The fictional New Zealand town where detectives solve murders and stay for good

History · Published 6 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the quiet farming community of Brokenwood, crime is never truly absent. This New Zealand whodunnit follows Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Shepherd, an unconventional investigator who traded his Auckland life for a slower pace, only to find himself permanently entangled in the town's local mysteries and eccentric social circles.

The Brokenwood Mysteries is a New Zealand comedy-drama series that first premiered on Prime in 2014. Conceived by showrunner Tim Balme, the series follows Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Shepherd, who was originally sent from Auckland to investigate a local police officer. However, after completing his initial investigation, Shepherd chose to remain in the fictitious North Island town indefinitely, accepting a demotion to his current rank to pursue a more peaceful existence.

The series is characterized by the contrasting styles of its lead investigators. Shepherd is known for an unconventional approach, which includes talking to deceased victims, while his partner, Detective Kristin Sims, is noted for her precision and efficiency. Their professional relationship evolves from being initially rocky to becoming a functional partnership as they learn to appreciate each other's unique talents.

While the series is set in the seemingly quiet town of Brokenwood—a community of approximately 5,000 residents located about 20 kilometres from the coast—the actual filming takes place in the greater Auckland area. The town's police station is modeled after a 1911 building that formerly served as the Helensville Post Office. Although the show's exact geography is debated due to various onscreen clues, it is largely filmed in small towns north of Auckland, with Warkworth serving as a real-life double for the fictional settlement.

The show's structure has evolved since its inception. The first six series each consisted of four episodes, but from Series 7 onwards, the seasons were extended to six episodes. In 2021, the programme transitioned networks and now screens on TVNZ 1.

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