Australian escort wants to give evidence at Pauline Hanna inquest
Hanna, who managed the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine as an executive director at Counties Manukau Health, died in her Remuera home on April 5, 2021.
Her husband, former Auckland eye surgeon Philip Polkinghorne, was found not guilty of murdering her after an eight-week trial last year.
The Crown argued Polkinghorne killed his wife after a possible violent struggle, while he may have been under the influence of methamphetamine.
Pauline Hanna, Philip Polkinghorne and Madison Ashton. (Source: 1News)
ADVERTISEMENT
The defence maintained Hanna died by suicide after many years of struggling with depression, compounded by work-related stress.
Ashton – Polkinghorne's former lover – was called as a witness for the Crown but did not turn up during the trial.
She told other media she decided not to give evidence at the trial due to being unhappy with the police's treatment of her.
Ashton had since approached Coroner Tania Tetitaha's office, indicating she had evidence relevant to the circumstances of Hanna's death.
This could now be revealed as the Coroner lifted a previous non-publication order.
The next pre-inquest conference is set down for August.
rnz.co.nz
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
1News
4 hours ago
- 1News
Healthworkers want MPs to waive private healthcare while in office
A group of healthworkers — including specialists, GPs, nurses and paramedics — have signed an open letter to MPs asking them to waive private healthcare during their time in office. Politicians making critical decisions about the public health system system — to cut funding, defer maintenance, or implement restructures — should not be allowed to "insulate" themselves against the consequences, they write. Their prescription? All MPs — and the families of Cabinet ministers — should rely on the public system. The group's spokesperson, Northland cardiologist Marcus Lee, said the public deserved leaders who were so committed to public healthcare that they were willing to stake their family's wellbeing on it. ADVERTISEMENT "Essentially, we want fair and transparent leadership with integrity. We want people who have skin in the game." The test was whether politicians were "comfortable and confident" enough to rely on the public health system for their families, he said. "If it's good for them, it's good for us. If it's not good enough for them, it shouldn't be good enough for anyone." Nicola Willis and Simeon Brown in 2020 (Source: Getty) The letter asks MPs to consider questions including: Would I be comfortable with my child waiting six months for this procedure? Is this emergency department adequate for my elderly parent? Are these staffing levels sufficient for my family's safety? Prime Minister Christopher Luxon did not believe having private health insurance meant he was out of touch with the problems besetting the public system. ADVERTISEMENT "I think we're well aware of the challenges in the healthcare system, which is why we've put a record amount of investment in," he said. "We inherited again a botched merger that just created a layer of bureaucracy and we've put the money in, we're hiring more people, we've got clarity on the targets. "We're starting to see some stabilisation of those targets and in some cases improvements on those health targets. "But we now need a high performing Health NZ, and that's what we're fixated on." Labour's health spokesperson Dr Ayesha Verrall said MPs with private health insurance were "betting their own money against the public system". "Ministers of Health should place a bet on the public health system succeeding and meeting New Zealanders' needs. Having private health insurance is a sign that you're not willing to place that bet." Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. (Source: 1News) ADVERTISEMENT Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins — a former health minister — took a less hard-line approach. "I got health insurance 20 or 30 years ago as a union membership benefit and I've kept it since then, although I'm fortunate I haven't really had to use it. "I'm not going to begrudge people who have it. But I want to make sure that, if you haven't, you still get the standard of care you deserve." Health Minister Simeon Brown said he did not have private health insurance but he would not impose that choice on anyone else. "Ultimately there's a large number of New Zealanders who use health insurance, that's a fantastic part of our health system, and ultimately people make individual choices." Brown said his focus was on timely access to quality healthcare for New Zealanders, which included making better use of the private sector. "We will work with private hospitals to unlock capacity, publicly funded [patients] but in private hospitals to speed up access." ADVERTISEMENT Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Education Minister Erica Stanford both had private health insurance. Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey did not, saying he is "happy using the public health system". Other National MPs were more coy. Minister of Climate Change, Energy, Local Government and Revenue, Simon Watts: "I won't answer that, it's a personal question." Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, Disability Issues, Social Development and Employment, Louise Upston: "That's not a question in the public interest." Bay of Plenty MP Tom Rutherford: "I'm not interested in talking about that. It's not necessary for people to know — I don't go out into the general street and ask people about their health insurance." Green MP Ricardo Menéndez March said it was "quite rich" to see politicians not being worried about the state of the public healthcare system, when they had the means to pay for private insurance or private care. ADVERTISEMENT "That is why we are really concerned with the Government's flirtation with privatising more of our public healthcare system, which will ultimately see our poorest less able to access basic healthcare." For some Labour MPs, it was a matter of principle. Kelston MP Carmel Sepuloni: "I believe, as politicians, if we're going to be working to ensure the healthcare system works for everyone, we should be reliant on it too." Nelson MP Rachel Boyack: "My father was a public health chief executive so I've always had a strong belief in the public health system, and that the health system should be available to all New Zealanders, and that includes me as an MP." Mt Albert MP Helen White could understand why some people opted to have it, but it was not for her: "I just think that I should live by my principles. Also I probably couldn't afford it. I know I'm on a decent salary, but it's a lot of money." Mt Albert MP Helen White says she probably couldn't afford health insurance. (Source: 1News) Labour MP Ginny Andersen said health insurance was not in her budget: "By the time I pay my mortgage and my insurance and my rates and feed my children." ADVERTISEMENT ACT Party leader David Seymour, who is also the Associate Health Minister, said the healthworkers made "an interesting argument" — but, in his view, MPs should come from a broad range of backgrounds. "I don't think you should have to fit into a sort of ideological straight-jacket to do that." The healthworkers behind the letter said MPs who refused to give up their private safety net would be revealing "exactly what they really think about our healthcare system". "We'll be watching to see who has the courage to put their family where their policies are."
