| Roimata Ngatai | |||||||||||||||||
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| Shortland Street character | |||||||||||||||||
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| Portrayed by | Shavaughn Ruakere | ||||||||||||||||
| Duration | 2011–2014, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||
| First appearance | 26 January 2011 | ||||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | 23 June 2023 | ||||||||||||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Steven Zanoski (2011) Oliver Driver (2023) | ||||||||||||||||
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Roimata Ngatai (previously Samuels) is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street, who was portrayed by Shavaughn Ruakere from January 2011 to January 2014. Initially introduced as a 3-month love interest for TK Samuels (Benjamin Mitchell), Ruakere's contract was extended to a regular role.
Initially pitched to be of European descent, under the suggestion of the show's Māori adviser, the character was rewritten to be a fluent Te Reo speaking Maori. Roimata arrived to the show in early 2011 as part of a double act with fellow new character, Jill Kingsbury (Natalie Medlock). Used as a focal point for the TK and Sarah Potts (Amanda Billing) love triangle, the 2011 Winter Season climaxed with TK's and Roimata aborted wedding. Roimata's following story lines saw her support her criminal father, become a victim of sexual assault, end her marriage after having an affair with Josh Gallagher (Chris Tempest), and ultimately die as the result of an explosion in the 2013 Christmas cliffhanger.
The character of Roimata was praised alongside Ruakere's acting. The 2012 sexual assault storyline was also singled out by many reviewers as not only a highlight of the show's 20th year, but also a true and emotionally stimulating storyline.