James/Powell Family Wanted Down Under

Raising your first child can be hard at the best of times

but it is even tougher when one parent is hardly ever at home.

So how far would you go to get the time together you were dreaming of?

For one young family,

it could mean a move to the other side of the world.

Long hours toiling on a farm

means dad Josh hardly has any time with son Cai.

And mum Sian has had enough.

He will go and stand at the front door

and he will shout for his daddy.

That really upsets me.

Desperate to bring her family together,

she thinks New Zealand could be the answer.

We need to be working less and living more.

But when a trial week reveals some home truths

about starting again on the other side of the world...

A bit of a shoe box, isn't it?

Our garden is nothing special at all

but we have got five times the size of this.

We can't move to the other side of the world and buy a mansion.

Will Sian ever be able to persuade Josh to give her

the life she dreams of?

One half saying, we just stay in Wales

and the other half saying, flee the nest.

I want to move, but I don't think you're going to let me.

Just over 1,200 miles southeast of Australia,

New Zealand is made up of two main islands.

Boasting mountains, glaciers, volcanoes and beaches,

it's been a magnet for British immigrants ever since the 1800s.

Back then, the journey took over 100 days, but now it is a lot faster

for the 9,000 families who make the move each year

looking for a more relaxed pace of life.

Sian James is desperate for more time together with partner Josh

and the couple's young son, Cai.

And even though she has never been before

she believes New Zealand could be the answer.

But will the country live up to Sian's expectations?

And will she be able to persuade Josh

to leave behind everything they have in the UK?

Ahead is a week that will see them decide where their future lies

once and for all.

After making their way from Wales to London

the family fly 12,000 miles to Auckland.

It is the first time they have been to New Zealand

and after 26 and a half hours in the air

the journey has taken them by surprise.

I don't think it is as easy as I thought to actually get here.

So, it's... Yeah, it has hit home that it is really far.

Travelling with a one-year-old child

didn't make the flight go any quicker.

It has been quite testing.

Er, but...you know, I expect that from a youngster,

travelling all that distance.

-He did fall asleep every takeoff and every landing.

-Yeah.

Yeah, he did make a few friends on the trip, didn't he?

So, after the long trip to get here

how does Sian feel to finally be in New Zealand?

It doesn't feel real at the moment.

I think I need to, you know, see it and live as if we were living here.

It will be her one shot at persuading Josh to move.

Now we will be able to answer the questions that we have been asking.

So hopefully now, they will be the right answers.

As they set out to explore Auckland

there is no doubt the next week will make or break Sian's Kiwi dream.

Back in the UK, Josh Powell and Sian James live

with their one-year-old son, Cai, in the Welsh village of Pen-y-Groes.

It is a scenic setting

but Josh's job on his dad's farm is putting the family under pressure.

Waking up with the cockerels every morning and working

until the cows go home at night means

he has precious little time with his partner and son.

When I wake up, Josh is gone.

I get Cai ready, I drop him off and I go to work.

And then I pick him up and it's just putting him to bed

and just waiting for you to come home.

And then Josh is tired because he has been working 13, 14 hours

so we have food together and then you fall asleep.

-SHE LAUGHS

-Yeah!

With farming a seven-days-a-week occupation,

there is no respite come the weekend, either,

meaning Josh spends Saturdays

and Sundays in the field rather than at home.

It is tough, but, you know, the only thing that keeps me going is knowing

that I am keeping a roof over his head and putting food on the table.

Also working full-time

Sian knows Josh isn't just making hay while the sun shines,

but worries about Cai seeing so little of his dad.

He'll go and stand at the front door and he'll shout for his daddy.

That really upsets me

because I can see that Cai is wanting that relationship with his dad

but the hours of his work doesn't allow for that.

All the hours spent apart

means Josh is missing out on little moments as Cai grows up.

He learns a lot of animal noises and then he will do one to me

out of the blue and I realise that he has been doing it for a while

but just because I haven't been around, I haven't seen.

I can see the disappointment on Josh's face then.

You know, it's just... it's just not nice.

And it's not just Cai that is being affected.

We are only young

but we don't have time together, really, just you and me,

-going out somewhere, together.

