Mystery

When Does The Brokenwood Mysteries Season 13 Come Out? Is It Renewed?

The Brokenwood Mysteries Season 13 doesn't have an official release date yet. Based on the roughly 12-month gap between previous seasons, expect it around April 2027.

IMDb

7.9/10

Seasons

12

Episodes

60

The Brokenwood Mysteries poster

Diagnostics

Network
TVNZ 1
First aired
2014-09-28
Last aired
2026-05-11
Runtime
90 min
Rated
TV-14

Awards 4 nominations total

Search interestRising ↗

Predictive Logic Analysis

Twelve seasons over roughly 12 years is an impressive run for any drama, and The Brokenwood Mysteries has become one of New Zealand television's most durable crime series. TVNZ 1 has shown no inclination to pull the plug on it at any point in its history, and the absence of cancellation signals after a season that finished airing just this month is a reasonable positive indicator. Long-running procedurals on public broadcasters in smaller markets tend to keep going as long as production costs stay manageable and the audience holds, which this one appears to do.

The IMDb rating of 7.9 is solid for the genre, though the season 11 average of 7.5 against a prior-season average of 7.8 reflects a gentle but real decline in episode-level satisfaction. That kind of slow erosion is worth watching, but it is not alarming at this stage. What is notably positive is the search interest sitting at maximum (100/100) with a rising trend, alongside rising Wikipedia pageviews, which together suggest this season generated genuine audience curiosity rather than the slow fade you see in shows heading toward cancellation. Trakt active watchers at just over 7,100 with steady momentum reinforce that there is a stable, engaged base.

What is The Brokenwood Mysteries about?

The Brokenwood Mysteries invites viewers into the deceptively tranquil world of a small New Zealand country town where violent death has an uncanny habit of turning up alongside church fetes, wine festivals, and amateur theatrical productions. Detective Inspector Mike Shepherd, a rumpled, country-music-loving outsider transferred from the city, discovers that rural charm is thin cover for simmering feuds, buried secrets, and the full range of human weakness. The central hook is an old and reliable one — the cozy mystery — but the show earns its audience by grounding its murders in a community that feels genuinely lived-in, with recurring townspeople who accumulate history across seasons and give each new case a sense of real stakes.

The tone sits comfortably in the tradition of the Sunday-evening crime drama: warm without being saccharine, gently humorous without undermining the gravity of death. Neill Rea's Shepherd is a quietly eccentric protagonist whose offbeat passions and unhurried manner make him an engaging foil to the more methodical sensibility of his partner DC Kristin Sims, played by Fern Sutherland. The New Zealand landscape itself functions almost as a character, lending the series a visual distinctiveness that separates it from its British counterparts in the genre. The show is unhurried in the best sense, trusting its setting and characters rather than relying on procedural urgency.

Audiences have responded with consistent warmth over more than a decade on air, and the series has built a loyal following well beyond New Zealand through international distribution. Its IMDb score reflects a dedicated fanbase that appreciates craftsmanship and character over spectacle. Critics have generally noted it as a reliable, well-made entry in the cozy crime tradition rather than a genre reinventor, but longevity at this scale speaks to genuine quality and viewer affection that flashier shows rarely sustain.

Within its genre, The Brokenwood Mysteries occupies the same comfortable space as Doc Martin or Midsomer Murders — shows built around a distinctive place and a personality-driven detective whose idiosyncrasies are as much the draw as the puzzle itself. Reaching twelve seasons and sixty episodes is a rare achievement for any drama, and the show's cultural footprint in New Zealand is considerable, having helped establish that local production can anchor the kind of enduring, internationally exportable crime series long associated with British television. It stands as one of the more durable achievements of New Zealand's screen industry.

Themes

new zealandwhodunit"country western" soundtrack

Is The Brokenwood Mysteries renewed or cancelled?

