Lovelorn Kiwis snap up Brits

Marilynna Burton, left, and Susan Doak. Photo / Jason Dorday

Sometimes finding a good man means going the extra mile. Or in Marilynna Burton's case, 11,000 miles - from New Zealand to England - in search of eligible bachelors.

The 58-year-old visited Lincolnshire in England last month to round up divorced and widowed men to meet her and 11 single friends.

She placed an ad in a local paper reading: "Wanted, 12 Lincolnshire Men," and soon radio stations and the BBC were reporting her quest.

"It surprised and delighted me because everybody thought it was a marvellous idea," said Burton, from the Hibiscus Coast, north of Auckland.

Several men signed up to make the trip to New Zealand in September.

"It really snowballed," Burton said. "I met them all and they had a lot of interesting questions about what Kiwi women are like. I said to them, 'it's not Thai brides or Russian wives'."

The international manhunt began when Burton decided to hold introduction evenings for over-50s on the Hibiscus Coast, but couldn't find enough men. Flyers in pubs and hardware shops attracted some interest, but many - like the trio of bachelors whose golf tournament ran late - didn't show up.

And Burton, who was born in England but moved to New Zealand with her Kiwi husband when she was 19, said British blokes are better at the dating game.

"New Zealand males generally are more hesitant to accept that they're lonely and do something about it. In an English country pub, if you're standing or sitting on your own, somebody will come and speak to you."

Burton said she hadn't expected to remain single so long after her divorce 18 years ago. She tried a dating agency, but found there were few men in her age group whose interests matched hers. When she raised it with the company, the response was: What do you expect at your age?

Burton's friend and fellow single Susan Doak, 56, said it's tough for older women to meet people, and both were looking forward to the English invasion.

"I think a little bit of Marilynna's enthusiasm has rubbed off on me ..."

Dating expert Denise Corlett, from www.datingadvice.co.nz, said she "takes her hat off" to Burton. "I get a lot of women in the 50-plus age group saying they have the same challenges."

But Wellington relationship expert Rosie Bowie urged caution.

"How many people in their 50s are going to uproot themselves and come out to New Zealand? Good on her for doing it, but I'd hate her to have her hopes too high."

Bowie said she saw more women in their 50s looking for a relationship than men. Her advice was to stay positive and "seek out opportunities to find someone in a safe way".

Are you are a single man interested in meeting Marilynna and her friends? Email heather.mccracken@heraldonsunday.co.nz and we'll pass on your details.