• Inka Makkonen - Professor of Gender Studies at the University of South Auckland
• Maria - Inka's former partner
• Aroha McLean - The Acting Dean of Arts at the University of South Auckland
• The President of Ambrosia University, Hartford, Connecticut
• Vinnie - Aroha McLean’s research assistant

Aroha's house

• Kuini - Aroha's mother
• Hemi - Aroha's elder son, age 30
• Ngauhia - Aroha's daughter, age 28
• Roimata - Ngahuia's daughter, age 7
• Mikaere - Aroha's younger son, age 22
• Moana - kapahaka teacher, Hemi's girlfriend
• Tane Paraone (Mr. Brown) - the great Dane

Inka's building

• Marion - social psychology lecturer, Inka's office mate

• Carolyn - English lecturer, Inka's office mate

  • Derek - Carolyn's husband, police detective
  • Adam - Carolyn's son, age 16
  • Kylie - Carolyn's daughter, age 8

• Vijay - IT support

• Eric - IT support

Other university employees

• McDuff - Media Studies lecturer
• Sammy Becker-Lau - of Sammy's pie stall
• The Vice-Chancellor of the University of South Auckland
• The Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of South Auckland
• The Chaplain of the University of South Auckland
• Sione Latu - Chancellor of the University of South Auckland
• Beryl - the Chancellor's personal assistant

Students

• Jason - student in Inka's graduate class
• Matilda - student in Inka's graduate class

The bad guys

• Zoltan - KGB figure from Inka's past
• Mr. Fawkes - lawyer supplied by Zoltan for Inka

Police etc.

• Hope Wilson - Auckland Police detective
• Maria Johnson - NZ intelligence operative and graduate student
• Dave Smithers - Auckland Police detective

Satan's Whores

• Erika - lead guitarist and lead singer
• Inka - second guitarist and back-up vocalist
• Lotta - bass guitarist
• Hanna - drummer
• Jemma - keyboard player, from Boston