0:00:02 > 0:00:04If you held a lifelong dream to return to the country
0:00:04 > 0:00:05you were born in,
0:00:05 > 0:00:09how would you convince your husband to follow you?
0:00:09 > 0:00:12Especially if moving would mean losing the close family bonds
0:00:12 > 0:00:15he has at home?
0:00:15 > 0:00:16In 2014, Gentle Spenceley
0:00:16 > 0:00:19was hoping to persuade husband, Phil, to uproot
0:00:19 > 0:00:24their life in the UK and move to New Zealand.
0:00:24 > 0:00:28Today we'll find out how and where they are now.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31Gentle Spenceley was desperate to live in New Zealand.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34I feel like it's more of a home to me than England.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37But husband Phil didn't share the dream.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39'There's just something that's not quite'
0:00:39 > 0:00:41joining all the dots in my head.
0:00:41 > 0:00:45A week down under enabled Phil to confront practical concerns...
0:00:45 > 0:00:49- It's not really achievable at the moment.- ..and emotional fears.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51'You do feel a sense of responsibility
0:00:51 > 0:00:52'towards your parents.'
0:00:52 > 0:00:57Two years on, are the family in the UK or down under?
0:00:57 > 0:01:00It's always difficult to say 100% where your future lies.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25Boasting some of the most spectacular scenery on earth
0:01:25 > 0:01:27and a relaxed way of life,
0:01:27 > 0:01:29New Zealand has been popular with British families
0:01:29 > 0:01:32seeking a new home since the 19th century.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36Around 9,000 families emigrate there every year,
0:01:36 > 0:01:39seeking their dream lifestyle in a country the same size as the UK but
0:01:39 > 0:01:42with a fraction of the population.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45Gentle Spenceley left New Zealand with her parents
0:01:45 > 0:01:47when she was only six months old
0:01:47 > 0:01:52and she'd felt cheated out of a life down under ever since.
0:01:52 > 0:01:56In 2014 she faced just one week to encourage Phil
0:01:56 > 0:01:58to give up everything they knew in the UK
0:01:58 > 0:02:03for a new life on the other side of the world.
0:02:03 > 0:02:07The family's journey began with a marathon 24-hour flight from London
0:02:07 > 0:02:09to Auckland via Singapore.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12A trip that is often tricky with a young child in tow.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15Harrison did sleep a bit. So...
0:02:15 > 0:02:19Our big concern was that distance with the 20-month-old.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21And he was really good.
0:02:21 > 0:02:22With Harrison well-behaved,
0:02:22 > 0:02:25Phil had had plenty of time in the air to do some thinking.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28Trying to imagine parents and things doing that journey,
0:02:28 > 0:02:31in a confined space for 24 hours,
0:02:31 > 0:02:35- you kind of think it's going to be quite hard for them.- Yeah.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38Gentle was delighted to be back in the country that held her heart.
0:02:38 > 0:02:40'Feels a bit unreal to be here.'
0:02:40 > 0:02:42We've got to get down to business
0:02:42 > 0:02:43'and make some decisions.'
0:02:43 > 0:02:47The coming week would be crucial in helping Phil decide if he could find
0:02:47 > 0:02:49the courage to make the move down under.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55Back in the UK, the Spenceleys
0:02:55 > 0:02:58were living in the pretty village of Worminghall in Buckinghamshire
0:02:58 > 0:03:00with son, Harrison, who was then one.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04The family had a comfortable life in the countryside but Gentle was
0:03:04 > 0:03:07convinced things could be even better in New Zealand,
0:03:07 > 0:03:09the country where she was born.
0:03:09 > 0:03:14I feel like it would've been great to have grown up there and when my
0:03:14 > 0:03:16parents had me they came back to England
0:03:16 > 0:03:18and they stopped travelling,
0:03:18 > 0:03:21so I feel like I missed out a bit of what they got.
0:03:21 > 0:03:25Husband Phil was aware of Gentle's dream.
0:03:25 > 0:03:29It's something that I've known right from when we first met.
0:03:29 > 0:03:34When we first met she was saving up to go travelling in New Zealand.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37After meeting Phil, Gentle spent a gap year in New Zealand
0:03:37 > 0:03:40which had fuelled her longing to return there for good.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44'I very much felt like I belonged there and I could quite easily fit
0:03:44 > 0:03:46'into that way of life.'
