Love in a cold climate

A Stewart Island local's quest to get single women to come to the island seems to have gained momentum after a plea in the Southland Times newspaper.

Doug Beck said the shortage of women on the island was so bad a lot of blokes couldn't even be bothered going to the pub.

"There can be easily 20 guys to two or three women. And they're taken anyway."

However, the weekend proved to be a feeding frenzy of sorts for the single males on the island, as Invercargill women and tourists saw the story and headed south in search of romance.

Mr Beck hosted a party on Saturday night, and while love for him proved elusive, the future for the island's males was looking up.

He was even taking the idea of a singles ball on the island a bit more seriously because of the feedback he had got.

While it could be similar to the well-known Middlemarch ball, Mr Beck reckoned Stewart Island had a bit more to offer in the way of scenery and things to do.

"You go to Middlemarch and all you see are haybales and farmers."

The ball may attract a few men as well, with a few women on the island still available.

- NZPA