A deep dive into Philip Polkinghorne's finances - and payments for sex - was carried out as his murder trial hits its halfway point.

The eye surgeon is accused of killing his wife, Pauline Hanna, in their Remuera home in 2021.

The Court today's heard about the large sums Polkinghorne paid to numerous sex workers.

Newstalk ZB's Chelsea Daniels says he was largely in control of the couple's bank accounts.

"All up, the total amount he spent on women between 2016 and the beginning of 2021 was $296,645."

LISTEN ABOVE