Kerewin is an independently wealthy, asexual artist of mixed Maori and European descent. Following a bitter estrangement from her family, she lives in self-imposed exile in a coastal tower she built herself. She currently struggles with a severe creative block and deliberately avoids human contact. Her carefully maintained isolation ends abruptly when she discovers an injured, mute child hiding in her home.

Joseph is a Maori factory worker living with intense grief following the deaths of his wife and infant son. He works long hours and frequently turns to alcohol to cope with an empty house and persistent loneliness. As the adoptive father of a traumatized boy, he is fiercely dedicated to the child but battles volatile anger and deep frustration regarding his own disciplinary methods.

Simon is a young, fair-haired boy who survived a shipwreck and washed ashore three years prior. He remains entirely mute due to severe past trauma, choosing to communicate through gestures, written notes, and occasional destructive outbursts. Despite his petty vandalism and schoolyard fights, he possesses a deep sensitivity to the natural world and a desperate need for affection.

Hana is the deceased wife of Joseph. Before dying of influenza alongside their biological infant son, she served as a compassionate, anchoring force in her household. She was the primary advocate who insisted her husband take in and raise the mysterious injured child they found on the beach.

Piri is a Maori family man who helps manage a local farm. He serves as an essential part of the extended support network for his widowed cousin. Though he tries to help raise his adopted nephew, he frequently disagrees with the boy's wild behavior and the strict disciplinary methods used at home.

Lynn is married to Piri and operates within the extended local Maori family network. She recently returned to her husband, bringing their children back home. She pays close attention to neighborhood gossip and worries about the overall welfare of the children in her extended family.

Binny is an elderly man living in the town who is widely known by the community to have predatory tendencies toward young boys. He lives alone in poor conditions and uses small amounts of cash to exploit vulnerable youth.

Luce is a member of the local Maori extended family. He functions as eyes and ears within the community, making sure parents know when their children are wandering into unsafe situations or associating with known predators.

Marama is an elderly woman in the extended Maori family network. She acts as a voice of traditional family loyalty, frequently defending the actions of parents and prioritizing the unity of the household above external criticism or intervention.

The Kaumatua is a wise, elderly Maori man who lives entirely alone in an isolated wilderness hut. Bound by a prophecy made long ago by his grandmother, he guards a secret location tied to the deep history and spirit of the land.