Paula Penfold Explained

Paula Penfold is a New Zealand investigative journalist. She is best-known for her investigation into the wrongful conviction of Auckland man Teina Pora for murder and rape.^{[1] [2] [3]}

Career

Penfold began her career in radio, working for Radio New Zealand and The Radio Network for eight years, before moving into television with TVNZ in 1998.^[4]

She then moved to TV3 in 2003 and spent the next 13 years working in current affairs across 60 Minutes, 3rd Degree and 3D. At 3D she spent three years investigating the wrongful conviction of Teina Pora, who spent 21 years in jail for the rape and murder of Auckland woman Susan Burdett in 1994. Her stories contributed significantly to the eventual quashing of his conviction and a $2.5 million dollar payout from the Crown.^{[5] [6]}

3D was cancelled by TV3 in 2016 and Penfold moved to Fairfax, establishing the long-form documentary investigative unit Stuff Circuit with two of her former colleagues.^{[7] [8]} She was named 'Reporter of the Year' at the 2019 New Zealand Television Awards.^[9]

Stuff Circuit Documentaries

• Big Decision (2019)^[10]
• Alias (2020)^[11]
• False Profit (2020)^[12]
• Emma (2020)^[13]
• Deleted (2021)^[14]

Personal life

Penfold was married to TV3 anchor and journalist Mike McRoberts for more than 20 years. They split in 2018 and have two children together.^[15]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Stuff Circuit's Paula Penfold named reporter of the year at TV Awards. Stuff. en. 16 January 2020.
2. Web site: The long road to Teina Pora's compensation win. Stuff. en. 16 January 2020.
3. Web site: Fairfax Media hires Paula Penfold, Eugene Bingham, Toby Longbottom. Stuff. en. 16 January 2020.
4. Web site: Paula Penfold – Investigative journalist. RNZ. en. 17 January 2020.
5. News: Teina Pora compensation: Justice Minister Amy Adams confirms $2.52 million payout. Nichol. Phil Taylor, Isaac Davison, Tess Nichol, Isaac Davison, Phil Taylor and Tess. 15 June 2016. 16 January 2020. en. 1170-0777.
6. Web site: The long road to Teina Pora's compensation win. Stuff. en. 16 January 2020.
7. Web site: 3D Axed at Lunchtime; Staff to Take Personal Grievance Case Against MediaWorks. Greive. Duncan. 1 December 2015. The Spinoff. 16 January 2020.
8. Web site: Fairfax Media hires Paula Penfold, Eugene Bingham, Toby Longbottom. Stuff. en. 16 January 2020.
9. Web site: Stuff Circuit's Paula Penfold named reporter of the year at TV Awards. Stuff. en. 16 January 2020.
10. Web site: Big Decision. 2021-07-26. Play Stuff. en.
11. Web site: Alias. 2021-07-26. Play Stuff. en.
12. Web site: Billy Te Kahika: the full, unedited interview. 2021-07-26. Play Stuff. en.
13. Web site: Emma. 2021-07-26. Play Stuff. en.
14. Web site: Deleted. 2021-07-26. Play Stuff. en.
15. Web site: Mike McRoberts on war, depression and the importance of optimism. Noted. www.noted.co.nz. en. 16 January 2020.