-No.

Desperate for a normal family life and despite never having been,

Sian believes the answer could lie in New Zealand.

Although I love Wales, I don't feel that it's where I want to settle.

And that work/life balance is vitally important

and they seem to have it sussed, out there.

And I just want that.

But Josh isn't convinced.

Though he'd love more time at home too

he believes Sian's head's firmly in the clouds.

She needs to realise it's not going to be just fun and games.

You have to work as well, out in New Zealand, to earn a living.

You can have all the time in the world, but if you can't sustain your

house and your family, then, you know, you're on a downward spiral.

For him, moving would mean leaving the village

he's always called home.

I've always been in Pen-y-Groes.

I've got a lot of friends in the area and family.

We are all a close-knit community around here.

And having to break the bond

Cai's already building with his grandparents.

My mother looks after him two days a week.

-I think she's...

-She loves him.

-She loves the time, just her and Cai.

-They love each other.

So I think it'll be a lot... It will be a big hole to need to fill in.

While Sian's prepared to sacrifice the relationship

she has for the sake of her young family's future,

she fears leaving loved ones could prove too much for Josh.

I do feel guilty.

And I know for sure, Josh's mother is going to be heartbroken

to be away from Cai, because...

they've got a fantastic bond. They love each other.

So, that is going to be one of the hardest things.

But fed up feeling like a single parent

she knows action is needed if her family are to be together.

I don't think while staying where we are, or even in Wales...

I don't think it's going to change because Josh is always going to want

to help his father because, you know, that's completely natural.

The week ahead will see the couple decide once and for all

where their future lies.

I don't think he sees that moving to the other side of the world is...

..you know, is something he needs to do to get that, whereas, I do.

SHE LAUGHS

-Is grass always greener over the other side?

-Yeah.

That's the big question.

To see if New Zealand can offer the family the time together

she wants, Sian, Josh and Cai are visiting Auckland,

the country's largest city.

Their temporary base is an apartment in Swanson,

a village just over 30 minutes' drive from the city's centre.

Close to amenities but removed from hustle and bustle, the area should

be a home from home and from the outside, Sian likes what she sees.

I really like it. It is really pretty.

Inside, her enthusiasm continues.

-It's nice and spacious, isn't it?

-Yeah.

Oh, wow. That is gorgeous.

But what does Josh have to say?

Bit small, I'd say.

But, er, no, it is a practical space.

Mmm, a man of few words.

Could you see us here?

-Here?

-With that view.

-Er, no, not in this house.

-SHE LAUGHS

OK, I'll work on you, then.

With a bed for Cai sorted, he gets some sleep, while mum

and dad check out the garden and Josh finally speaks his mind.

What do you think?

It's all right, isn't it?

It's more of an old people's home.

Low maintenance type thing, isn't it?

I quite like low maintenance.

-Low maintenance it is.

-SHE LAUGHS

Ouch, that's low, Josh!

As the couple settle in

Sian's already feeling anxious about what lies ahead.

This week is the make-or-break week, you know?

We either fall in love with it and do it or it will never be a reality.

Convincing Josh to up sticks and start again won't be easy.

Mainly because of the work and the money.

I don't see the point of moving all the way across the world

if you're not going to be better off than what you are back in the UK.

Sian knows she may have to fight for her dream

but hopes the coming week will give Josh the answers he wants.

I genuinely believe that if there was a job with less hours

and decent pay that Josh would be sold

because I think he would love living here if we could afford to do so.

She may be right, but for now,

Josh remains cautious about where his family's future lies.

Unless...pretty much every box is ticked with me

I will be choosing the UK.

Back in Wales, the family's first home is a two-bedroom house

they believe is worth around £80,000.

It is an ex-council house. Small, little garden, nothing special.

Really, erm, decorated it from what it was.

-We've stripped all the wallpaper, haven't we?

-Yeah.

And new floors throughout, so we have worked hard to get it to where it is.

Despite their best efforts, it's not quite perfect.

I quite like the downstairs, but I wish we had another living room.

While Sian's hoping for more from a house in New Zealand...

I'd like to have three-bedroom-or-more property

and I'd like it to be modern.

