WHO AM I - My name isn’t Emma Richardson

But that's the name I use to stay safe while I fight to change a system that has failed me—and thousands of others—for far too long. I'm a New Zealand mother. A daughter. A granddaughter. A friend. I'm also a domestic violence survivor who has spent six years navigating a system that was supposed to protect me but instead became another form of abuse.

The system isn't broken for just me. It's broken for all of us.

And while I never wanted to become an advocate—I wanted to be a survivor who moved on in safety—I've realized I'm not fortunate enough to have that option yet.

The Broken System Diaries is where I document my experiences navigating New Zealand's family violence system and my fight to petition for meaningful change. Through sharing my story, I hope to expose the failures, demand accountability, and create a pathway to reform that protects survivors instead of enabling abusers.