KEY POINTS:
Young, gorgeous, successful - and single. For Christine Kitching, 24, Auckland's "man drought," is not a vague concept, but a reality.
The high-flying Air New Zealand Fashion Week administrator told the Herald on Sunday single men were hard to find in the City of Sails - "they're either gay or married."
Unfortunately, the remaining bachelor pool presented what Kitching denounced as a "very limited selection".
Successful and ambitious Kiwi women looking for a love match were hard-pressed to find "manly men" said Kitching.
"It's a running joke among my single friends, the man-drought."
One of the main problems with available men she'd met was that they were easily "intimidated" by strong, career-driven women.
"I don't put up with crap," she said. "But the men in Auckland are too soft. They are all so 'emo'.
"I haven't yet found a really rugged man who is not going to spend more time in the bathroom than I do, or use my hair straighteners."
Originally from South Africa, Kitching has been single for two years now - by choice - she is careful to point out.
Auckland's lack of potential partners even had her contemplating a move to Sydney earlier this year - as she figured more people must equal more chance of finding a good man suited to her "rugged" tastes.
"Girls think about that sort of stuff - we want to be somewhere where we're more likely to meet a life partner."
She conceded she might well be better off moving to somewhere such as the Mackenzie country to find her ideal "strong" man.
"If you go down South, the boys are a lot more rugged. I will probably end up marrying a farmer."
