Breaking Silence - Series Two

In this second season of web series Breaking Silence ,presenter, abuse survivor and author Simonne Butler meets ordinary New Zealanders who share deeply personal stories of pain and hope. Since the Covid-19 crisis, rates of domestic abuse in Aotearoa have soared. This season focuses on the many faces of control in intimate and family relationships, and how worrying signs and behaviour are often ignored or minimised. The eight episodes explore issues including cyber-talking, coercive control, breaking cycles of generational family abuse and how beloved family pets can get caught up in the cycle of violence. For more details, check out the episode guide.

On average, New Zealand police attend to a family violence incident every five and a half minutes. 

– Narrator Truda Chadwick, in episode one

Key Cast & Crew

Simonne Butler

Presenter, Interviewer

Sjaak Te Brake

Cinematographer

Daniel Habedank

Composer, Online Editor

Paul Oremland

Director, Editor

Juanita Edwards

Producer

Truda Chadwick

Narrator