The quaint but deadly town of Brokenwood is back for its eleventh season of murder, mayhem, and dry Kiwi humor. Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Shepherd (Neill Rea) and his team return to tackle their most baffling cases yet, from a killing at a competitive cheese-rolling festival to a murder during a historical reenactment gone terribly wrong. With its signature blend of quirky characters, stunning New Zealand landscapes, and clever whodunit plots, The Brokenwood Mysteries continues to be a standout in the cozy crime genre. This season promises deeper character arcs, including Kristin Sims’ (Fern Sutherland) potential promotion and Gina Kadinsky’s (Cristina Serban Ionda) growing confidence as a detective.

Season 11 introduces fresh faces to Brokenwood’s eccentric community while bringing back fan-favorite locals like the ever-scheming Dennis Buchanan (Shane Cortese). The writing remains sharp as ever, balancing laugh-out-loud moments with genuine suspense, all set against the show’s trademark backdrop of vineyards, sheep farms, and deceptively peaceful small-town life. Longtime viewers will appreciate callbacks to earlier seasons, while new fans can easily jump into the charming chaos of New Zealand’s murder capital.

Full Cast of The Brokenwood Mysteries Season 11

1: Neill Rea as Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Shepherd

Neill Rea slips back effortlessly into the role of Mike Shepherd, the vinyl-loving detective whose unorthodox methods and encyclopedic music knowledge continue to solve Brokenwood’s most perplexing crimes. This season delves deeper into Mike’s personal life, with hints of a possible romantic interest that could disrupt his comfortable bachelor routine. Rea’s knack for deadpan delivery shines in scenes where Mike patiently endures the town’s eccentric residents while subtly guiding investigations.

A standout episode features Mike going undercover as a folk festival organizer, requiring Rea to showcase surprisingly competent mandolin skills. The actor also gets to explore more emotional range when a case unexpectedly connects to his character’s past, revealing why this cynical detective first fell in love with police work.

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2: Fern Sutherland as Detective Kristin Sims

Fern Sutherland’s Kristin Sims faces her biggest professional challenge yet as she considers a promotion that could take her away from Brokenwood. Sutherland beautifully portrays Kristin’s internal conflict—her ambition versus her loyalty to Mike and their effective partnership. The actress worked with real female detectives to prepare for scenes where Kristin mentors Gina, showing how much her character has grown since Season 1.

This season features a powerful two-parter where Kristin takes lead on a case involving a missing Māori artifact, allowing Sutherland to incorporate more of her own cultural heritage into the role. Her chemistry with Rea remains the show’s backbone, particularly in their silent “thinking looks” exchanged during interrogations.

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3: Cristina Serban Ionda as Gina Kadinsky

Cristina Serban Ionda’s Gina comes into her own this season, transitioning from comic relief to a genuinely skilled investigator. The Romanian-born actress gets to showcase Gina’s developing intuition and forensic knowledge, while still delivering the character’s signature malapropisms (“It’s like finding a noodle in a haystack!”). Ionda trained with actual CSIs to make Gina’s evidence collection more authentic.

A standout episode puts Gina in the spotlight when her language skills prove crucial in solving a murder at a European cultural festival. Her evolving friendship with Daniel (Jarod Rawiri) provides heartwarming moments amidst the carnage.

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4: Karl Willetts as Frodo Oades

Karl Willetts remains Brokenwood’s most lovable rogue as Frodo, the mechanic/informant with a finger in every pie. This season reveals surprising depths to the character when he’s briefly suspected in a murder—forcing Willetts to balance Frodo’s usual comic timing with genuine pathos. The actor improvised many of Frodo’s best lines, including an unforgettable rant about “sheep politics.”

A subplot involving Frodo’s estranged daughter allows Willetts to show new emotional range, particularly in a scene where he fixes a car while quietly crying—a moment that will change how viewers see the character forever.

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5: Jarod Rawiri as D.C. Daniel Chalmers

Jarod Rawiri’s Daniel continues to be the team’s moral compass, with this season exploring his Māori heritage more deeply through a case involving tribal land disputes. Rawiri helped shape these storylines, ensuring authentic representation of te ao Māori perspectives in policing. His character faces ethical dilemmas when police procedure clashes with cultural protocols.

Rawiri gets his first major action sequence in a thrilling episode where Daniel chases a suspect through geothermal pools, showcasing the actor’s physicality. His quiet romance with a local schoolteacher adds sweet moments between investigations.

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Returning Favorites:

6: Shane Cortese as Dennis Buchanan: The shady entrepreneur gets tangled in a murder at his latest venture—a zombie-themed escape room.

7: Colin Moy as Hughes: The pathologist’s dark humor reaches new heights during a Halloween episode.

8: Tracy Lee Gray & Jason Hoyte as the Neilsons: Their struggling vineyard becomes a crime scene (again).

9: Phil Peleton as Neil Bloom: The journalist’s return sparks tension with Mike over press freedom.