Inside the Polkinghorne Case & the Mind of NZ's Greatest Writer - Steve Braunias
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What led Steve Braunias to attend the Polkinghorne trial?
The Polkinghorne trial was coming up. I said, oh, well, you know, I'll toddle along for day one or two and write about it for the paper and go away. So go to day one. And within like two hours, I realized that, no, I was going to stay for every available second of this. I was not going to be moved from court. It was a kind of society murder and it felt very Victorian. It felt like something from the 19th century. It was a history about Auckland, this gearish, extravagant, much despised city of rich wankers, as it's perceived. And as it was perceived, Polkinghorne, Philip Polkinghorne, Phil was being perceived and presented as the ultimate rich wanker who had behaved apparently appallingly and then was accused of killing his wife.
Did you like him, Steve? Yeah, very much. Yeah, I thought he was a very interesting guy. Yeah, very likeable, chatty, unusual, self-deprecating. Do you think he did it? I think the national feeling is that he got away with it. Had a clever lawyer or things like that. I don't know, I more than entertain the shocking possibility...
That Phil is an innocent man. This week on Between Two Bears, we talk to Steve Brawnius.
Steve is one of the best writers New Zealand has ever produced. He grew up in Mount Maunganui, failed journalism school, the only person in a class of 50 to do so. and became the best writer in New Zealand anyway. He's written 14 books, won 40-plus national writing awards, spent six years as deputy editor of The Listener, and then turned his attention to a true crime trilogy that gripped the country, ending with his best-selling book, Polkinghorn, inside the trial of the century, his account of the trial that consumed New Zealand.
This one covers the craft of writing, the courtroom, the state of journalism in New Zealand, and a life spent noticing things other people walk straight past. You're going to love this one.
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And Seamus and I are also proud to be dressed by Barkers. Check out their range at Enjoy. Steve Brawnius, welcome to Between Two Bears. Thank you for having me. Yeah, thank you a lot. We're very excited to have you in the 1NZ studio today. I wanted to start by asking you how you're feeling about today's chat, because you've made a career of watching and observing other people, and now you could say the shoe's on the other foot, and you are the subject. How are you feeling coming in today to talk about your life?
Generally not great. Yeah, not great, verging towards a deep unhappiness and discontent. But I'm a trooper, and Seamus certainly seems like a nice guy judging by his handshake. And you played football, so my respect for you will probably overcome my own shyness and self-loathing.
There's not a lot of interviews. With you out there, there's a lot of your work, but not so much in this situation too. Just too many as it is. This one is another one to add into the mix.
Yeah, another log on the fire.
I think I've got confidence that by the end of this conversation, you're going to have enjoyed it. That's my prediction, Steve.
Enjoyment. Shooting for the stars, brother.
You're currently an Auckland man, Wellington man before that, but there is a Hamilton chapter in your story. So you had eight years as editor-in-residence at Wintec. So start there, like what... What does that mean and what did you do?
Yeah, Hamilton.
How did Steve Braunias develop his relationship with Phil Polkinghorne?
That was one of the emotional and intellectual highlights of my working life. I absolutely adored it. I was approached to fulfil the role of editor in residence at the journalism school at Wintec. And it essentially meant that I would take the train from Auckland to Hamilton one day a week and take the train back at the end of the day.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What led Steve Braunias to attend the Polkinghorne trial?
0:00–4:17
2
How did Steve Braunias develop his relationship with Phil Polkinghorne?
4:17–9:16
3
What were the major turning points during the Polkinghorne trial?
9:16–17:27
4
How does Steve Braunias perceive the role of journalism in covering sensitive topics?
17:27–21:00
5
What is the significance of forensic evidence in the Polkinghorne case?
21:00–25:33
6
How did the public react to the verdict in the Polkinghorne trial?
25:33–32:03
7
What insights does Steve Braunias share about writing and creativity?
32:03–38:46
8
What reflections does Steve Braunias have on his career and future aspirations?
38:46–1:59:59
Speakers
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