The Brokenwood Mysteries

The Brokenwood Mysteries is a New Zealand television detective drama series that premiered on Prime (now Sky Open) in 2014. Each of the first six series comprises four episodes. From Series 7, seasons were extended to six episodes. The programme is set in the fictitious New Zealand town of Brokenwood in the North Island and is filmed in the greater Auckland region. Tim Balme is the current showrunner, having conceived the series, while also working as head writer and producer.
Since 2021, the programme moved networks and now screens on TVNZ One.
The core cast includes Neill Rea as Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Shepherd, Fern Sutherland as Detective Kristin Sims, Nic Sampson as Detective Constable Sam Breen, Cristina Ionda as Dr. Gina Kadinsky, medical examiner, and Jarod Rawiri as Detective Constable Daniel Chalmers.
In January 2023, Slovak television channel WAU, owned by TV JOJ, started transmitting the series.
Season 10 was released on Acorn TV in North America starting with Episode 1 on April 29, 2024, with successive episodes released weekly on Monday. Release of Season 10 for other territories will most likely follow the pattern used in 2023 for Season 9.
Detective Inspector Mike Shepherd is sent from Auckland to Brokenwood to investigate a local police officer. With a possible murder investigation underway that might link the two, Shepherd takes charge. After the investigation, Shepherd reassesses his life and decides to stay on indefinitely, even though it means a demotion to Detective Senior Sergeant. Brokenwood is a seemingly quiet country town where Shepherd, who has an unconventional approach to police work, is assisted by local Detective Kristin Sims, who is precise and efficient at her job, to solve murders. As the series progresses, the working relationship between the two moves from rocky to functional as they begin to appreciate each other's talents.
The fictional town of Brokenwood has a population of about 5,000 and is located some 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the coast. It is in a farming area, with crops ranging from wheat to local wine, and the surrounding area is home to many people who have escaped city life (from retirees to alternative lifestylers). Though the exact location of Brokenwood is not stated, it was largely written and filmed in small towns immediately to the north of Auckland. The real-life town of Warkworth doubles as Brokenwood, and the Brokenwood Police Station is a 1911 building that was formerly the Helensville Post Office. In "Sour Grapes", Shepherd and Sims are seen travelling into Auckland across the Auckland Harbour Bridge, which would confirm that Brokenwood is also located to the north of the city. In the same episode, it is mentioned that it takes two and a half hours by road to get from Brokenwood to Auckland. This would put Brokenwood considerably farther north than either Warkworth or Helensville. A map on the police station wall covers much of Whangarei District, from southern Bream Bay north to Matapouri, and another map shown in "Catch of the Day" locates Brokenwood close to the settlement of Whangārei Heads, at the northern end of Bream Bay.
Several well-known New Zealand actors have appeared in episodes of The Brokenwood Mysteries, among them:
Nic Sampson, the actor who played D.C. Sam Breen, left the show to move back to the United Kingdom. His character was replaced by D.C. Daniel Chalmers (played by Jarod Rawiri). who was introduced in series 7 episode 2.
• Episode began streaming on Acorn in North America on Monday, 10 April 2023 with each of the rest of the episodes released on successive Mondays.
Critical response to the series has been generally good, with many reviewers impressed by the plots and the uniquely laconic dialogue. The two-hour length (broadcast length with ads) of episodes has been mentioned by some as too long for such a series. However, for most of the world that receive the show on streamers and ad free, the 90 minute length provides a satisfying investment, offering more twists and turns than the usual commercial one hour format allows.
James Croot in Stuff praised the series in the following terms: 'series head writer Tim Balme does a terrific job of keeping the audience guessing as to the killer while carving out a few nice character moments and a rich vein of humour' and that 'with its “gentle” approach to murders, twisty mysteries and warm, witty and relatively uncomplicated regulars, it’s easy to see why Brokenwood has gained such a global following.
In contrast, writing in the New Zealand Herald, critic Colin Hogg panned the series, stating that it was "a local version aiming at that grand TV detective tradition" but that its "Dialogue is clichéd, the acting aches and the locations are boring." International television website "The Medium is Not Enough" was also generally negative in its review, describing the series as a "genteel, New Zealand drama designed to appeal to perhaps an older demographic that likes comfortable murder-mysteries and to New Zealanders eager to watch anything that’s actually set in New Zealand and stars New Zealanders."
Christine Tidball, writing for the entertainment website Cheese on Toast was kinder, rating the series "charming, without being cloying, very well-written (thanks to Tim Balme) and funny, but not too funny [...] It’s also engaging, full of twists, and will keep you guessing right till the end."
As the series has progressed, reviews have become more positive. DVD review website High Def Standard described the first series as "uniquely thrilling TV" and "a New Zealand Midsomer Murders that isn’t afraid to venture off into Twin Peaks territory every now and again." The Manawatu Standard's Malcolm Hopwood enjoyed the series but lamented episode length: "The Brokenwood Mysteries (Prime Sundays) is like our TPP negotiations. They are long, energy-sapping but satisfying if you're still awake after two hours." He added that the series was "intriguing, confusing and exhausting", and that it "deserves our support but it needs to be recorded and watched in small chunks." Michael Reuben, writing for blu-ray.com, rated series one at 4 stars out of 5.
The Brokenwood Mysteries received SWANZ Best Script Award from The NZ Writer's Guild for Tim Balme's script 'Sour Grapes' in 2015.
The Brokenwood Mysteries received a bronze world medal at the New York Festival's International Television and Film Awards in 2014.
The Brokenwood Mysteries received a silver world medal at the New York Festival's International Television and Film Awards in 2018.
The Edgar Allan Poe Award - Nomination - Episode 3 Season 7 - 2022
The Brokenwood Mysteries received a bronze world medal at the New York Festival's International Television and Film Awards in 2023.
Shepherd's car is a 1971 Holden Kingswood (HG series). It has a cassette player for his country music cassettes.
Brokenwood Mysteries showcases New Zealand's own country and alternative rock music. In the first season, Shepherd is introduced as a fan of country and western music, sharing the music with Sims while driving around in his car. The music he listens to and the background music of the show are all New Zealand performers. Season two, which climaxed with the death of country singer Holly Collins, was scored by Canadian-born Kiwi-based Tami Neilson and her brother Jay Neilson. Three volumes of soundtracks covering season 1, 2, and 6 of the show have been released digitally on Apple Music, Amazon and Spotify.
With the exception of Season Two, all episodes have been scored by Joel Haines, including many original compositions.
New Zealand musicians exhibited on Brokenwood include Tami Neilson, Mel Parsons, Delaney Davidson, Barry Saunders, the Harbour Union, Barnaby Weir of the Black Seeds, the Unfaithful Way, and Jenny Mitchell. Other singers are Marlon Williams, the Warratahs, Bannerman, The DeSotos, Aldous Harding, Jackie Bristow, The Fables, Ghost Town, Reb Fountain, The Eastern, Carla Werner and Esther Stephens.