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

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. Her acting career began with minor roles in the films River Queen and Sione's Wedding. 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. 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.