I'm not so bothered about the lounge

but the kitchen-diner is the most important part for me.

Josh's needs are simpler.

Large garden, that is my main priority, is the garden.

Obviously then a nice kitchen for Sian.

Josh and Sian have between £125,000 and £130,000

to buy a house in New Zealand.

And with Auckland ranked amongst the world's most expensive cities,

every penny will count.

To see what they can afford, we'll show them three properties.

Two based on budget, and a third based on their ideal home.

Only after they have seen each one will they find out its cost.

With Cai cared for by a childminder,

the search starts in Henderson,

a large suburb just eight miles from the city centre.

With shops, schools and excellent transport links,

the area has everything the young family could need.

But will the house come up to scratch?

-It is a bit cramped, isn't it?

-Yes, built up a bit.

-A bit squished in.

The exterior may not meet Sian's expectations

but things look more promising inside.

Quite spacious, going in, isn't it?

-House is a nice design.

-Yeah, lovely inside.

Initially, anyway. Closer inspection of the kitchen raises doubts.

-Nice, basic kitchen, but it's a bit on the small side.

-Yeah.

-It's nice units and everything.

-Yeah.

Just a shame that it's a bit small.

And a glimpse out of the window leaves the couple both uninspired.

No, it's... not the best view in the world.

I will be here, spending most of my time cleaning up after you and Cai!

-Yeah.

-And that's what I'll be looking at.

Unfortunately, things don't look better in the garden.

-Ah, it is a bit small, isn't it?

-Yeah, really small.

It is nice not having all houses built behind us.

But I don't like it.

Sian's disappointed

and it's clearly not the space Josh would want either.

Our garden's nothing special at all,

but five times the size of this, isn't it?

Back home, I can open the patio doors from the kitchen

and Cai can go out, and he is playing, but he's safe.

I wouldn't leave him out here because he could leg it, couldn't he?

The garden might be a letdown, but with three bedrooms,

this house does have more space than the couple's property at home.

-Tidy sized double, isn't it?

-Yeah. Nice and big.

But again, the view's a problem.

Overlooking other houses wasn't part of Sian's plan.

-Oh, wow, I've moved to New Zealand(!)

-Yeah, it is...

Look at the view. SHE LAUGHS

-Bit cramped, isn't it?

-Yeah, I feel a bit claustrophobic.

And even a bedroom for guests isn't enough to change her mind.

We kind of need that little bit of a wow factor

-so people can understand why we've...

-Yeah.

-..why we've moved.

This house has been a letdown, but would it be somewhere Sian

and Josh could call home with their £125,000 to £130,000 budget?

-I'd say £125,000.

-I just... I think it would be less.

I would say the £115,000 mark.

-Shall we have a look?

-Yeah.

I'm a bit nervous now.

HE INTAKES BREATH AND CHUCKLES

Oh!

-That's much more than I thought it would be.

-Yeah.

-£133,000 is...

-A bit of a shock, really.

-Yeah.

I feel a bit gutted. The other two properties need to be less expensive.

-A bit more special.

-A bit more special.

So, it's a bit worrying because...

I don't want to be more disappointed than I am right now.

The reality of this property's price has floored Sian.

Her attempt to convince Josh to move isn't off to a good start.

To win him round

any house will have to offer more than they have at home.

Onwards and upwards, the couple move to the suburb of Meadowbank.

With nearby beaches and schools, and just a short commute to Auckland,

it's popular with families looking for more affordable housing.

-It's cute-looking, isn't it?

-It's nice it's a bit off the road.

But will it be as endearing inside?

This is nice, eh? Nice and airy.

-I quite like it.

-Yeah.

It's a better start.

I know it's built up around, but there's trees

-and stuff breaking it up, so it's not so in-your-face.

-Yeah.

So far, so good.

But discovering the garden actually belongs to the neighbours

leads to more disappointment.

-It's a real shame that we won't have any outside space.

-No.

You know, you can't really let Cai play on the drive, can you?

Lacking a big garden again could be another dealbreaker for Josh.

I think I'd pull my hair out

if I couldn't be able to go outside in the garden.

It would do my head in.

Sian seems happy with the dining area, though.

