The number may be considered unlucky for some, but a 13-year age gap doesn't appear to have stopped Rod Stewart's ex-wife Rachel Hunter getting engaged to her Canadian toyboy.

The supermodel, 39 next month, was sporting a diamond engagement ring while visiting her hometown of Auckland this week with her ice hockey player beau Jarret Stoll.

A friend of Miss Hunter said the holiday in New Zealand - 26-year-old Mr Stoll's first visit to meet Miss Hunter's mother Janeen --was to 'seal the deal'. 

Rachel Hunter arrived in Auckland sporting a huge engagement ring sparking rumours she has become engaged

Hunter met ice hockey star Jarret Stroll in 2006

'Although she's always said she was happy to go with the flow, Rachel must, like any woman with a younger man, worry whether he'll stick around,' the friend said.

'She was ridiculed for putting on weight doing her Celebrity Circus TV show and that's pretty much a new thing for her, which again will make her look for security in her relationship with Jarret.

'She plans to show him some of her favourite beaches, even though it's winter, and go for some real luxury hideaways.' 

The news of a possible engagement comes almost ten years after Miss Hunter split from 63-year-old Mr Stewart. Last year, he wed Penny Lancaster, 37, also a model, in Italy.

The two leggy blondes had a public falling out when 5ft 10in Miss Hunter took over 6ft 1in Miss Lancaster's modelling contract with lingerie firm Ultimo in 2004, accompanying her appointment with a few critical comments about her ex-husband's new love.

It is believed the spat is now over, although Miss Hunter didn't attend their wedding. 

Hunter took her 26-year-old boyfriend home to New Zealand to meet her family

Miss Hunter met Mr Stoll, who plays for the Los Angeles Kings, at an ice hockey game in 2006 and they bought a £1.8 million home in Hermosa Beach, California, last year.

They are holidaying for a week with Miss Hunter and Mr Stewart's two children, Renee, 16, and Liam, 13.

Miss Hunter has been planning this trip for a while. She has previously talked about how well Mr Stoll gets on with her children, particularly Liam, who has taken up ice hockey and joined him in a training session in New Zealand on Friday.

When their relationship started, the model said: 'The kids have no troubles with Jarret - Liam now has a first-class ice hockey coach, so he's happy.

'Obviously as a single mother you have to treat new relationships very delicately.'

It is thought the couple are also using their trip to house-hunt, visiting properties in Auckland's most exclusive suburbs, and Miss Hunter will even fit in some work - filming a TV commercial.

Asked to confirm the engagement, Miss Hunter's agent Andy Haden said: 'That may be the case. I don't think they will be talking about the wedding for a while.

'When Rachel's ready to announce she's engaged I am sure she will do it.' 

As they were: Rachel Hunter and ex-husband Rod Stewart and in 1990