Bachelor finally speaks out on split

Jordan Mauger.

The Bachelor NZ star Jordan Mauger has broken his silence on why he dumped contestant and Hawke's Bay woman Fleur Verhoeven just 72 hours after she was named the show's winner.

Jordan said in a statement yesterday morning: "Fleur is a remarkable woman. There is no doubt about that. What I have struggled with is interpreting my feelings from the show to the real world.

"For the last seven weeks, Fleur and myself shared concerns and doubts over that time. Hoping that feelings would reignite again. With contributing factors like distance, media, remaining episodes, secrecy, it made it very difficult.

"After a long absence and only seeing her for the first time on stage, I knew something was amiss.

"After an exhausting schedule of media commitments and the dust settled, I knew I was being dishonest to Fleur and myself.

"It is only fair Fleur is with someone who can give her the best and give her the commitment and love she deserves."

Jordan said Fleur's "talents and caring nature" would put her in a "great position for anything she decides to do".

"She will always have my full support and I care for her greatly."

Fleur made the shock announcement that Jordan had ended their relationship in an interview on TV3 on Wednesday night. She said Jordan had delivered the devastating news while visiting her at her Auckland hotel room.

Speaking exclusively to NZH Focus yesterday, she said it had been "a crazy last 48 hours, really".

"It still feels like an out-of-body experience. It's really overwhelming. I'm taking it a minute at a time," she said.

The 26-year-old, who wasn't wearing the $26,000 commitment ring Jordan gave her in the show's finale, has been avoiding social media since news of their split broke on Wednesday.

However, Fleur said she had been overwhelmed by people's support.

"It's really nice to hear all the amazing words, all the nice things everyone's saying.

"To be honest, I haven't read most of it. I've kind of stayed away from social media and everything for the last 24 hours.

"The odd thing I have heard and the little messages here and there from friends and even strangers have been really amazing."

As for Jordan, she had little to say on the subject, other than: "I respect his honesty and honestly I just wish him all the best."

Earlier this week, Fleur revealed she was planning to move to Auckland to be closer to Jordan. Now she says she simply wants to get home to Hawke's Bay.