I wouldn't mind sitting here, eating my breakfast, looking out on that.

And I like the calendar!

Don't think that comes with the house!

And unfortunately, the tiny kitchen isn't as attractive.

Bit of a shoe box, isn't it?

Look at that sink, it's like, you know,

you can only wash one plate at a time.

This doesn't give off, like, a family vibe, to be honest with you.

-No, it's like a flat for...

-Yeah, one or two people, isn't it?

-Yes.

Like the previous property, this house just isn't what

Sian envisaged moving across the world for.

Just a bit gutted that there's no garden and the kitchen is tiny.

So I can't see us living here.

A look at the master bedroom restores some hope.

Nice room, isn't it?

Lovely big room.

-Built-in wardrobes again.

-Yep.

And it doesn't seem so built up because of the trees and things.

And though there's only two bedrooms,

the second leaves Josh speechless.

THEY LAUGH

He's funny, isn't he?

A closer look gives Sian serious food for thought.

-This would be Cai's room, wouldn't it?

-Yeah.

But then, I don't know if I like that he's looking out on the road

and he's the closest one to the front door.

And the bathroom isn't a great selling point either.

This is a bit cramped, isn't it?

-It's not child friendly at all, is it, really?

-No.

I'm a bit disappointed.

Everything seems to be scaled down here but more expensive.

Despite a good start, this place has also been a disappointment.

Could the price make it more appealing?

The couple's budget is £125,000 to £130,000.

I think it's going to be around the £128,000 mark.

But I'm hoping it's less

so we can still have hope that we could afford something better.

I think it's worth about £120,000. It is...

OK, the location is quite near to Auckland,

but, you know, at the end of the day,

it is only a two-bedroom house.

-Shall we have a look?

-Yeah.

-A-ha! Bang on!

-Yeah.

Good guess, Sian. £128,000.

Seeing the prices of properties so far, it has put a doubt in my mind.

But, d'you know, I suppose if it was someone from New Zealand

coming to Wales, if you are looking around Cardiff,

they are going to be expensive,

and if you go to where we are from, with that sort of budget,

you'll be...you know, you'll get a really tidy house, won't you?

So far, their day exploring Auckland's properties

has fallen way short of even Sian's expectations.

Can their last viewing deliver the right balance of bang for buck?

Situated in the township of Parakai, 27 miles northwest of Auckland,

we found what should be the couple's ideal property.

This more rural location promises more value for money,

but will the house have the wow factor Sian wants?

-First impressions, much, much better, isn't it?

-Yeah.

At last, something to smile about.

And Sian's quick to point out the outside space.

It's not massive, but there's a garden

and there's plenty of room for Cai to play in.

To have that decking there, it's nice.

-We could just come out and eat our supper and things.

-Yeah, yeah, yeah.

From outside, at least,

this property is much more in line with Sian's dream.

I'm really liking this one. I hope the inside is nice.

Only one way to find out.

-Nice little kitchen.

-Yeah.

The only thing that I would add to this,

is I'd want to have the big kitchen table in the kitchen.

That could be arranged, but may not be enough.

It kind of feels like a big, static caravan, doesn't it?

It also needs some TLC.

But Sian's determined to stay positive

as the couple check out the master bedroom.

This room is, you know, it's an all right room.

-Is this a walk-in wardrobe?

-I don't think it's walk-in.

-It's a wardrobe.

-Wardrobe.

Unless there's a hidden Narnia at the back,

you won't go far in that wardrobe!

Overall, Josh is confused.

The other houses...

I kind of knew before I went in there, this is not for me.

-So the rest didn't really matter.

-Yeah.

But driving up here, I thought, this is going to be amazing.

I think we're just being a bit too fussy.

I mean, it's got everything we've asked for, really, isn't it?

It's also got somewhere for guests, even if it is on the petite side.

It's really, really small, isn't it?

But it is a third bedroom, which is a plus, isn't it?

You've just got to think of it as a couple-of-years place.

I mean, we can't move to the other side of the world and buy a mansion.

You know, we are not any richer in this country than we are in Wales.

Sian is doing everything she can to hold on to the dream.

Even if the house isn't perfect, it could potentially be a home

but only if within reach of the couple's £125,000 to £130,000 budget.

