Week Eight has the Crown and Defence issuing their closing statements.

The Crown alleges that Philip Polkinghorne killed his wife, Pauline Hanna, on April 5 2021.

He maintains she took her own life. 

After the Crown went first, it is now the turn of the defence - led by lawyer Ron Mansfield - to deliver its closing statement. 

Week Eight has the Crown and Defence issuing their closing statements.
The Crown alleges that Philip Polkinghorne killed his wife, Pauline Hanna, on April 5 2021.
He maintains she took her own life. 
After the Crown went first, it is now the turn of the defence - led by lawyer Ron Mansfield - to deliver its closing statement.

Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald’s daily news podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what’s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future.

Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture. 

Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald&rsquo;s daily news podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what&rsquo;s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future.
Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture.&nbsp;
Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

Every day, The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald. Hosted by Damien Venuto

The Front Page

From the team behind The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald's daily news podcast, comes Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial. 

Paulina Hanna was found dead at the Remuera home she shared with her husband of 30 years, Philip Polkinghorne, on Easter Monday 2021. 

For 16 months, her death was treated as “unexplained”. That’s until it emerged Polkinghorne had been charged with murder. He pleaded not guilty in August 2022.  

Over the coming weeks, The Front Page host Chelsea Daniels will be reporting regularly from the Auckland High Court as Polkinghorne stands trial. 

Follow Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts. 

From the team behind The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald's daily news podcast, comes Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial. 
Paulina Hanna was found dead at the Remuera home she shared with her husband of 30 years, Philip Polkinghorne, on Easter Monday 2021. 
For 16 months, her death was treated as “unexplained”. That’s until it emerged Polkinghorne had been charged with murder. He pleaded not guilty in August 2022.  
Over the coming weeks, The Front Page host Chelsea Daniels will be reporting regularly from the Auckland High Court as Polkinghorne stands trial. 
Follow Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

From the team behind The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald's daily news podcast, comes Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial.

Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial

Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald’s daily news analysis podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what’s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future. Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald&rsquo;s daily news analysis podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what&rsquo;s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future. Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

Inside the defence's closing statement: What they say happened to Pauline Hanna

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/644f67a2-f05b-44d7-ad29-b1f00019e9af/transcript

Donald Trump says the United States and Iran have reached a peace agreement, with a formal signing ceremony expected later this week.

The announcement follows weeks of negotiations and comes in the wake of an Israeli strike on Beirut that reportedly disrupted the process at the last minute. 
If the agreement holds, it could reshape relations across the Middle East and have implications for everything from regional security to global oil markets. 

Today on The Front Page, Robert Patman - professor of international politics at Otago University - joins us to discuss what the deal means and how durable it’s likely to be in reality.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Editor/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Jane Yee

Donald Trump says the United States and Iran have reached a peace agreement, with a formal signing ceremony expected later this week.
The announcement follows weeks of negotiations and comes in the wake of an Israeli strike on Beirut that reportedly disrupted the process at the last minute.&nbsp; If the agreement holds, it could reshape relations across the Middle East and have implications for everything from regional security to global oil markets.&nbsp;
Today on The Front Page, Robert Patman - professor of international politics at Otago University - joins us to discuss what the deal means and how durable it&rsquo;s likely to be in reality.
Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.
Editor/Producer: Richard Martin Producer: Jane Yee

Can Trump’s Iran peace deal actually hold?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/d60a084d-9a35-4ee5-abad-b46a003344c4/transcript

A leading paediatrician is warning more New Zealand babies will end up in hospital this winter while a treatment that could prevent many RSV cases remains unavailable.

The breakthrough antibody injection is already being used in countries like Australia, the UK and the US, but here it's still awaiting approval and funding decisions.

The delay has reignited questions about how we prioritise child health and whether New Zealand is moving quickly enough when it comes to proven medicines.

Today on The Front Page, senior investigative reporter Michael Morrah joins us to discuss his reporting on this issue, before we speak to recently retired South Auckland paediatrician Dr Adrian Trenholme about what he's witnessed on the frontline over nearly five decades.

Michael Morrah's story:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/top-paediatrician-warns-more-babies-will-suffer-as-rsv-drug-still-unapproved/SMDDIY4VDJCOVN6RZDFNF2VBGU/

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Editor/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Jane Yee

A leading paediatrician is warning more New Zealand babies will end up in hospital this winter while a treatment that could prevent many RSV cases remains unavailable.
The breakthrough antibody injection is already being used in countries like Australia, the UK and the US, but here it's still awaiting approval and funding decisions.
The delay has reignited questions about how we prioritise child health and whether New Zealand is moving quickly enough when it comes to proven medicines.
Today on The Front Page, senior investigative reporter Michael Morrah joins us to discuss his reporting on this issue, before we speak to recently retired South Auckland paediatrician Dr Adrian Trenholme about what he's witnessed on the frontline over nearly five decades.
Michael Morrah's story: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/top-paediatrician-warns-more-babies-will-suffer-as-rsv-drug-still-unapproved/SMDDIY4VDJCOVN6RZDFNF2VBGU/
Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.
Editor/Producer: Richard Martin Producer: Jane Yee

The RSV delay exposing NZ’s child health gap

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ae2be141-d5fd-4a36-8be3-b4670025335e/transcript

For just the third time in history, New Zealand is heading to football's biggest stage.

The FIFA World Cup is ready for kick off and the All Whites are returning to the tournament for the first time since that memorable campaign in South Africa in 2010. Back then, New Zealand achieved something no other team did – leaving the tournament undefeated.

Fast forward to 2026 and the World Cup is bigger, the game is faster – the competition has changed, and the All Whites have changed too. With a deeper squad, and captain Chris Wood coming off the best season of his career, do we dare let our hopes go beyond being “just happy to be there”? 

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald sports reporter Chris Reive joins us to discuss New Zealand's chances and the stories set to shape the world's biggest sporting tournament.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Editor/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Jane Yee

For just the third time in history, New Zealand is heading to football's biggest stage.
The FIFA World Cup is ready for kick off and the All Whites are returning to the tournament for the first time since that memorable campaign in South Africa in 2010. Back then, New Zealand achieved something no other team did &ndash; leaving the tournament undefeated.
Fast forward to 2026 and the World Cup is bigger, the game is faster&nbsp;&ndash; the competition has changed, and the All Whites&nbsp;have&nbsp;changed too.&nbsp;With a deeper squad,&nbsp;and captain Chris Wood coming off the best season of his career,&nbsp;do we dare let our&nbsp;hopes go beyond&nbsp;being&nbsp;&ldquo;just&nbsp;happy to be&nbsp;there&rdquo;?&nbsp;
Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald sports reporter Chris Reive joins us to discuss New Zealand's chances and the stories set to shape the world's biggest sporting tournament.
Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.
Editor/Producer: Richard Martin Producer: Jane Yee

Do the All Whites stand a chance at the World Cup?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/a93d9489-774e-48a0-9bdb-b4660038799c/transcript

Inside the defence's closing statement: What they say happened to Pauline Hanna

Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial

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