0:03:46 > 0:03:49She came back and she said that she really wanted to one day live out
0:03:49 > 0:03:52- there and make a go of it. - Dinner's ready.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54With Phil in the middle of his studies,
0:03:54 > 0:03:56it wasn't the right time to make the move.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58But on tying the knot a few years later,
0:03:58 > 0:04:01Gentle hoped a honeymoon in the country
0:04:01 > 0:04:04would persuade her new husband it was where they should set up home.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07I was hoping to take him out there and show him how amazing it was
0:04:07 > 0:04:10and it didn't really work like that.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12Three weeks down under failed to convince Phil.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15I was really disappointed and I came back
0:04:15 > 0:04:18from the holiday feeling
0:04:18 > 0:04:21a bit deflated about it.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25I just tried to focus on what we had in England
0:04:25 > 0:04:28and just think that right, OK, one day maybe, one day.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32Gentle's dreams were crushed and rather than moving
0:04:32 > 0:04:34to the other side of the world,
0:04:34 > 0:04:37the couple moved into the English countryside.
0:04:37 > 0:04:39Harrison's birth in 2012 put thoughts of New Zealand
0:04:39 > 0:04:41on the back burner for Gentle,
0:04:41 > 0:04:46but a year later it was Phil who didn't feel quite at home.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48'I don't know why, there's just something
0:04:48 > 0:04:49'that I've never felt'
0:04:49 > 0:04:51100% settled.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53Seizing the moment, Gentle believed it was time for Phil
0:04:53 > 0:04:57to reconsider New Zealand as somewhere they could call home.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59The main reason I want to go out to New Zealand
0:04:59 > 0:05:02is just to enjoy the Kiwi way of life and for Harrison
0:05:02 > 0:05:04to experience that as well.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06I think he will really thrive out there.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09But even though Phil wasn't sold on where the family lived,
0:05:09 > 0:05:13moving to the other side of the world seemed too big a leap.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16If the decision was down to Gentle she'd say,
0:05:16 > 0:05:18"Yeah, let's just sell up and go out there anyway and live life,
0:05:18 > 0:05:21"what's the worst that can happen?"
0:05:21 > 0:05:25I can't in my head imagine how we could just sell up
0:05:25 > 0:05:27- and move out there. - Come on, then.
0:05:27 > 0:05:28Phil feared a move could rob his family
0:05:28 > 0:05:32of the financial stability they had in the UK.
0:05:32 > 0:05:37And about the effects emigrating would have on his parents.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39'The idea of taking their only grandson'
0:05:39 > 0:05:42away from them, that's going to be really difficult,
0:05:42 > 0:05:43leaving them behind.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46Gentle understood breaking the bond Harrison
0:05:46 > 0:05:50had with her extended family would be hard, too.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52My mum and dad are really close to Harrison.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55'They love him very much and I think it would break their heart,'
0:05:55 > 0:05:58I think, if we did take him so far away.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00But she was prepared to pay the emotional cost of moving
0:06:00 > 0:06:06and feared the consequences if Phil couldn't be persuaded.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08I would worry that I'd feel resentful.
0:06:08 > 0:06:14I feel like it's more of a home to me, necessarily, than England.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16There is some pressure on me.
0:06:16 > 0:06:21I don't want to be the person to say no, to ruin her dream.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25Gentle knew their trial week would be her last chance to persuade Phil
0:06:25 > 0:06:28to overcome his fears and make her dream come true.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35For their trial week down under,
0:06:35 > 0:06:38the Spenceleys stayed in a two bedroom house in Titirangi,
0:06:38 > 0:06:40a small suburb west of Auckland.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43And straightaway, Gentle felt at home.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46- Wow!- Oh, wow!
0:06:46 > 0:06:47Look at this, Harrison.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50- What a view.- Look at that view.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52Look at the kitchen!
0:06:52 > 0:06:55You're not going to complain about doing washing up.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57There's a swimming pool.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00- Big puddle. - PARENTS:- It's a big puddle, yeah.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03- Everyone liked what they saw. - The house is amazing.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06It's beautiful. The views are spectacular.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09Gentle was excited about the next few days.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11It would be really amazing if we could come out here
0:07:11 > 0:07:12and give it a go.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15But Phil was feeling anxious.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18What I'm most nervous about is the fact that this next week could
0:07:18 > 0:07:20completely change our lives.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24There's just so many questions unanswered, so many unknowns.