Well, it's definitely over budget.

I would think that it was around the £150,000 mark.

I'd say it's about £140,000.

-Shall we have a look?

-Yeah.

-OK.

-SHE LAUGHS

-OK. I don't think that's ever achievable for us.

-No.

That's a shock.

If we had that kind of money, we could have an amazing house at home.

-I can't believe that.

-Yeah.

-That's ridiculous.

You know, if this house, which is

one that we'd settle for, for a few years, is way out of our reach,

then, you know, I don't see that it's doable at all.

Well, I think it's pretty impossible, to be honest with you.

-It's proper burst the bubble, hasn't it?

-Yeah.

Discovering the true cost of property in Auckland

has left Sian stunned

and could be a real blow to her chances of convincing Josh to move.

Property 1 was much too small in every way, apart from the price tag.

Property 2 was a non-runner

when the couple found out it had no garden,

yet was still near the top of their budget.

Although far from their ideal home,

the final property did give Sian hope the dream was achievable,

until they discovered it was substantially over budget.

So, when all's said and done, has house-hunting left them

favouring property at home or away?

-UK.

-UK.

-I think it is a no-brainer, isn't it?

Yeah, it's not really something we need to discuss, is it?

It's just plain sailing UK.

-I think our budget means nothing out here.

-No.

You know, we'd need to be a heck of a lot better off

to actually do the move.

With property prospects disappointing,

Sian's dream has taken a dive,

and Josh could be further away than ever from agreeing to make the move.

Emigrating is all about getting a better work/life balance, though.

So, if the right job opportunities exist, it may not be game over yet.

In the UK, Josh works between 60 and 70 hours a week on his dad's farm.

The hours are pretty tough going,

you don't get to see much of the family.

The work itself, I enjoy.

You know, it is long hours, but that's the trade of farming.

Sian works as a payroll administrator

and volunteers with the Welsh Special Constabulary.

I'm hoping that it will lead me

into the role of regular officer in the future.

She'd love to turn her volunteering into a career, but whatever path

she follows, getting the right hours would be key.

Our working hours are vitally important.

We need to be working less and living more.

Ideally, Josh would like to be a tree surgeon

but if the money isn't right, he'll be sticking with the farm.

I'm not expecting to earn millions

but if the salary's not good enough, it'll be end of story then.

While Cai's looked after by a childminder,

the couple are anxiously awaiting what their day exploring

Auckland's job market might bring.

This is probably one of the most important factors

in moving to New Zealand.

I just want good news. And nothing else!

For Sian, the day begins with a meeting with immigration consultant

Holger Weischede, to find out about joining New Zealand's police force.

And unfortunately, it's bad news.

The police is only recruiting residents.

You don't have to be a citizen

but you need to be a resident visa holder already.

So, what would be the best way for us to get residency?

I see a potential for the skilled migrant category application,

most likely it's going to be Josh as the principal applicant

and you as a secondary and the child as a dependant child, obviously.

Once you've got the residents visa approved,

that's when you can apply and be considered for the police positions.

Sian's dreams of a life on the beat may have to wait.

Meanwhile, Josh is meeting James Alexander,

a project manager with one of Auckland's tree surgery companies.

Australasia-wide, we employ, probably, 400-450 people currently.

So we've got branches up north, in Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch

and offshore in Brisbane.

Hopefully, that could mean plenty of opportunities.

So you've seen my CV, what's the chance of me having a job out here?

Currently, with your CV and being a non-qualified arborist,

we couldn't employ you in that role.

It's not the best start for Josh either, but already experienced

in chainsawing, James reveals branching out shouldn't be too hard.

You've already got the chainsaw NPTC.

You need rope and harness and competency for chainsaw in a tree.

If you were to get those two, then you become of much more interest.

We could actually take you on as an arborist as such.

Confident he can add to his qualifications at home, Josh would

be happy to do so, provided his efforts pay off in the long run.

-What's the demand?

-It's currently on the job shortage list.

I would have thought your chances of getting a job would be pretty good.

It's encouraging,

but would working as a tree surgeon allow him to cut down his hours?

-So, roughly, what's the working hours?

