For Shavaughn Ruakere, slipping back into scrubs on the set of the highly anticipated Māori drama series Tangata Pai felt like taking a familiar step back in time.
“With my scrubs and lanyard on, I was like, ‘Oh, this is so Shorty,’” laughs Shavaughn, 47, remembering her years on Shortland Street as nurse Roimata.
But the similarities end there. This time, Shavaughn isn’t striding into Ferndale’s favourite hospital. Instead, she’s back in her hometown of Taranaki, playing Hinewai Smith, the head emergency department nurse in a story that is proudly Māori.
Returning home to Taranaki
“To be asked to be part of something filmed in my home town was amazing,” shares Shavaughn, whose iwi is Taranaki and Te Atiawa.
“We see so much of the beautiful East Coast and the stunning South Island, but I haven’t really seen Taranaki on screen much, except when Tom Cruise shot The Last Samurai here and our maunga was Mt Fuji. “Any time I go home, when I get that first glimpse of the maunga, it’s like taking a big breath. And now, seeing him on screen, it’s glorious.”
Stepping into Hinewai’s shoes wasn’t just another role for Shavaughn. It was also a personal journey that saw her remember her late dad, Dr Tony Ruakere, and reflect on the women who have inspired her. As well as her own ongoing journey of language reclamation.
“My dad was Māori and my mum Pākehā,” she tells.
“Growing up, we didn’t feel like we were really part of that world. We’d go to the marae sometimes, but also sometimes feel a bit scared and sit in the car.”
Honouring her father’s legacy
The youngest of four children, Shavaughn distinctly remembers when her dad decided in his seventies to learn te reo Māori. Something his generation faced physical punishment for at school.
“That was taken away from him as a kid and he wanted to explore that as a fulla in his seventies,” she explains.
“He would meet with his kaumātua [elder] mates and Mum would make scones. They’d sit around with a cup of tea, eat baking and chew the fat.”
Shavaughn herself took the plunge during Covid, signing up for a year of language learning at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
“I definitely found it challenging,” she admits.
“It’s scary but the environment is very supportive and everyone messes up – you’re supposed to. You have those feelings because you want to get it right.”
Honouring a mentor Rena Owen
It also gave her the chance to honour a treasured mentor, legendary actor Rena Owen. When she was tasked with delivering a speech in te reo Māori about a famous person.
“I got to know Rena when I was living in Los Angeles a few years ago. She took me under her wing.”
Laughing, Shavaughn recounts how over Skype, due to Covid restrictions, she portrayed Rena’s impressive career for her classmates with a creative selection of her costumes.
“She did a guest role on Shorty, so I had a Halloween doctor’s coat and stethoscope, then to the music from Once Were Warriors, I ripped off the doctor’s coat and had this animal print, vintage, total Beth Heke dress with a plunging neckline – it was one she had actually given to me.”
Regret and growth in Te Reo
More seriously, she admits there’s regret she hasn’t continued studying the language since then. Especially as 30 percent of the dialogue in Tangata Pai is in te reo Māori.
“Being a part of this show, I’m kicking myself that I didn’t keep going because it would have been so incredibly helpful to me,” says Shavaughn.
“I would say my whole experience with te reo in this show has felt like a healthy amount of terrifying.”
While determined to keep learning in the future. She’s also comforted that her portrayal of Hinewai reflects the reality for many.
“My character wasn’t supposed to be fluent and I think that’s good to show because it’s realistic. People are all at different stages of learning and reclamation, and not all fluent and there’s nothing wrong with that either – it’s the experience of so many of our people.”
Sharing the screen with whānau
Now Shavaughn can’t wait to sit alongside her whānau. Many of whom have speaking or background talent roles, when the first episode airs.
“I sent the trailer to the family Facebook thread saying, ‘Featuring me and assorted cuzzies – see who you can spot!’” she enthuses.
“I can’t wait to see my cousins’ faces when they see themselves on screen for the first time ever, and my family when they see landmarks around New Plymouth and Taranaki.”
Taangata Pai screens Tuesdays, at 8.30pm on Three and streams on ThreeNow.
