Aoteaoroa - Land of Long Lasting Romance - Press Release 13/02/08
Love Warrant of Fitness Priceless Valentine’s Gift
13 February 2008
Press Release: Murray Bassett
Couples wanting something more meaningful than flowers or chocolates this Valentine’s can opt for a Relationship Warrant
of Fitness from internet based Kiwi ‘Love Doctor’ Rate Your Mate™ launched today on www.rateyourmate.co.nz.
Brainchild of Auckland Psychologist, Dr. Carla Houkamau, Rate Your Mate™ asks users to score their partner on 25
features to get a frank, personalised prescription for relationship bliss – all in ten minutes.
Houkamau describes Rate Your Mate™ as a ‘structured analysis’ of a range of relationship aspects including personality,
communication, sex, attraction and financial compatibility. She agrees the ten minute time frame may sound ambitious
given the complexities of modern romance but observes “It’s fast because it focuses on essentials. There’s hundreds of
books, sites and studies on love. Not everyone wants to pour over them - that’s my job. I’ve done it – now I just want
to tell people what’s good, bad, what to keep and what to change in the simplest way possible.”
She says her motivation for the site simple. “Divorce rates creep up yearly in New Zealand. I’m not going to sit back
and watch people unhappy in love when I know from experience they don’t have to be.”
Houkamau, 35, Lectures at Auckland University on Gender and Diversity and admits there is an element of ‘science’ in
what she offers. She encourages people to visit the website before forming any ideas and emphasises it differs from
others because it is comprehensive, gender neutral and research based. “Plus we focus on helping relationships improve
not just getting couples to judge each other. I don’t know any other places you can get all the information we offer for
less than the price of a good magazine. Plus, we’re here 24/7 - what kind of friend would help you solve your
relationship issues at three in the morning?”
Aotearoa – land of long lasting love? I ask. “I love that” she says “It would be if I had my way!”
ENDS