Paris has eyes for a Kiwi bloke

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THAT'S HOT: A1 Grand Prix driver Matt Halliday of New Zealand with his wife Jessica Meisels and Paris Hilton. Meisels says The Simple Life star has been dying to come to New Zealand 'to look for a nice Kiwi boy'.

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Mothers, lock up your sons. Not only might Paris Hilton be coming to New Zealand, she is apparently on the lookout for a Kiwi bloke.

One of the hotel heiress's closest friends, Jessica Meisels, told The Press in Queenstown yesterday that Hilton wanted to accompany her on this latest New Zealand jaunt.

"She's definitely dying to come down to look for a nice Kiwi boy," said Meisels, who has known The Simple Life star since she was 14 and threw her 21st birthday bash.

Meisels has already snaffled her own Kiwi bloke, motor racing's Matt Halliday, of A1 grand prix series fame.

The timing of Hilton's visit seems perfect for any Kiwi blokes keen on dating the celebrity socialite – a self-imposed one-year ban on sexual activity expired in July.

A little hint, though, for potential suitors – she is not into one-night stands.

"I think it's gross when you just give it up," she said in one interview this year.

Halliday has turned chauffeur for a couple of days as he ferries around his girlfriend and Sopranos star Jamie-Lynne Sigler, a surprise judge for this week's 42 Below Cocktail World Cup in Queenstown.

A relaxed-looking Sigler said she was thrilled to be in New Zealand. "I'll be doing as much as I can – it's a long way from home."

Meisels and Halliday were brought together by 42 Below vodka. The company sponsors Halliday's racing career and is promoted by Meisel's public relations company, Fingerprint Communications.

The pair hit it off at a Champ Car World Series event in Las Vegas this year and now share a house in Malibu, California.

"I can't say enough about my wonderful girl," Halliday said yesterday.

A fierce competitor on the track, Halliday spurred New Zealand to second place in the latest A1 series. His foray into America's Champ Car World Series was a "disaster", however.

He said the team was not up to scratch and the series was plagued with financial problems.

His early exit allowed him some unexpected free time after a year of living out of a suitcase, racing 35 weekends and flying more than 400,000km around the world.

Since then, Halliday's face has been seen more at celebrity parties than on racetracks in the past few months.

He has also become friends with Hilton. He taught her how to surf and she bought him a birthday cake.

"She's a great person," he said. "It's a pleasure hanging out with her."

- © Fairfax NZ News