The Bachelor trailing in the ratings

Arthur Green, the star of The Bachelor NZ

The Bachelor New Zealand isn't quite smelling of roses.

The reality match-making show has got off to a weak start in the ratings with its first two episodes averaging 218,000 viewers and coming fourth and fifth in the Tuesday and Wednesday's top five prime-time shows.

It appears a majority of network telly viewers would prefer to watch cops on the beat and consumer rip-offs than see 21 Kiwi women vying for the affections of Arthur Green.

The Bachelor NZ's debut episode on Tuesday attracted 231,970 viewers according to Nielsen viewing figures while last night's fell to 205,100.

The same 7.30pm-8.30pm time slots were won on Tuesday by TV2's Motorway Patrol (with 430,960) and Random Breath Testing (392,960) and third was TV One's family renovation show Our First Home (315,840).

On Wednesday evening the time slot was dominated by Fair Go on One (592,530) and Rapid Response (498,870) with The Bachelor NZ coming in fifth most-watched show post-7.30pm with its 205,100 fans.

Meanwhile, TV3's The X Factor NZ ratings have been boosted by this week's sacking of judges Willy Moon and Natalia Kills.

The show's ratings lifted from 255,900 on its Sunday night episode to 438,320 for the first show after the couple's dramatic departure.

- nzherald.co.nz