-47 and a half hours a week.

So, compared to your farm work, it's quite a bit less.

That should be music to Sian's ears.

All that's left now is to talk money.

25 an hour or more

and that would roughly equate to NZ52,000 a year.

If he gained the necessary qualifications,

Josh could earn around £7,000 more than he does back home.

It's a positive end to the meeting.

Meanwhile, Sian's turned her attention

from the forces to finance.

So, I work full-time in finance but I volunteer with the police,

so I'd be quite happy with either.

To find out more, she meets Rachel Smith,

a payroll and admin recruitment specialist.

Based on my experience, do you think I need more qualifications

-or do you think I am employable?

-You'd definitely be employable.

You've got good administration skills,

so we could put you in a variety of different admin roles.

That's better news for Sian, but would the hours suit?

What are the working hours here?

Most of the roles we are looking at for you would be full-time,

so between 37 to 40 hours a week.

That's around what Sian's used to.

So through temp work with your organisation,

what would my salary be?

For a temp or contract assignment, you'd be looking around

20 to 25 an hour, plus your holiday pay and benefits,

which would equate to an annual salary of NZ40,000 to NZ45,000.

An increase of between £5,000 and £7,000 means

despite a disappointing start, Sian's day has turned out well.

I'm feeling much happier because the job opportunities are there.

As far as payroll goes,

the police is maybe a possibility for the future.

Sian's enthusiasm for the dream has been reignited, but has the day

been enough to convince Josh to turn his back on the family farm?

So, we've learned loads today

and based on everything we have found out, we're going to vote.

-New Zealand.

-New Zealand.

I thought you were going to say UK.

Yes, I chose New Zealand because, you know,

I've really wanted to do tree surgery for a while,

and obviously, it's less hours and more pay than what I'm on now,

so it seems like a win-win situation.

Yeah, more pay and more family time.

-Which is what we wanted, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-So, New Zealand.

With a vote for New Zealand from Josh,

it looks like the couple's day checking out work prospects

could have brought Sian's dream back on track.

A move for her has always been about spending more time together

so will a rare family day out spent sampling the Kiwi lifestyle

win Josh around once more?

Shall we try and find some?

Back in the UK, the family enjoy roaming the countryside, so today,

they take Cai to Kiwi Valley Farm, outside Auckland.

Cai's no stranger to farmyards,

but the chance to hang out with Mum and Dad is a real treat.

Do you like him?

And fulfilling her desire for Cai to see more of his dad,

the day's a hit with Sian, too.

Today has definitely reinforced the dream.

It's just great for Cai to have both of us and to be able to

go from one to the other, rather than just me showing him things, you know?

Spending time together with his own family, though, has reminded Josh

more days like this would mean seeing less of loved ones back home.

Being here does make me realise how much family and friends mean to me.

The most important thing is, you know, Cai, I think.

It will be a shame, really, for Cai to grow up without his grandparents.

Sian is aware her dream presents Josh with a dilemma.

But seeing how happy Cai is with both his parents,

she is still determined moving would be for the best.

Yeah, I guess I do feel guilty, because I think he feels torn

and he knows I'd like to move

but he knows he'd like to stay with his friends and family.

I think Sian wants to move to New Zealand more than me.

I think I've got a lot more stuff holding me back.

Sian and Josh could yet be at loggerheads

come the end of the week, but has their family day out been enough to

bring Josh one step closer to a move down under?

So, we've really enjoyed spending family time together today.

And based on lifestyle, we're going to vote.

New Zealand.

New Zealand.

I'm glad you said that.

I've realised now I've been spending a lot more quality time with Cai

and, d'you know, obviously, if I move, I will be working,

but we figured out the hours will be less than what I'm working back at

-Wales, so, yeah, I'll hopefully have more time to spend with Cai.

-Yeah.

When it came to lifestyle, Josh put his own family first.

But Sian knows there's a long way to go yet

if he's to be persuaded the family's future lies down under.

If she succeeds, the couple would rely on proceeds from the sale

of their home to fund the move.

They believe it's worth around £80,000.

To see if they're right, we sent round two estate agents.

Oh, nice plain decor. Good for marketing. Nice room.

