Huia Samuels

Huia Samuels
Shortland Street character
Portrayed by	Nicola Kawana
Duration	2005–06
First appearance	24 March 2005
Last appearance	11 October 2006
Classification	Former; regular
Introduced by	Harriet Crampton
In-universe information Other names Huia Valentine Occupation Chief Executive Officer of Shortland Street Hosptial (2006) Business Manager Personal Assistant Mother Kuini Samuels Grandmothers Mareikura Samuels Uncles Wiremu Samuels Mitch Samuels Aunts Liz Arthur Dottie Samuels Miri Samuels Nephews Tane Samuels Wiremu Potae Nieces Esther Samuels First cousins TK Samuels

Huia Samuels is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street who was portrayed by Nicola Kawana from early 2005 to late 2006. Initially a recurring character, she soon joined the core cast before being axed and killed off in a high-profile terrorism storyline.

Huia arrived in March 2005 to replace Nick Harrison as Business Manager and begin a review of the hospital's departments. Following the departure of Andrew Solomon she became the chief executive officer of hospital. She then embarked on a high-profile love triangle storyline when she started a relationship with Craig Valentine (Renato Bartolomei), pitting her against his unrequited love – Sarah Potts (Amanda Billing). Her relationship with Craig led to a motherlike relationship with his teenage daughter Scarlett (Nicole Thomson) and it was not long before the family unit expanded with the arrival of Huia's cousin TK (Benjamin Mitchell). Huia's final storyline saw her breakup with Craig, only to become pregnant after a one-night stand and end up dying after entering a car rigged with an explosive.

Huia was a well received character and her death quickly became iconic amongst the soap's fanbase and critics. Her introduction marked the start of the prominent Samuels family.