Bachelor Arthur Green is eyeing a life in the Bay, looking at potential houses and considering a business move.
"I can imagine myself living in Tauranga," Green told his mother Cate Hlavac last weekend, during a visit to the Bay.
Hlavac already lives here with property developer husband David Williams.Arthur came without Matilda Rice, who on Wednesday night became the inaugural winner of The Bachelor NZ "because I told him it would be too risky to be seen together ... my neighbours are huge Bachelor fans", said Hlavac.
With filming for the show ending in March, Arthur and Matilda have had to keep their relationship under wraps.
They have been meeting up in Hlavac's brother's Titirangi house and recently spent a secret Bay weekend together, pottering around in Hlavac's Welcome Bay home, "hanging out" by the pool and tennis court. They even risked a trip to the local supermarket.
"I told him that was naughty, even though Matilda stayed in the car."
With the couple due to visit the Bay again in two weeks, could a move here be more permanent?
"He has been saving the deposit for a house ... and is nearly there. We have had conversations about him buying here ... possibly in the Mount or Papamoa and initially renting it out. It would definitely be more affordable here than Auckland."
Hlavac, who works for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, said her son and his Clean Paleo business partners had been eyeing the Bay for a while.
"I put them in touch with Priority One.
"David and I have pointed out how fabulous Tauranga is for business - you have the port and the processing space.
"The boys have thought about it since last year, when Clean Paleo exhibited at a food show here."
Cate Hlavac, mother of The Bachelor NZ, Arthur Green, has told her son Tauranga is fabulous for business. Photo / Ruth Keber
Would Matilda be happy to move to Tauranga?
"I would say so, who wouldn't?"
Hlavac viewed the shows at the same time as the public and found it hard to watch her son kissing.
She "didn't warm" to Alysha but liked Chrystal - "she was upfront and said her mind".
Hlavac said her son had found it hard and "confusing" to choose between Matilda and finalist Dani Robinson. Wednesday's episode showed the pair being grilled by Hlavac.
"I came across a little bit scary but I am not ... In real life, if Art brought a girl home, I am not going to ask if she wants his babies the first time I meet her ... it's not reality, but on the other hand she could be a potential daughter-in-law," she said.
