Challenge the Silence

‘Hold on to what they are, not what the abuse makes them’

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT: Fiona knew there was good in her husband Paul. But she had to endure years of his anger and verbal bashings, as he tried to deal with being sexually violated as a boy.

‘I don’t know what love is’: Sexually abused at 3, then again in state care

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT:Jacob was put into state care as a way to be kept safe. But instead, he was sexually violated by another boy also in state care.

The secret locals knew: ‘Do you want to bring some friends along?’

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT:Paul's mother had died when a man offered to help his father out. The man had cool space invader games and slot car sets. But he also sexually molested Paul.

A 50-year secret: 'He ripped all my innocence away'

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT: John was a young teenager excited he could bike into town on his own. But while he was at the bank, a 'friendly and well-spoken' man asked him for directions. By the end of the evening, John's innocence was 'ripped away'.

A life lived in fear: Drug addict at age 6, alcoholic at 7

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT:The flashbacks are what sends Jack into a spiral. The memories of rape as a five-year-old.

'We have failed to protect our children'

NZ's sexual trauma story: 'We have failed to protect our children'

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT: Why did 10 men sit down and tell their harrowing story of sexual trauma to our cameras? Because they all thought they were the only one. But they want others to know that they are not alone.

Boarding school brutality: ‘They used a broom handle on me’

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT: Jim was a 'bit different' in a boys boarding school. He liked to read books not play rugby. Two boys decided to 'haul' him. And his life changed after that.

'We're stuck with their sh*t'

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT: Jason thought his babysitter was 'cool'. But he turned out to be the start of a series of 'predators' who sexually violated him. He spiralled into drugs, went to jail and was then injured in the Christchurch earthquake.

Raped by a woman: They ask 'why didn't I like it'

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT: Josh remembers yelling over and over for her to stop. But she didn't. He has to deal with people asking 'how a 6 foot 3 guy could be raped' or 'why I didn't like it'.