Vainu'u "Vinnie" Kruse-Miller (previously Kruse) is a fictional character from the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street, played by Pua Magasiva.

Usually involved in comedic relief, Vinnie also participated in several melodramatic story lines such as the high-profile affair with his good friend Tama Hudson's (David Wikaira-Paul) girlfriend Shannon Te Ngaru (Amber Curreen).

Magasiva quit the role in 2006 and the character was written out when he accidentally impregnated tourist girlfriend – Jemima Hampton (Liesha Ward Knox).

The character was well received and remains known as a heart throb, with Magasiva beating out his brother Robbie for "Hottest Male" in the TV Guide Best on the Box Awards 2012.

Pua Magasiva had previously auditioned successfully for the guest role of Elvis Iosefa, the cousin of established character Louie in 1999.

[2] Storyliner Victor Roger helped shape the character and named him 'Vainu'u "Vinnie"' after a family member of his, aiming to accurately portray Pacific culture.

[5] In reality, Magasiva's resignation brought on the large cast overhaul, which was an attempt by producers to represent a culturally proportional society after the exit of the shows only Pacific Islander.

[11] Director of Nursing Judy Brownlee (Donogh Rees) hired Vinnie at the hospital in late 2003 and he instantly frustrated his colleagues with his party boy ways.

Vinnie started an affair with good friend Tama's (David Wikaira-Paul) girlfriend Shannon Te Ngaru (Amber Curreen) which collapsed shortly after the two went public.

He fell deeply in love with Tania Jeffries (Faye Smythe) but the presence of Mark Weston (Tim Foley) drove the two apart and Vinnie moved on to backpacker Jemima Hampton (Liesha Ward Knox).

Being promoted to charge nurse, Vinnie began to feel the pressure and work and following the unexpected death of a patient, he resigned to become a paramedic.

However Vinnie soon grew on the idea of fatherhood and opted to reconcile with Jemima and move to her home country in the United Kingdom to raise the child.

Quickly building a close friendship with fellow nurse Nicole (Sally Martin), Vinnie revealed he had lost custody of his son following a separation from Jemima.

Vinnie soon started to date Brooke Freeman (Beth Allen) but her manipulative ways led him to dump her for a brief relationship with her sister Bree (Rachel Blampied).

Following Nicole's recovery from postnatal depression, she proposed and the couple were married by Vinnie's cousin Maxwell Avia (Robbie Magasiva) acting as celebrant.

Raising two children alongside the business put financial strain on the couple, leading Nicole to cheat with new nurse Ruby Flores (JJ Fong).

Eventually reconciling, the family were hit with more difficult news when Pele was diagnosed with Type I diabetes and Michael's departure to live with Jemima in Singapore.

Despite the tempting offer and a potential romance, Vinnie opted to stay in Ferndale with Nicole for family reasons but a continued bitterness remained.

Despite pleading with Nicole to move over with Pele, she remained in Ferndale and Vinnie chose to end the marriage via video call and stay permanently in Singapore.

[12] Vinnie loves to party and is a hit with women, even making moves on lesbian flatmate Maia Jeffries (Anna Jullienne).

[15] In 2004, Vinnie begins an affair with the girlfriend of his good friend Tama Hudson (David Wikaira-Paul), Shannon Te Ngaru (Amber Curreen).

The romance initially was hidden; however, it soon became public, a scene Wikaira-Paul enjoyed, "The most memorable thing for me this year was when Tama found out that Shannon was playing on him.

"[17] However, following the arrest of Tama's uncle Victor Kahu (Calvin Tuteao) and their checkered past together, Vinnie is suspicious as to whether Shannon loves him back.

[16] The arrival of Jemima Hampton (Liesha Ward Knox) in mid-2005 proved a new start for Vinnie who was struggling to withstand a relationship after his affair with Shannon Te Ngaru (Amber Curreen).

[26] A scene where Vinnie dreamt of his cousin's ex-wife, Vasa Levi (Teuila Blakely) making sexual moves on him, was named as one of the top moments of the 2012 season.