Held over a super sprint distance (500m swim, 16km bike, 4.2km run), racing was hectic and the pace was high throughout, but Samuels led from start to finish.
The women raced first, in warm and bright conditions, and Samuels emerged from the water with only Rebecca Clarke for company.
Clarke could not sustain the early pace of the Wanaka-based triathlete and quickly it became a time trial for the world No 14, on the tight and technical Takapuna course.
''It is always a good hit out at Takapuna. It is a great chance to replicate what we get on a world series course and practise at home in our own conditions,'' Samuels said.
''It was really good to have a hard bike and hard run, and well done to the other girls who just managed to stay in front of me on that final lap.''
Samuels was referring to a group of mainly under-19 and under-23 triathletes who were riding for their lives, knowing that under ITU conditions, to be lapped would mean they were out of the race.
Samuels said she was pleased to perform so well in a shorter race.
''Speed is something I struggle with, so it is in my programme most of the time. I haven't done huge mileage this summer, training under Jon Brown. It is a bit different to what I would normally have done so I am learning heaps from that.
''For this early in the season, with a month of decent training, this is really good to feel this way already and build on this for the rest of the season.''
Ryan Sissons had plenty of company on the bike before stamping his class on the run leg to demolish the men's field over the opening kilometre.
A group of eight stayed together throughout the bike before Sissons put his foot down on the run.
''I had a good swim and came out first on the bike and thought I would give it a go on the first lap,'' Sissons said.
''But the group behind were pretty determined and it would have been hard to stay away for the whole race so we settled into the bunch and worked pretty well together. There were a couple of breaks attempted but I made sure it stayed together.''
Cameron Goldsmid (Wellington) showed his liking for the course and the distance with a strong second place. Former national schools champion Michael Peree was third.
