Beth is a 34-year-old mother of six living in the state-housed neighborhood of Pine Block. She manages her household on a tight budget using half of her husband's unemployment money. Caught in a cycle of poverty and severe domestic abuse, she frequently numbs her physical and emotional pain with alcohol. Deep down, she harbors a desire for her community to reclaim its lost cultural identity and pride.

Jake is a physically imposing, newly unemployed laborer who relies on the government dole. He spends most of his time and money at McClutchy's bar, where he acts as the undisputed king of the patrons. He possesses a volatile temper and immense muscular strength, readily using his fists to solve any perceived slight. Beneath his aggressive exterior, he hides deep insecurities regarding his social standing and ancestry.

Grace is the 13-year-old daughter of Beth and Jake. Highly observant and naturally curious, she questions the severe limitations placed upon the Māori community in Pine Block. She acts as a surrogate mother to her younger siblings during their parents' drunken parties and often escapes the chaos of her home by wandering the neighborhood at night.

Nig is a physically strong young man who inherits his father's muscular build but actively seeks a different path to respect. Lacking a stable family environment, he searches for structure and loyalty by pursuing membership in the Brown Fist street gang. He distances himself from his parents' home while trying to conform to the brutal expectations of gang life.

Boogie is the sensitive, easily frightened second son of the Heke family. His gentle nature draws the contempt of his father and makes him a target for bullies in the neighborhood. Without reliable adult guidance, he easily falls into trouble and is quickly absorbed by the state welfare system.

Te Tupaea is the paramount chief of Beth's clan. Though he looks like an ordinary man, he commands immense respect through his deep knowledge of Māori language, history, and customs. He serves as an educator and spiritual leader for those willing to learn about their roots.

Jimmy is the imposing leader of the Brown Fist, a local street gang. He maintains control through violence and intimidation, utilizing his gang members as enforcers and illegal repossession agents. He preys on displaced youths by offering them the structure of a gang instead of a real family.

Mavis is a talented singer whose voice temporarily unites the fractured patrons of the local bar. She holds a deep connection to traditional music and hymns, bringing moments of cultural pride to spaces otherwise defined by despair.

Toot is a teenager abandoned by his parents, forcing him to live inside the rusted car wrecks of Pine Block. He survives on the margins of the neighborhood and often numbs his difficult reality by sniffing glue.

Mr. Trambert is a wealthy Pākeha (white) man whose large, secure estate borders the impoverished Pine Block neighborhood. His affluent lifestyle obviously contrasts with the poverty of the Māori characters, though he carries his own quiet grief over losing a daughter.

Mr. Bennett is a state welfare officer tasked with handling youth cases in the justice system. He attempts to guide vulnerable children like Boogie through the bureaucratic and institutional challenges of Two Lakes.

Polly is one of the younger daughters in the Heke family. Faced with constant domestic chaos, she retreats inward, relying almost entirely on her blonde doll, Sweetie, for maternal comfort and emotional security.

Hatua is the youngest child of Jake and Beth Heke. Highly sensitive to the screaming and violence that plague his home, he depends heavily on his older sister Grace to protect him.

Abe is one of the middle Heke siblings. He survives the turbulent environment of his home by keeping his distance, carrying a quiet resentment toward his mother for the family's living conditions.

Cody is a vulnerable, displaced street child roaming the parks of Two Lakes. Using his sharp survival instincts, he cautiously evaluates adults in the area before interacting with them for food or shelter.