Jordan Mauger, former star of The Bachelor NZ, says the franchise is managed much better in the United States than here.

Mauger, who recently returned from a stint on international hit Bachelor In Paradise - a Love Island-esque spin off from The Bachelor and The Bachelorette - describes the handling of Three's second series of The Bachelor NZ as "incredibly irresponsible."

"I'm disgusted with the way they treated me and the girls."

He says the level of support on offer during the filming of the US series was much more comprehensive.

"The lead up, background checks and testing before and after were amazing. You have to meet with a psychologist for an hour before you go in, in the testing and interview process. Then they're on call anytime during the show, then you have a session with them afterwards. It's responsible."

TVNZ Mauger pictured in Mexico during the show's filming.

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A spokesperson from MediaWorks said, "we have responded to Jordan Mauger's untrue allegations multiple times over the last three years and we have nothing further to add".

Mauger first rose to notoriety following season two of The Bachelor NZ when he broke things off with Fleur Verhoeven 72 hours after the show's finale. He later admitted during an interview with The Spinoff's Real Pod podcast that he flipped a coin to decide which woman he would choose as winner.

SUPPLIED Jordan Mauger pictured at a rose ceremony in Paradise.

Mauger returned to the franchise last year to represent New Zealand in the Bachelor In Paradise: Winter Games, where he walked away empty handed.

With three Bachelor-style series now under his belt, the reality TV star and assistant director understands the somewhat formulaic nature of the show, and contestants' underlying motives inside out..

"Even for me on the show you start to think, are they genuinely falling for each other, or are they genuinely wanting to be successful so they can reap the benefits?"

"In America you can make big money if you're a villain, a gimmick or a success. There are definitely things you can do."

He admits "there definitely is manipulation on the show" but says the producers in the US tended to give contestants "more free range."

Mediaworks Jordan Mauger says MediaWorks were hoping for another 'fairytale' after Art and Matilda's success on the show.

"They give you offers or suggestions and go, you should talk to her or you should go do this. They don't force you to do it, they give you offers. If you're someone who is of a weaker mind or a yes person, you'll go do it, 'Yes I'll go burn this photo in the fire'.

"[Then] You're a sucker, you're just taking their cues."

In retrospect, Mauger can see the damage The Bachelor NZ did to his reputation, but says he did grow from it.

"My intention has always been to have it as an adventure and not as my legacy. The uncertainties and miscommunication post-the New Zealand show, I'll probably never shake, which is very unfortunate, but I learned so much during that time."

After a brief period dating fellow Bachelor In Paradise cast member Jacqueline Trumbull, Mauger says he's now "seeing where things go" with an unnamed woman.

"She works in the industry I work in and she's from overseas. We're just figuring out how it's going to work. She's talked about moving to New Zealand, but I know we're going to have to do the long distance thing for a while which is very testing.."

If things don't work out, Mauger says he'd "never say never" to returning to Mexico for another crack at Paradise.

"The way I look at it is it's like going on holiday and meeting someone on holiday. When you meet someone on holiday it's not real life… when you go back to the real world you have to see how it works, especially if you find someone from overseas."

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