Shavaughn Ruakere

Shavaughn Ruakere is a New Zealand actress and television presenter. She is known for her roles as presenter on the children's TV show What Now and for playing the role of Roimata Ngatai on the prime-time soap opera Shortland Street.

Early life and education Shavaughn Ruakere was born in Hāwera, but lived in Ōpunake until her family moved to New Plymouth when she was eight years old.

She attended university in Auckland before relocating to Christchurch for a television presenter role on What Now.

Career Ruakere started out as a presenter for popular children's television shows such as What Now in New Zealand in the late nineties and later on ITV''' s SMTV Live in 2003. From 2011 to 2014, Ruakere played the character of Roimata Ngatai on Shortland Street, her most notable television role to date. In 2018, Ruakere was a contestant on Dancing with the Stars. She and dancing partner Enrique Johns made it to the grand final, where they were first of the four teams to be eliminated. In 2022, she became the host of New Zealand's edition of FBoy Island''. Personal life Ruakere is a New Zealander of Māori descent (Te Āti Awa and Taranaki descent). Ruakere was in a committed relationship with Clark Gayford before they split and he went on to date and eventually marry NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2005 River Queen Maori Tribal Chief's Wife 2006 Sione's Wedding Dream Latifah 1 2006 Discount Taxi Driver Robin Slade Short film 2009 The Warning Rihanna Short film

Television