The Diary: How the Bachelor kept his relationship secret

Newly hooked up Art Green talks lady love Matilda Rice and his Big Brother-type crowded living arrangements

The Bachelor Art Green and Matilda Rice.

They have been dating in secret for two months, catching private, intimate moments together at relatives' boltholes.
But now Bachelor Art Green tells The Diary he's "looking forward to having a normal relationship" with winning Bachelorette Matilda Rice.

However, she's not invited on his overseas holiday later this month.
Rice, who works as a MediaWorks sales executive - the company which broadcast The Bachelor NZ - had her first public date with Art last night.
"I'm popping around to her house after work and we'll go out for dinner," Green said yesterday. "It will be nice not to have that pressure any more to keep our relationship secret. We've been looking forward to this for two months!"
The pair have been secretly dating since filming for the show finished eight weeks ago. Strict confidentiality contracts prevented them from telling anybody.
"We haven't had a chance to go out in public yet. We couldn't be seen together. We've been catching rare moments in secret. We couldn't tell anyone. Not even my flatmates knew," Green said.
"It's been hard keeping the relationship completely private. We've gone to such stealth lengths.
"I went to her flat once. But I had to come around when no one was home and leave at 5.30 in the morning.

Matilda Rice won the heart of Art Green in last night's final of The Bachelor.

"We used my grandad's apartment in the city for a few nights, and my uncle's place in Titirangi. We used Matilda's parents' boat too and stayed on that."
Green understands the secrecy was necessary to keep fans tuned into the show and to the final outcome. Wednesday's finale reached a huge audience of 429,540 viewers.
"It was fun, in part, having a secret relationship but it is frustrating too because you want to be able to do normal things," he said.
"It was only when the show stopped filming that we were able to talk about real things, things that we're interested in but that may be perceived as boring on TV.
"On the show we had to talk about dating and romance, stuff that was pertinent to the show."
Green says he is pleased with the way the show has been received, but was circumspect at first.
"I was reluctant to take part at the beginning because the overseas versions of The Bachelor have been so cringey." He hopes to keep in touch with the other contestants.
"I keep in contact with some of the girls. But we really haven't been encouraged to develop friendships. Now that the show is over, though, I hope I can keep in touch with all of them, and be friends in a normal scenario."
Green, who co-owns a health food company, says his eight flatmates, with whom he watched the final episode, are pleased he chose Rice. "None of them knew who I'd chosen. They're all looking forward to meeting Maddy now."
As for the gaudy ring he presented Rice with in place of a final rose, Green says she still has it.
"No she hasn't pawned it," he laughs at the suggestion Rice went straight to Cash Converters. "She's still wearing it. You could buy a car with it."
Expensive but garish? Green tries diplomacy. "Ummmm, it's nice. I have to say that."
Michael Hill was the show's premier sponsor. The jewellery company is understood to have spent between $300,000-$500,000 to be aligned with the programme, insiders tell The Diary.
As for Green, he has no immediate plans for more time in the limelight. He's travelling overseas to a friend's wedding this month, but Rice won't be tagging along.
"No, I'll be single." Not for long. May his romance blossom.