0:07:24 > 0:07:29And...so much riding on it.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37In the UK, the Spenceleys lived in a modern three-bedroom house
0:07:37 > 0:07:38in Buckinghamshire.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42And they'd worked hard to put their stamp on it.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44So we put everything new in, floors painted throughout.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48- Double glazing.- Kitchen, bathroom. - New kitchen, bathroom.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51It took a little while to get done but we're, yeah,
0:07:51 > 0:07:52we're happy with it.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55So what kind of property in New Zealand would make it worth
0:07:55 > 0:07:57giving up a house they'd made a home?
0:07:57 > 0:08:01My dream home would be at least three bedrooms.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05I'd really like to have a kitchen-diner.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08To be able to cook and socialise would be lovely.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10I'd probably like a separate living area as well as...
0:08:10 > 0:08:13I wouldn't like everything open-plan.
0:08:18 > 0:08:23Phil and Gentle had around £300,000 for a home in New Zealand.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26To see what their money could buy, we showed them three properties,
0:08:26 > 0:08:31two based on budget and a third based on the dream home.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34Only after they'd seen each one did they find out its value.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37Harrison was looked after by a childminder
0:08:37 > 0:08:40while the couple started their search in Titirangi.
0:08:40 > 0:08:44A thriving centre filled with cafes, markets and galleries,
0:08:44 > 0:08:48the area offered Gentle the village life she was used to.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51And just eight miles from Auckland city centre
0:08:51 > 0:08:53meant a convenient commute for Phil.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56But would this modern three-bedroom house be enough to persuade
0:08:56 > 0:08:58him to make the move?
0:08:58 > 0:09:00- Wow! - UNCLEAR SPEECH
0:09:03 > 0:09:05- Nice.- Really nice, I like the open-plan kitchen.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08This just feels like it's one big room.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12Hmm, Gentle would have a hard job getting her husband excited.
0:09:12 > 0:09:17- Bathroom.- Oh, it's a nice size. - Yeah.- Got a walk-in shower
0:09:17 > 0:09:19and a bath. Nice. That's an interesting bath, isn't it?
0:09:19 > 0:09:22- It is.- Doesn't look very comfortable.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25- It's a bit odd. - But it's nice and stylish.
0:09:25 > 0:09:30- Gentle was determined to look for the positive.- This is nice.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33This must be the master bedroom. Or, I suppose, like a guest.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36- It's probably the master bedroom. - Yeah. En-suite.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39Yeah. I really like the little seating area as well.
0:09:39 > 0:09:44Probably use it as storage with the amount of stuff we've got.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48What's down here? Hidden little room. Funny door.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51You could make it into a little like annexe sort of thing
0:09:51 > 0:09:52for someone staying.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54I don't think it's big enough for that.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56The hidden room might not be large enough for guests,
0:09:56 > 0:09:59but was the garden a perfect fit for the family?
0:09:59 > 0:10:02- There isn't a huge amount you could really do.- No.
0:10:02 > 0:10:03Phil wasn't impressed.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06But this is nice, it's nice to be able to eat your dinner outside.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09It's quite private, really.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13Gentle was definitely more sold than Phil.
0:10:13 > 0:10:17But with £300,000 to spend, would the price change his mind?
0:10:17 > 0:10:19So, how much do you think it's worth?
0:10:19 > 0:10:24I reckon it's at the top end of our budget, so maybe £300,000?
0:10:24 > 0:10:29First house, I'm going to be a bit more conservative, maybe 275?
0:10:29 > 0:10:30It was time to find out.
0:10:38 > 0:10:43- I was pretty close.- You were pretty close.- So 297,320.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45Obviously, it would have been better if you were right.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48I was probably looking for maybe a little bit more sparkle or a little
0:10:48 > 0:10:51bit more something to pull me in.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54The house was on budget, but Phil wasn't budging.
0:10:54 > 0:10:59The second property would need to deliver much more to keep Gentle's
0:10:59 > 0:11:02dream on track. Next stop, the rural village of Swanson,
0:11:02 > 0:11:06a small community just a ten-minute drive from the beach.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08With a wide range of outdoor activities nearby,
0:11:08 > 0:11:12the area should have appealed to Gentle's sense of adventure,
0:11:12 > 0:11:14but would the house win Phil over?
