Suspicious behaviour. Polk has an answer for it all.

Emmy award-winning director, Mike Gattanella, explores New Zealand's trial of the century, using interviews from Julia Hartley Moore (Private Investigator); Madison Ashton (Philip Polkinghorne's Girlfriend); Bruce Hanna (Pauline Hanna's Brother); Pheasant Riordan (Friend of Pauline Hanna); Alysha McClintock (Crown Solicitor Auckland); Craig Kapitan (Journalist, New Zealand Herald), and Chelsea Daniels (Journalist, New Zealand Herald).

A Note from Executive Producer, Julia Hartley Moore: In February 2021, I received an unusual phone call from a Remuera woman concerning her husband's behaviour but the call was short as her husband arrived home.

Seven weeks later, local media broke the news of the death of a Remuera woman and I had a feeling that phone call and this case were connected. The unexplained circumstances of Pauline's death sparked a massive police investigation and intense media scrutiny, and I found myself drawn into the case both as a private investigator and personally. I now believe that woman was Pauline Hanna after hearing her voice in the Longlands' recordings in court.

Everyone in town was talking about the Polkinghorne case - except Pauline's husband Philip Polkinghorne, a respected Remuera eye surgeon. That piqued my interest, as I have somebody at hand who can get anyone to talk; a man with a very particular set of skills as they say.

Over the course of many months a cordial relationship was formed between Philip and this man, who then after some time arranged for Philip and me to finally meet to discuss the idea of telling his story. Incredibly, Philip, who had recently been charged with murder, was very open to the idea and within a few days my film company BA Films Ltd began shooting interviews with him. The result is, the remarkable interviews that form the basis of this series, Polk: The Trial of Philip Polkinghorne.

Screeners are available on Sky Media Village and images are available on Sky PXL.

The three-part documentary Polk: The Trial of Philip Polkinghorne will debut exclusively on Sky and streaming service NOW, with all episodes available on June 15.

Notes to Editor:

Credits:

Director: Mike Gattanella

Executive Producers: Mark McNeill (Razor Films), Julia Hartley Moore (Blonde Ambition), Jack Oliver (Sky), and Emily-Jayne Wilde (Sky)

Producer: Polly Fryer

Editor: Simon Coldrick

Press contact: lily.hunt@sky.uk

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