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Families are widely recognised as among the most influential contributors to the environments experienced by young people as they mature. This paper brings together two independent studies–one quantitative, one qualitative–conducted concurrently within the same districts of urban Auckland in Aotearoa New Zealand. Survey data and life-story accounts are used to create a composite representation of the complexity and richness of the young participants’ experiences. The importance of parents, siblings and more distant relations is discussed in terms of sample trends and case experience. The implications of the findings for health promotion, positive youth development and social equity are considered, with the conclusion that families remain a crucial site for interventions to enhance the wellbeing of young people.