0:11:14 > 0:11:17- It's a bungalow.- Yes.- One level.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19Fibreboard again.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22Hopefully inside would prove impressive.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25- This is nice and big. - Yes, that's a good size, isn't it?
0:11:25 > 0:11:27It was all good.
0:11:27 > 0:11:28It's quite big, actually.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30- Yeah, bigger than it looked like it was going to be.- Wow.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33- You've got plenty of space.- Yes.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35There's a utility room. That's really handy.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37Yes, keep that all separate.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39They were in agreement, but not for long.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42I think it needs maybe a bit more work than the last one did.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44Not much, it's just cosmetic.
0:11:44 > 0:11:45I don't know whether I agree with that,
0:11:45 > 0:11:48but I think the kitchen possibly doesn't suit quite
0:11:48 > 0:11:50the way you'd want it to work.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53You haven't got so much of that open space.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55That suits me slightly better.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58It looked like Gentle was willing to compromise on open-plan living
0:11:58 > 0:12:02and four good-sized bedrooms gave her even more to smile about.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05- Master bedroom.- This must be the master bedroom.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07It's got en suite.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10- But no storage.- It's got a walk-in wardrobe as well.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13- Wow.- That's why there's no storage.
0:12:13 > 0:12:17Oh, look. Light bulb mirror.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19Like being in a theatre.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22Hopefully there wouldn't be any drama when the couple headed out
0:12:22 > 0:12:25to the garden. Did it have the space Phil was looking for?
0:12:25 > 0:12:27This is really cute, isn't it?
0:12:27 > 0:12:31You've got all the trees and things and, obviously, the cicadas, really.
0:12:31 > 0:12:35The beetles. Yeah, they make a lot of noise. I really like that noise.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38But I'm not sure even a soundtrack from the beetles was cutting it with
0:12:38 > 0:12:43Phil. And with £300,000 to spend, was the house within reach?
0:12:45 > 0:12:47So what do you think about the price?
0:12:47 > 0:12:49It's really hard. I reckon about...
0:12:49 > 0:12:51285,000.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55I think you're probably right, I think it's probably in that, 285.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57285, yeah.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00Time to turn the card and find out.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09- OK. That's more.- £310,000.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12It's a bit more, but then you are getting a lot more.
0:13:12 > 0:13:14That's really as much as we would like to go to, isn't it?
0:13:14 > 0:13:16Yes, you would probably have to spend a bit
0:13:16 > 0:13:20to get it in the way that we would want it to be.
0:13:20 > 0:13:25If Phil could secure a well-paid job, £10,000 wasn't a deal-breaker,
0:13:25 > 0:13:29but the property was still far from the couple's perfect house.
0:13:29 > 0:13:33Next, Gentle and Phil headed to what should be their dream home,
0:13:33 > 0:13:36situated in the exclusive suburb of West Harbour.
0:13:36 > 0:13:40Close to the marina and with good primary schools and local amenities
0:13:40 > 0:13:43nearby, this modern four-bedroom family home
0:13:43 > 0:13:45should have been a perfect fit.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47OK.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50Yes, oh, wow.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52- This is really nice, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54Straight through to outside.
0:13:54 > 0:13:58- Nice entertaining area. - Nice big barbie.
0:13:58 > 0:14:00That's a really nice swimming pool, isn't it?
0:14:00 > 0:14:03Would this be the house to encourage Phil to take the plunge?
0:14:03 > 0:14:06This is the sort of thing that I was thinking of
0:14:06 > 0:14:07when we were looking at properties.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09I think the kitchen's all right.
0:14:09 > 0:14:13It's not really what we'd want, but the space is nice, isn't it?
0:14:13 > 0:14:16- And we've got enough storage.- Yes.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20And, yes, I really like the way you can just watch TV.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23But then Gentle started spotting flaws.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26Bathroom. Walk-in shower.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30It's not quite to our taste, but it is nice enough.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32It is more than enough.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35Hopefully the spacious master bedroom
0:14:35 > 0:14:37would be to both their taste.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40- Oh, wow.- En-suite.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44- Walk-in wardrobe. - Oh, walk-in wardrobe, nice.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47- Plenty of space. - This will be all mine.
0:14:49 > 0:14:53It's nice being able to come out of the bedroom onto this bit again.
0:14:55 > 0:14:59Phil's enthusiasm was definitely a step in the right direction,
0:14:59 > 0:15:03but would everything change when he discovered how much the house cost?
