Tags: Soap Character.
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.