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).

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.

[7] As the characters 6-month duration came to an end, producers acknowledged their enjoyment of Ruakere's portrayal and the extent of story lines it opened up; they subsequently extended her contract to a regular role.

[3] In April 2013, producers offered Ruakere a 1-year renewal to her contract, to which she declined in favor of moving overseas to find work.

"[10] Roimata arrived to Shortland Street in early 2011 as a temporary bureau nurse and quickly caught the attention of ED doctor, TK Samuels (Benjamin Mitchell).

After Roimata's initial refusal, the two began to date but the shock return of TK's pregnant estranged wife Sarah (Amanda Billing), lead to the couple hastily becoming engaged.

TK ended up ditching Roimata on the wedding day but the following week, the two married in an unofficial ceremony on the Bay of Islands.

The couple decided to try for a baby, but following Roimata's birthday party, she was sexually assaulted in a dark alleyway and then continuously harassed in her own home.

Josh Gallagher (Chris Tempest) supported her through the ordeal and helped unmask Zac Smith (Mike Edward) as the culprit.

[citation needed] The couple struggled to work alongside each other in the Emergency Department and Roimata found herself at odds with doctor, Josh Gallagher (Chris Tempest).

[citation needed] Following her sexual assault, Roimata began to exclude herself from TK and Mitchell speculated the marriage was at risk.

[citation needed] Ruakere explained that the sexual assault left the couple at odds, "They are two people lost in the middle of the ocean, splashing around, trying desperately to find each other and make sense of stuff and it's not working.

[22] "I guess the first thing I thought was, 'What an incredible challenge and a big deal for Shorty to tackle such a storyline', being a family show and on at 7pm ... it also felt like a huge responsibility for me and I wanted to do it justice."

[23] Sexual assault storylines had previously occurred in Shortland Street (such as the rape of Minnie Crozier (Katrina Devine) in 1998), but Ruakere felt Roimata's was portrayed with "the most depth needed".

[26][27] To further the illusion that it was not Zac, directors shot the assault scene with Chris Tempest (Josh Gallagher) actually physically carrying it out, whilst Sam Bunkall (Boyd Rolleston) added the voice over.

[27] However, on 12 December 2012, Zac was revealed to the audience as the attacker when he threatened Detective Lisa Stone (Caitlin Bossley) and later removed a balaclava to expose his face.

[30] Further harassments included the assailant breaking into the house and sprawling out Roimata's underwear and later leaving a white feather on the doorstep.

"[34] In 2013, Ruakere was nominated for "Best Actress" in the TV Guide Best on the Box Awards following her portrayal of Roimata throughout the sexual assault storyline.