0:15:03 > 0:15:08It's got to be £450,000 upwards.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11I think probably about the same.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19£440,000.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24I think that's reasonable for the house, I think it's...
0:15:24 > 0:15:26Because the area is really nice.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28Really nice area.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31But it's not really achievable at the moment.
0:15:31 > 0:15:35Gentle and Phil's property search had been a real eye-opener.
0:15:35 > 0:15:40Despite being affordable, property one lacked the wow factor for Phil.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43The second was more in line with the layout Phil favoured,
0:15:43 > 0:15:45but not quite to Gentle's taste.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48But the third house had appealed to both,
0:15:48 > 0:15:50even if achieving it
0:15:50 > 0:15:53meant adding £140,000 to their budget.
0:15:53 > 0:15:55So when it came to property,
0:15:55 > 0:15:58had Phil and Gentle seen enough to be sold on New Zealand?
0:16:04 > 0:16:06New Zealand.
0:16:06 > 0:16:07Undecided.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09I think that it's not that much different
0:16:09 > 0:16:11from what you can get in England.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13But that last house kind of swayed it for me a bit,
0:16:13 > 0:16:15- just because...- Yeah, I thought it would.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18..it shows the potential of what we could get in the future.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22To get the sort of house I'd really like is going to be quite difficult
0:16:22 > 0:16:26back home, whereas over here it doesn't seem such a big step up.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35The reality of what they could afford in Auckland
0:16:35 > 0:16:38had dented Gentle's enthusiasm,
0:16:38 > 0:16:41but the dream home had persuaded Phil New Zealand could be
0:16:41 > 0:16:43an option for their family's future,
0:16:43 > 0:16:45providing they could find well-paid jobs.
0:16:48 > 0:16:50In the UK, Phil was earning around £80,000
0:16:50 > 0:16:53as a senior software developer.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55And he was concerned about finding a similar job
0:16:55 > 0:16:57in New Zealand.
0:16:57 > 0:16:58'The ideal role for me would be'
0:16:58 > 0:17:01to get something that I do that means
0:17:01 > 0:17:02I can incorporate one of my hobbies.
0:17:02 > 0:17:06'I spend a bit of time with music technology.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08'It's something that is challenging for me as well,'
0:17:08 > 0:17:10I do like a bit of a technical challenge.
0:17:12 > 0:17:14A stay-at-home mum,
0:17:14 > 0:17:17Gentle was ready to return to her career as a veterinary nurse.
0:17:17 > 0:17:19I wouldn't want to do full-time
0:17:19 > 0:17:23necessarily, because I think I would miss looking after Harrison.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26But it would be good to get that sense of independence
0:17:26 > 0:17:29and also to get to know people out there.
0:17:31 > 0:17:36Exploring work opportunities in New Zealand was vital for Phil.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39We've got a good life back home, so we don't want to impact that
0:17:39 > 0:17:42and make ourselves worse off coming here.
0:17:42 > 0:17:43- Hey, you must be Phil.- Hi, yes.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46Phil wanted to combine work with his passion for music,
0:17:46 > 0:17:49so we'd arranged for him to visit a music software company
0:17:49 > 0:17:52to meet senior developer Young Lee.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55Based on my skills and experience, do you think I would be able to work
0:17:55 > 0:17:57for a music software development company?
0:17:57 > 0:18:01Music software development is very, very specific.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03So if you're willing to kind of learn from the beginning,
0:18:03 > 0:18:05then you could kind of look at one of the entry jobs.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07Starting a new career in music software
0:18:07 > 0:18:10meant a junior job and a smaller salary.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13In New Zealand, graduates out of uni
0:18:13 > 0:18:16get about 50 to 60,000 New Zealand dollars.
0:18:16 > 0:18:20Intermediate people get about 80,000.
0:18:20 > 0:18:26And senior developers usually get between 90 and 110,000.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30That was about £30,000 if Phil started at the bottom,
0:18:30 > 0:18:32less than half what he earned in the UK,
0:18:32 > 0:18:34meaning Gentle would definitely need
0:18:34 > 0:18:38to return to veterinary nursing in New Zealand.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41We'd arranged for her to meet Doctor Gary Cousins at a small clinic
0:18:41 > 0:18:42in Henderson Valley.
0:18:42 > 0:18:43Hello.
