Heartbroken Hunter moving home to NZ

Rachel Hunter is planning to move back to New Zealand to deal with the shock of her broken engagement to Jarret Stoll. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Former Auckland model Rachel Hunter is planning to leave Los Angeles and move back to New Zealand to deal with the shock of her broken engagement.

Her manager, Andy Haden has said she is still recovering from the sudden split and will leave the US in a bid to help deal with her grief.

Hunter, aged 39, and best-known as Rod Stewart's former wife, was due to marry Canadian ice hockey star Jarret Stoll, 27, in California in August. He proposed to her in New Zealand in August last year.

But the athlete called off the wedding last month, apparently without giving his bride-to-be any explanation.

Stoll, recently traded from the Edmonton Oilers, sent a mass e-mail to her and the guests that he didn't feel like going through with the ceremony, according to the Toronto Sun.

Britain's Daily Mail reported Stoll was said by friends to have become "majorly freaked" at the prospect that Hunter will turn 40 in September.

Haden told the newspaper: "She will come back...for a wee while. She is licking her wounds".

"She is well, she is getting through it."

Hunter, and her children by Stewart, Liam, 14, and Renee, 17, live together in Los Angeles. She formally divorced Stewart in 2006, 16 years after marrying him, and seven years after splitting up with him.

She became engaged to Stoll last year after dating him for two years.

The New Zealander has dabbled in American films and television, including The Drew Carey Show, Dancing With The Stars and Suddenly Susan, but said in 2007 she wanted to launch a business in New Zealand and expand her swimsuit brand, Lola.

"I love being home and they always welcome me with open arms," she said at the time.

- NZPA