Very, very large kitchen.

Dining area, with a very big table.

Modern units.

-Modern units!

-I painted them!

Very nice conservatory.

With access out onto the garden.

What a great sized double room.

Perfect also to get a cot in.

Ideal having the mirrored wardrobes.

Really nice sized second bedroom.

Obviously, a little child's room. A little boy.

In the current market, I'd value it at between £85,000 and £90,000.

-For a quick sale, about £80,000.

-Yeah.

The valuation on this property for the open market would be £84,950.

Or a quick sale figure of £79,950.

-OK.

-Happy with that?

-Yeah. Yeah. I'm chuffed with that.

I thought they were 80, tops. I was...

I thought if we have 80, it is a good sale.

While Cai sleeps,

the couple move on to see how their finances would stack up in Auckland.

If this is positive,

then Josh will have a hard time trying to fight his little battle.

So, you know, I cross my fingers that it is positive.

We've provided them with a comparison of costs,

starting with the weekly food shop.

-Everything is a bit dearer.

-Blueberries at a pound.

-Cherry tomatoes are a pound. Green beans are £1.15. It adds up.

-Yeah.

And it's not just fruit and veg that cost more.

Chicken and salmon are over £3 dearer.

There's no two ways about it, I'm not losing chicken.

-SHE LAUGHS

-That's number one.

The couple do the sums to find out

what it means for their overall bill.

£47.91.

Worse off.

-Every week.

-Every week, yeah.

It's nearly £200 more each month.

And that's before they've looked at the bigger bills.

Sian and Josh base their figures on the first property they viewed.

So, oil in the UK, we pay £50.

And in New Zealand, we'd pay nothing,

because we wouldn't have central heating, would we?

But childcare is a bit dearer.

It's £48.41 dearer.

But that is because in the UK, we only have three days

because he's with your mother.

-Transport costs...

-We would be worse off by £183.34.

-This isn't looking very good, is it?

-No.

A tot up of the figures reveals

the couple would spend £561 more a month in New Zealand.

It could spell disaster for Sian's chances of keeping Josh onside,

unless their salaries could make up the difference.

So, in the UK, our total income is £2,426.26.

New Zealand would be...

£2,959.

They'd earn more, but not enough to cover their increase in spending.

-We are worse off by... BOTH:

-..£28.58.

A month.

-It's not a major difference.

-No, but I am shocked.

I honestly thought we'd be better off, money-wise, in New Zealand.

Sian's determined to fight for her dream, though,

believing £30 a month is a price worth paying.

Do you think £6.60 a week is worth

having more quality time with Cai and me?

Yeah, obviously.

So...

Yeah, there's a lot of stuff that needs to fall into place.

But if things fall into place, it's £6.60 a week you are paying to

have sun for ten months a year, for a bigger house,

for, you know, better job prospects, and for quality time with Cai.

Which is what we want.

I want to do it.

I want to move. But I don't think you're going to let me.

It'll take more than being a few pounds in the red to put Sian off.

But will the lifestyle they could have in New Zealand be enough

to reconcile Josh with the figures?

-UK.

-New Zealand.

I think Sian is more of a risk taker than I am.

The reality check is slightly negative

but it's nothing, really, compared to, you know,

all the things that outweigh that.

With unfavourable finances making Josh vote for the UK,

it looks like Sian's dream could be knocked for six.

And there is one more obstacle to overcome.

With Josh already concerned about taking Cai

away from family in Wales, could watching messages from loved ones

back home be the final nail in the coffin?

-Are you looking forward to seeing Tadcu?

-Yeah!

-And Mamgu, on the telly?

-Yeah.

I think watching the messages will make us

see what we are leaving behind.

-Shall we take a look to see what they say?

-Yeah.

Hi, Sian. Hi, Josh. Hi, Cai. Hope you're having a fantastic week.

-BOTH:

-Hello, Sian, Josh and Cai!

-Hiya, Josh...

-Hiya, Cai, Josh and Sian.

-..Sian, Cai.

As a family, they're great together.

They pull together like a team.

They just bounce off each other, really, don't they?

They balance each other well.

Josh has his ideas

and Sian calms him down.