0:18:43 > 0:18:44- Hi, Gentle.- I'm Gentle.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46- Nice to meet you.- Thank you.
0:18:46 > 0:18:47Hello, Kelly.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49That's a good response.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51Gentle was ready to talk business.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53Is there a high demand for nurses over here,
0:18:53 > 0:18:56or is it quite difficult to get a job?
0:18:56 > 0:19:00It's actually quite a sought-after job,
0:19:00 > 0:19:02as the jobs come up and disappear very quickly
0:19:02 > 0:19:04and sometimes it's who you know.
0:19:04 > 0:19:08But putting your face in front of people and dropping off CVs
0:19:08 > 0:19:09is well worthwhile.
0:19:09 > 0:19:14Finding a job could take some work, but would the salary prove worth it?
0:19:14 > 0:19:16How much would you be likely to earn part-time?
0:19:16 > 0:19:19Well, it works on an hourly rate of about 15,
0:19:19 > 0:19:20in New Zealand, an hour.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23It was less than she would earn in the UK,
0:19:23 > 0:19:25but not by enough to put her off.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29Just depends on, you know, cost of living and childcare and stuff.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32Childcare costs would prove key.
0:19:32 > 0:19:36Meanwhile, Phil had hung up his headphones to discuss other software
0:19:36 > 0:19:39options with recruitment specialist Cara Smith.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42Is there much in the way of opportunities at the moment?
0:19:42 > 0:19:45Definitely. You would probably be happy to know that senior software
0:19:45 > 0:19:47developers are quite in demand
0:19:47 > 0:19:49and one of the hardest to find skill sets.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53Providing financial stability for his family was one of Phil's biggest
0:19:53 > 0:19:57concerns. So the ability to earn a good salary was essential.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00So we would typically see a salary range of between,
0:20:00 > 0:20:02for a senior software developer,
0:20:02 > 0:20:05between 90,000 and 110,000 New Zealand dollars
0:20:05 > 0:20:07per annum as a base salary.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10- OK.- We are certainly seeing pressure on the salaries upwards,
0:20:10 > 0:20:12because they have to keep hold of their talent.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15OK, so there's a potential for things to go up a bit in the future.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17Potential.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21It was a positive outcome for Phil, so how did their day impact
0:20:21 > 0:20:25on the choice between work in the UK and New Zealand?
0:20:31 > 0:20:33- New Zealand.- UK.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36I felt like I had to vote for England in a practical sense,
0:20:36 > 0:20:39because there is more demand for nurses out there,
0:20:39 > 0:20:40they get paid more out there,
0:20:40 > 0:20:43but it doesn't mean I would rather work in England than New Zealand.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46And I voted New Zealand, because the market is really good
0:20:46 > 0:20:50over here at the moment and, so, there's a lot of demand
0:20:50 > 0:20:52for somebody with my skills.
0:20:57 > 0:20:58Their week back in New Zealand
0:20:58 > 0:21:01had delivered Gentle several surprises
0:21:01 > 0:21:04and it looked like Phil was the one favouring a move.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07But would a day exploring the Kiwi lifestyle remind Gentle
0:21:07 > 0:21:10of why she'd always dreamt of moving home?
0:21:10 > 0:21:12Oh, what's up here?
0:21:12 > 0:21:14Making the most of the mild climate,
0:21:14 > 0:21:17the family indulged their love of the countryside
0:21:17 > 0:21:20with a trip to the Arataki Visitor Centre.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23With over 16,000 hectares of native rainforest
0:21:23 > 0:21:27and coastline, it didn't take long for the Kiwi countryside
0:21:27 > 0:21:29- to work some magic.- Yellow.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31- Good boy.- Yellow.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34- Really nice up here.- Yes, it's got a number of different walks,
0:21:34 > 0:21:36'so depending on how much time you've got,
0:21:36 > 0:21:38'you can do different things.'
0:21:38 > 0:21:41But stopping to reflect on what New Zealand offered
0:21:41 > 0:21:43also saw doubts raised.
0:21:43 > 0:21:45I'm feeling maybe a little bit of pressure as well after I've
0:21:45 > 0:21:48slept on things, because the jobs didn't go quite so well for you
0:21:48 > 0:21:51yesterday as it did go for me.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54I know, and I feel really bad that your dream job,
0:21:54 > 0:21:58you might not be able to afford to be able to take
0:21:58 > 0:22:01because I can't earn as much as I need to, so...
