Loved-up Bachelor fiances Matilda Rice and Art Green are considering a move to the Bay of Plenty.
They would be the latest in a stellar line-up of well-known New Zealanders shifting to the region.
Celebrity chef Chelsea Winter moved to the Mount at Christmas, and model and Instagrammer Anna Reeve moved here late last year with her radio star husband Jay and their Instafamous twins, the Nuggets.
Rice says the Bay lifestyle is tempting for her and Green, and, like Winter and the Reeves, sees it as a good place for families.
"We can't afford to buy in Auckland (especially because we want land) so who knows, maybe down the track when we're ready to start a family, we'll make the move."
They are already regular visitors to the Bay where Green's mother already lives and works.
"We visit every few months. If we're not down for work, then we go for walks on the beach, eat, and not much else. Whenever we have downtime, we like to relax.
Relaxing is hard with their upcoming nuptials to plan. Could that even be here? Rice is giving nothing away on location.
"We haven't even started because we are bloody useless! I promise I'm not trying to throw you off, that's the genuine truth! Hopefully in the next couple of weeks we can set aside some time get stuck in to it."
When she went on one of her first dates with her future husband in the Bay, they didn't know each other and no one knew her name.
Now Matilda Rice is a household name, one of the most popular New Zealand celebrities on social media, a sought-after guest at events, she has just published a book and has even been dubbed the New Zealand Gwyneth Paltrow.
It was the first New Zealand series of The Bachelor in 2015 where Matilda had a plane trip over the Mount with Art Green.
Now she is coming back to the Mount next month to MC one of the region's most popular social events, The Ladies' Charity Luncheon on the June 8.
All funds raised go to Mount Surf Lifesaving Club and Waipuna Hospice.
More than 800 ladies are expected to attend and Rice says she loves nothing better than a girls' get-together, something she recognises as hard to schedule in women's busy lifestyle but important.
"I am such a girls' girl! I have lots of girlfriends, some that I've been close with since high school, and some friendships formed later in life, both I treasure just as much as each other — old and new. Catching up is a little harder these days with everyone being so busy, but I try and have a potluck dinner with my girlfriends once every one or two months, but apart from that, it's coffees, lunches and walks."
Guest speakers at the lunch are actress Miriama Smith (Xena: Warrior Princess, Shortland Street, The Tribe, Filthy Rich and 800 Words) and television personality and cosmetician Suzy Heazlewood, who is going to speak out about her experience of being bullied.
It is a topic that Rice can relate to.
"I was bullied a little bit in primary school for having a weird name (I used to hate it, but now I love that I have a unique name), but I'm lucky it was only at primary school and that I had a very supportive family to help me through it."
She also admits being affected by trolling on social media.
"I get a little bit of negativity on my social media from time to time (it's far worse on the comments sections in news articles, so I make sure to avoid them altogether), and it actually does get to me. Even if the comment is unreasonable, it makes me feel like I've done something wrong, or let someone down. I know that's not the case, but I do struggle to ignore it. It's far easier said than done unfortunately."
Rice strongly relates to this year's theme of the lunch, "compassion, courage and kindness".
"Compassion, courage and kindness should be the base of humanity, but I think we could all remind ourselves to practise those qualities a little more. Being compassionate and having the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes can completely change your perspective on things. As women especially, we can be so hard on ourselves and each other, and I'm loving that women are starting to change that."
As well as a wedding to plan, Rice and Green have been busy with their business ventures. Green and Rice are both proponents of healthy eating, using their social channels to promote a paleo lifestyle.
Green has also extended his interest in healthier living into a business venture, part-owning Riot Foods, which consists of sub-brands Clean Paleo and Poppy and Olive.
Earlier this year, Rice released a self-improvement book titled the Lazy Girl's Life to Living a Beautiful Life, which offered advice on food and lifestyle choices and she has ideas brewing for a second book.
The couple have also launched a meal delivery service of paleo food, Plate Up. Rather than sending ingredients to customers in the vein of My Food Bag or Foodbox, Plate Up provides ready-made microwavable meals delivered to the front doors.
Rice says the business came about because they, like many people, want to eat healthy but live a busy lifestyle.
"Plate Up came about out of pure frustration. Art and I are really busy, but also care about what we put in to our bodies, and unfortunately being busy and health conscious is not an ideal combination, as eating healthy food does require some preparation. We found there were not many (if any) healthy takeaway options, so decided to start Plate Up. We figured there are plenty of other people out there struggling with the same problem, so our aim was to help take a bit of the pressure off."
They work with chefs on menus and are about to launch vegetarian, vegan options.
What would be a typical day for you?
• Get up about 6.30am, feed Brian and Christine (our cats).
• Make breakfast, a smoothie or some CleanPaleo breakfast cereal with coconut yoghurt.
• Usually it's an hour or two of emails, then meetings, errands or PR events during the day.
• I try and go to the gym in the afternoon or go for a jog as I find that's when I have the most energy.
• At night if we don't have an event on, then we either have netball or touch, or it's a treasured night at home to chill!
You go to many events — do you ever just want to stay home in your PJs and no makeup?
One hundred per cent yes. My favourite thing to do is nothing, but I never get to do it! I've learnt over the last few years to only say yes to the events I will genuinely enjoy myself at. They are all fun, but sometimes I just can't be arsed talking to people.
When you do go out, do you have a go to hair and makeup and outfits?
My personal style is very classic. I don't wear many bright colours, rather creams, beige, pastels, etc (some may call it boring, but I like to call it classic ha!). My go-to hair is a simple blow wave with lots of volume, and my makeup is always pretty natural, unless it's a fancy event, then I try and get glam
The Ladies' Charity Luncheon is back by popular demand encouraging women (friends, family, work colleagues or business associates) to take time out for themselves.
"As women we don't do enough for ourselves really," says event co-director Wendy Robertson. "We are always busy doing things for other people so this event is put on by women, for women, so you can spoil yourself for a day while raising money for two worthy charities."
The two charities are Waipuna Hospice and Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service.
A table of 10 costs $1350. The night includes bubbly on arrival, three course meal, entertainment, a fashion parade featuring top local fashion houses, charity auction and band.
MC-ing the event is high profile personality from The Bachelor NZ fame, Matilda Rice. Guest speakers are actress Miriama Smith (Xena: Warrior Princess, Shortland St, The Tribe, Filthy Rich and 800 Words) and television personality and cosmetician Suzy Heazlewood.
What: Ladies' Charity Luncheon
When: Friday, June 8. Doors open 11am, event starts 12pm.
Tickets: Email wendy@communityevents.co.nz or see www.eventfinda.co.nz
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