NZ Bachelorette with Samoan connections...

It's been interesting to read the media information and watch the first couple of programs for the first NZ Bachelorette, who is a 32-year-old doctor, that debuted this week. My initial interest was the tag that the Bachelorette had Samoan connections i.e. her dad being Samoan/German married to a prominent Auckland Uni lecturer who researches Pasifika topics. In the program, that's where it ends.

However, as the program continued I've started losing interest as although she has Samoan roots and background, the publicity franchise wheels continue to turn with more spotlight on the guys' antics, with spins and controversy to keep the viewers' interest at bay with no connections to culture.

I wish her the best in finding love from that group of guys and it's interesting to see what USA would term 'women of color' putting themselves out there (whether you agree or not) and the comments that the European or Western men say about her.

It's definitely something that doesn't sit well with me i.e. objectifying women through this type of program with some of the comments that are spoken, expectations etc. but at the same time it comes with the territory of accepting the rules of engagement for this program.

Predictably, towards the end, there'll be a lot of heartbreak (for those who don't get a rose and want one), tears shed as she makes heart-wrenching decisions about the 'one/s' to keep with twists and turns along the way as the producers and camera people see fit to film and edit.

But that's the problem with 'reality TV' in that it's really carefully edited TV programming that spins a particular view and story about real people, making real decisions that have cause and affect on others i.e. those with power and those who are powerless. I just hope it's worth it, for her, in the end...