BLOSSOMING: The Bachelor winner Fleur Verhoeven has been linked to award-winning Hawke's Bay photographer Richard Wood. PHOTO/FILE
Hawke's Bay's favourite bachelorette may be off the market again.
Fleur Verhoeven is seeing local photographer Richard Wood, according to a Woman's Day story released yesterday.
Ms Verhoeven, 26, told Woman's Day it was "early days" and they were "not official".
"But it's looking good. I definitely want to see where this is going."
It's understood there's a 10-year age gap between the two.
The pair are both award-winning photographers and members of the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography (NZIPP).
They recently worked together on an shoot at annual Wellington photography event InFocus.
However, they have known each other since 2011.
The fiery shoot involved Mr Wood transforming her into Phoenix Rising, complete with flames, smoke and wind.
Mr Wood live-streamed and photographed Ms Verhoeven throughout the transformation, and has been described as incredibly talented and creative by colleagues.
The Havelock North man has won numerous awards, including the 2016 New Zealand Grand Master of the Year.
The couple have artistic talent in common, with Ms Verhoeven holding two gold NZIPP Iris Professional Photography awards.
Ms Verhoeven won this year's series of The Bachelor, and was the short lived girlfriend of the show's bachelor, Jordan Mauger.
Yesterday she declined to comment to Hawke's Bay Today on her new relationship, but she did answer Mr Wood's phone when contacted.
Fans have taken to a Woman's Day Facebook post to declare their approval of the new pairing.
Jade Gibson and Nicole Godkin both commented that the celebrity "deserves happiness".
Vanessa Alexander tagged Mary Wood and said she was "totally all for this romance to blossom".
Liz McBride told Ms Verhoeven to "forget that rat Jordan".
Regan Ellison said it was 'definitely' the best fish he has caught in New Zealand.