-Sian's very different to the both of us, isn't she?

-Yeah.

Yeah, she's the confident one who likes to do, like, everything.

Cai is just... He's one of the gang.

There is a gang of little boys and he fits right in.

I know he's my grandson,

but he's one of the nicest little kids I've ever come across.

It'll start me off, now!

Josh, I think, he's Sian's rock, isn't he?

You can see it in his eyes, what he thinks of Cai.

-It glows out of him. It has made him.

-Yeah.

If they are to go,

this is the opportunity and this is the best time.

And, obviously, we're going to miss her, because we always...

-the three of us do things together...

-Yeah.

-..all the time.

So we will really miss her, but we want the best for her at the same time.

It would be really odd.

-Like a jigsaw with a missing piece, in a way.

-Yeah.

I think Aaron will miss Cai as a friend, days out,

and I'll just miss the help and support from my friend Sian.

Well, you know, because we are so close, it's going to

make the gap even worse.

And he'll be just as bad, I can tell.

We'll just have to go out and see them.

Yeah, but you can't go out every...

We will really miss you if you do go, but I know that you all know

what you want to do and I would totally respect that

and I hope that you just make the right decision, really.

I think if you decide to go to New Zealand, we'd really miss you,

obviously. We'd miss you like crazy.

But if you think it's the right decision for you,

then we fully support you.

We will miss you, as you know.

But we can come out and see you at some point.

Well, yeah, we just wish you all the best.

Say, "Don't go, Cai".

Don't go, Cai.

Yeah. It was like a mix of emotions, wasn't it?

It's made me realise that I do need to think more

about leaving them behind.

You know, Cai's going to be... no family at all over here.

Although we might be giving him a better future

but we're taking away his past, if that makes sense.

I don't think it's as easy as you were going to think it is, to leave them.

Well, that's the hardest part. You know, that's the only thing.

Their week in New Zealand has shown Sian

and Josh the opportunities the country offers could mean

more quality time together with their son.

But any move would come at a cost,

losing the family support they enjoy at home.

As their final decision approaches,

will the couple decide that's a price worth paying,

to achieve the family life Sian so desperately wants?

Things got off to a bumpy start when the couple

realised their property budget wouldn't go far in Auckland.

But everything that followed has left the couple's opinions divided.

Now that we've been here, and we've seen what we've seen,

I definitely have more of a hunger for New Zealand.

I think I am feeling mixed emotions in that,

d'you know, I thought we would have been better off, on the whole,

in New Zealand, on the salary and stuff,

but it turns out we would be better in the UK.

Not prepared to sacrifice her dream for the sake of a few pounds,

Sian's determined to keep focused on what

she originally wanted from the country.

The main thing for me is that Josh and Cai gets to bond

and get to, you know, better their relationship.

But for Josh, the advantage of more time with his son has left him torn.

It has created conflict, in myself, type thing.

One half saying we just stay in Wales, and the other half saying,

you know, flee the nest, you know.

The world's... You know, the world's a small place.

With time running out, Sian knows Josh's biggest stumbling block

will be taking Cai away from grandparents in Wales.

I don't know what he's going to decide because, you know, New Zealand

is absolutely fantastic, and we've been able to see that this week.

But obviously, our friends and family are amazing

and it's a hell of a thing to leave behind.

You want to see into the future what it will be like on both sides

but obviously you can't do that.

But, yeah, it is, it is going to be a tough decision.

The week's been an enlightening experience for the couple.

Now it is time to find out

if it's been enough to convince Josh to buy into Sian's dream

of more family time together on the other side of the world.

We've had a really amazing family-oriented week.

And based on everything we've found out this week,

we are going to do our final vote.

-New Zealand.

-New Zealand.

No way!

It is an awesome place and we could do getting more time as a family.

So clearly, a future...

We will take the plunge.

I genuinely thought that you liked New Zealand

but I didn't think you could leave your roots and your family.

So, I am overwhelmed that you chose New Zealand

and extremely excited.

With their week in New Zealand showing Josh just what his family

could gain from a move, it looks like the couple could be well on

their way to making a new life for themselves

on the other side of the world.

We wish them all the best of luck for the future.