NZ Herald
15 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Serial sex offender Luca Fairgray's prison sentence cut on appeal
In June, Fairgray's lawyer Susan Gray told the Court of Appeal that his sentence and its starting point was 'manifestly excessive'. A starting point (for example: four years' prison) is the sentence which a judge decides on before taking into account aggravating or mitigating factors that may increase or reduce a sentence. A judge uses any comparable cases to determine what that starting point is. Gray submitted 'a lack of consistency is a lack of justice' and she pointed to another case where a man who had ongoing sex with one minor and one-off sex with another was given a starting point of 2.5 years in prison. She acknowledged the pregnancy and abortion that occurred because of Fairgray's offending, and its distressing impact, but said it was wrong for the judge to attribute the second surgical intervention needed to her client. Gray also took issue with the Crown's submission that the victim was vulnerable due to her age, as she said it was inherent in the charge. The seven-year age gap between Fairgray and the complainant was at the lower end of the spectrum, she said. 'There was no breach of trust.' Prosecutor Pip McNabb said the real issue before the court was whether the four-year starting point was available to Judge Thomas. She told the Justices the victim's vulnerability was about much more than just her age and included her autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) diagnosis. 'At the lowest end of that seven-year age gap we have a 13-year-old girl, so she had just become a teenager.' At the other end of the spectrum, she said, was an educated 20-year-old male. She did not agree that Fairgray's own diagnoses of autism and ADHD tempered the difference between the pair. His offending was 'calculated and careful', she said, and he actively pursued the girl despite knowing her age. McNabb submitted that while the second surgery could not be directly attributed to the appellant, it was his actions of having unprotected sex with her that led to it. The Crown maintained that there were some efforts by him to manipulate the victim. Luca Fairgray pictured when he testified in the Auckland District Court earlier this year. The three appeal judges hearing the case agreed with Fairgray's lawyer that the starting point taken by the sentencing judge was too high. In its decision, released by Justice Rachel Dunningham this afternoon, the appeal court said there were clearly adverse effects on the victim through having to endure a termination of her pregnancy. 'However, there was no abuse of trust, nor was there a significant age gap (comparatively speaking) between the offender and the victim. There were also no other aggravating features present such as grooming, or abusive or demeaning behaviour. This assessment points to a lower starting point than was adopted in R v H [the case the sentencing judge used as a comparison] and we would adopt three and a half years,' she said. After taking that starting point, the Court of Appeal then added on six months to Fairgray's jail term due to the fact his offending followed crimes of a similar nature (the same uplift imposed by Judge Evangelos Thomas at his sentencing). As a result, the Court of Appeal cut Fairgray's final sentence to four years' jail. Katie Harris is an Auckland-based journalist who covers issues including sexual assault, workplace misconduct, media, crime and justice. She joined the Herald in 2020. Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
16 hours ago
- Scoop
Life X DNA Offers Advanced Genetic Testing Services In Perth And Across Australia
Life X DNA, an Australian-owned company, provides comprehensive genetic testing services, including advanced methylation analysis, to individuals seeking personalised health insights in Perth and throughout Australia. The company utilises next-generation sequencing and AI-powered analysis to examine millions of genetic variants (SNPs), delivering detailed reports that cover methylation pathways, functional DNA analysis, and personalised recommendations for diet, lifestyle, and supplementation. This approach allows clients to gain a deeper understanding of their genetic predispositions and make informed decisions to support their health and wellbeing. For those in Western Australia, genetic testing in Perth is available through Life X DNA's at-home cheek swab kits. These kits are designed to be non-invasive and easy to use, enabling individuals to collect samples privately and securely. The samples are processed in Australia, with strict protocols in place to protect personal data and ensure confidentiality. Results are typically delivered within two to three weeks and are accessible via a secure online portal. Life X DNA's services are not limited to Perth. The company offers genetic testing in Australia more broadly, with options for customers in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and other major cities. The company's reports provide insights into areas such as methylation, cardiovascular health, detoxification, cognitive function, and immune system activity. Each test includes a one-on-one session with a trained health consultant to help clients interpret their results and apply the findings to their daily lives. Life X DNA's commitment to privacy, local processing, and comprehensive analysis has positioned it as a leading provider of genetic and methylation testing in Australia and New Zealand.
