Bachelor returns to chill out at family's Martinborough pad

Arthur Green, The Bachelor (top right), with his family outside Martinborough Hotel - stepmother Sarah Green, dad Mark Green, the owner of the hotel, Holly Green, 12, and Abby Green, 10.

When it comes to romance, Arthur Green says he hasn't really done dates.

It's quite a remark, considering he's very good at it.

Green is TV3's The Bachelor, a tall, paleo-diet muscled hunk who grew up on a farm near Pirinoa, in the spotlight for another four episodes as four remaining women compete to win his heart. But for his interview with the Times-Age, he is a hometown Kiwi boy, come home to chill out with his family in Martinborough, plus indulge in a laddish party with his mates. I expect a private interview in father Mark Green's establishment, the Martinborough Hotel, but instead I get waved over to a crowded table at the Village Cafe, where Arthur, Mark, stepmum Sarah and his sisters, Abby and Holly, are waiting.

Green tells me he grew up on a farm near Pirinoa, catching the bus for school in bare feet every morning with his older sister. Moving to Wellington and going to Northland School meant getting used to shoes, but it also meant establishing some lifelong mates, including one for whom Arthur organised an elaborate party at the weekend.

I ask: how much of the planning of dates on The Bachelor is down to him?

"Most of the things were my idea," he says. "I have never really done dates, as such. I just have adventures."

Adventures and opportunities inspire Green but he had not sought out the show. The chance to go on The Bachelor was "completely random".

"My flatmate, she randomly got this email. It was a day we were interviewing for this flat, and she had been emailed by someone from the production company asking, 'do you know anyone that fits this criteria?'"

His flatmates said they would put Green forward. "I said, yeah, cool. Do it."

Green was contacted, went through three interviews and a five-hour psych assessment.

He also had to do lots of jogging along a beach, talking to camera about his feelings, "which doesn't come naturally to me - to most Kiwi guys". He "ummed and ahhed" when offered the role.

"By the time I started to question the decision to do it, it was too late. I was driving to the mansion to meet 21 girls."

Any advice for dating? "Just finding something that I know they [the date] are going to like ... Food was key, he said. "Everyone loves good food. If diamonds impress them, it's not the girl for me."