Working toward renewal

high

12 seasons without cancellation on TVNZ 1 indicates strong institutional support

high

Season 12 aired as recently as May 2026, meaning the show is actively in production with no gap concerns

medium

Search interest at 100/100 with a rising trend signals current audience engagement

low

Wikipedia pageview trend rising alongside the latest season

low

Trakt active watchers steady at 7,130, showing no audience bleed-off

Working against it

medium

Episode ratings falling within Season 11 (7.5 vs 7.8 prior season), with a declining trajectory across rated episodes

medium

No formal renewal announcement despite the season having just concluded

The Brokenwood Mysteries Season 13 Release Date

There is no confirmed renewal announcement yet, so any release timing for a Season 13 is speculative. Historically the show has operated on a roughly annual production cycle, with new seasons airing in the New Zealand spring or autumn window. If a renewal is confirmed in late 2026, a Season 13 premiere in mid-to-late 2027 on TVNZ 1 would fit the pattern. International distribution through Acorn TV and similar platforms has typically followed several months after the New Zealand premiere. Without a formal greenlight, even that rough timeline is uncertain.

Best & worst episodes

The Brokenwood Mysteries seasons

Season 12014 · 4 ep
  • 1. Blood and Water2014-09-28 · ★ 7.4
  • 2. Sour Grapes2014-10-05 · ★ 7.6
  • 3. Playing the Lie2014-10-12 · ★ 7.5
  • 4. Hunting the Stag2014-10-19 · ★ 7.5
Season 22015 · 4 ep
  • 1. Leather & Lace2015-09-27 · ★ 7.4
  • 2. Case Six: To Die or Not To Die2015-10-04 · ★ 7.3
  • 3. Catch of the Day2015-10-11 · ★ 7.4
  • 4. Blood Pink2015-10-18 · ★ 7.4
Season 32016 · 4 ep
  • 1. The Black Widower2016-10-30 · ★ 7.5
  • 2. Over Her Dead Body2016-11-06 · ★ 7.6
  • 3. The Killing Machine2016-11-13 · ★ 7.3
  • 4. A Merry Bloody Christmas2016-11-20 · ★ 7.6
Season 42017 · 4 ep
  • 1. Fall From Grace2017-10-29 · ★ 7.6
  • 2. Stone Cold Dead2017-11-05 · ★ 7.6
  • 3. The Scarecrow2017-11-12 · ★ 7.7
  • 4. As If Nothing Had Happened2017-11-19 · ★ 7.6
Season 52018 · 4 ep
  • 1. Scared To Death2018-10-28 · ★ 7.4
  • 2. Bride Not To Be2018-11-04 · ★ 7.6
  • 3. Tontine2018-11-11 · ★ 7.4
  • 4. The Dark Angel2018-11-18 · ★ 7.5
Season 62019 · 4 ep
  • 1. The Power of Steam2019-11-10 · ★ 7.5
  • 2. A Real Page Turner2019-11-17 · ★ 7.9
  • 3. Dead Men Don't Shoot Ducks2019-11-24 · ★ 7.8
  • 4. Dead and Buried2019-12-01 · ★ 7.7
Season 72021 · 6 ep
  • 1. The Garotte and the Vinklebraun2021-03-29 · ★ 7.5
  • 2. The Witches of Brokenwood2021-04-05 · ★ 7.5
  • 3. Dog Day Morning2021-04-12 · ★ 7.7
  • 4. Something Nasty at the Market2021-04-19 · ★ 7.5
  • 5. Exposed to the Light2021-04-26 · ★ 7.5
  • 6. Here's to You, Mrs. Robinson2021-05-03 · ★ 7.5
Season 82022 · 6 ep
  • 1. From the Cradle to the Grave2022-07-01 · ★ 7.6
  • 2. Death 'n' Bass2022-07-04 · ★ 7.6
  • 3. Spark to a Flame2022-07-11 · ★ 7.6
  • 4. Three Coins in a Fountain2022-07-18 · ★ 7.6
  • 5. Good as Gold2022-07-25 · ★ 7.8
  • 6. Four Fires and a Funeral2022-08-01 · ★ 7.6
Season 92023 · 6 ep
  • 1. Brokenwood: The Musical2023-04-10 · ★ 7.4
  • 2. Old Blood Money2023-04-17 · ★ 7.6
  • 3. Nun of the Above2023-04-24 · ★ 7.6
  • 4. Going to the Dogs2023-05-01 · ★ 7.7
  • 5. Shot of Love2023-05-08 · ★ 7.6
  • 6. Motorcycle Mamas2023-05-15 · ★ 7.6
Season 102024 · 6 ep
  • 1. Brokenwood-o-saurus2024-04-29 · ★ 7.4
  • 2. Day of the Dead2024-05-06 · ★ 7.7
  • 3. Publish or Be Damned2024-05-13 · ★ 7.5
  • 4. Love You to Death2024-05-20 · ★ 7.7
  • 5. House of Screams2024-05-27 · ★ 7.6
  • 6. Three Gold Leaves of Jesus2024-06-03 · ★ 7.5
Season 112025 · 6 ep
  • 1. The Ghost in You2025-04-21 · ★ 7.3
  • 2. Sudden Death Round2025-04-28 · ★ 7.4
  • 3. All Hallows Eve2025-05-05 · ★ 7.7
  • 4. How the Other Half Dies2025-05-12 · ★ 7.7
  • 5. The End of the Line2025-05-19 · ★ 7.4
  • 6. An Oades to Christmas2025-05-26 · ★ 7.6
Season 122026 · 6 ep
  • 1. They're Out There Alright2026-04-06
  • 2. Angels and Demons2026-04-13
  • 3. Midnight in the Garden2026-04-20
  • 4. No Return Ticket2026-04-27
  • 5. Death Has Four Strings2026-05-04
  • 6. Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend2026-05-11

The Brokenwood Mysteries trailer

The Brokenwood Mysteries cast

View all cast →
Neill Rea

Neill Rea

DI Mike Shepherd

Fern Sutherland

Fern Sutherland

DC Kristin Sims

Cristina Șerban-Ionda

Cristina Șerban-Ionda

Dr. Gina Kadinsky

Where to watch The Brokenwood Mysteries

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AI Verdict

Likely Renewed72%low confidence
72%renewal
renewal probability
Verdict history72% → 72%
May 16May 28

The Brokenwood Mysteries just aired its 12th season in May 2026, and with no cancellation news in sight after 12 years on TVNZ 1, the default assumption is continuation. The falling episode ratings within the season are a mild concern, but the show's longevity and strong search interest suggest it remains a reliable property for the network.

Live signals

7.1K watching on Traktsteady

Interest rising

Verdict updated 1 month ago

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    Frequently asked

    When does The Brokenwood Mysteries Season 13 come out?
    The Brokenwood Mysteries Season 13 doesn't have an official release date yet. Based on the roughly 12-month gap between previous seasons, expect it around April 2027.
    Is The Brokenwood Mysteries renewed or cancelled?
    The Brokenwood Mysteries just aired its 12th season in May 2026, and with no cancellation news in sight after 12 years on TVNZ 1, the default assumption is continuation. The falling episode ratings within the season are a mild concern, but the show's longevity and strong search interest suggest it remains a reliable property for the network.
    How many seasons of The Brokenwood Mysteries are there?
    The Brokenwood Mysteries has aired 12 seasons so far.
    How many episodes of The Brokenwood Mysteries are there?
    There are 60 episodes of The Brokenwood Mysteries across 12 seasons.
    Where can I watch The Brokenwood Mysteries?
    The Brokenwood Mysteries is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, Acorn TV, AcornTV Amazon Channel, Spectrum On Demand, Acorn TV Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Thirteen, WETA+, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies.
    What is The Brokenwood Mysteries's IMDb rating?
    The Brokenwood Mysteries holds an IMDb rating of 7.9/10 from 9,644 votes.