0:22:01 > 0:22:04Gentle and Phil's return to New Zealand had shown the country
0:22:04 > 0:22:09may not be everything Gentle hoped for, but Phil had seen some upsides.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11It's lovely to spend time with the family.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13Everybody's dream would be to not
0:22:13 > 0:22:15have to work and be able to come out here
0:22:15 > 0:22:18and live that lifestyle all the time.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20It was a good sentiment to end the day on,
0:22:20 > 0:22:23so when it came to choosing between their lifestyle in the UK
0:22:23 > 0:22:26and New Zealand, how did the couple vote?
0:22:32 > 0:22:35- New Zealand. - New Zealand.
0:22:35 > 0:22:36Wow, we got something the same!
0:22:36 > 0:22:39Sort of being in the rainforest like that,
0:22:39 > 0:22:42it's not quite the sort of thing you get back home.
0:22:42 > 0:22:44CHEERING
0:22:49 > 0:22:51Gentle's dream to return to the country where she was born
0:22:51 > 0:22:53was back on track.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55But she knew if she couldn't prove to Phil the move
0:22:55 > 0:22:59was financially feasible, they wouldn't be going anywhere.
0:22:59 > 0:23:03The couple estimated they could get £300,000 for their property in the
0:23:03 > 0:23:07UK, so we sent round two estate agents to see if they were right.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12- ESTATE AGENT:- Sitting, dining room, decorated very nicely.
0:23:14 > 0:23:15- ESTATE AGENT:- Brilliant size kitchen,
0:23:15 > 0:23:17looks like it's been recently fitted.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19Good size master bedroom.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22Love the walk-in shower. His and hers sinks.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25Really, really nice room. Fantastic size rear garden there.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27It's a lot nicer in summer.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29In the current market,
0:23:29 > 0:23:33I would value this property at £275,000.
0:23:33 > 0:23:37For a quick sale, I would value it at £270,000.
0:23:37 > 0:23:38In the current market,
0:23:38 > 0:23:42I would value this property at £275,000.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46And for a quick sale, I would put it on the market at £250,000.
0:23:46 > 0:23:51Based on those valuations, I think we would sort of struggle a bit,
0:23:51 > 0:23:54- wouldn't we?- We wouldn't want to sell for that price.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57- No.- Not for the effort we've put into the house.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59We would be at a loss.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03It was less than expected, so not the best start for Phil.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06To help see how finances would stack up down under,
0:24:06 > 0:24:09we had prepared a cost of living comparison,
0:24:09 > 0:24:11starting with the weekly shop.
0:24:11 > 0:24:15OK. A quick flick down, most things are a bit more expensive over here.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17Whole milk is a big jump up.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20That's nearly three times the price.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23It looked like food was generally more expensive.
0:24:23 > 0:24:27£38.45 a week worse off here in New Zealand.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30Next, they moved on to the bigger monthly outgoings,
0:24:30 > 0:24:35basing their mortgage repayments on the first property they'd viewed.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39The mortgage is almost the same as it is back home.
0:24:39 > 0:24:40I thought it would be more, yes.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43Electricity is £50 cheaper over here.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45- That's good.- Childcare.- Childcare.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48That's a cost that, obviously, we haven't got in the UK.
0:24:48 > 0:24:53But it's £312 for the month for childcare.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56The couple added up how their overall outgoings in New Zealand
0:24:56 > 0:24:59would compare to what they spend in the UK.
0:24:59 > 0:25:04Total outgoings in New Zealand, £3,081.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07£279 a month better off.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09Yes, that's good, isn't it?
0:25:09 > 0:25:11It's just really surprising.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14Gentle was delighted to see they would spend less each month
0:25:14 > 0:25:17down under, but how would their potential salaries
0:25:17 > 0:25:18affect the figures?
0:25:18 > 0:25:25Based on the other jobs that I might be able to get for up to 110,000,
0:25:25 > 0:25:30that works out at £260 a month better off here in New Zealand.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33- That's with you working and Harrison in childcare.- OK.
0:25:33 > 0:25:37Across a year, that would be just over £3,000 a year better off.
0:25:37 > 0:25:41- Yeah.- So that might cover a flight home.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43They would stay in the black every month,
0:25:43 > 0:25:46so how do their findings play out when it came to choosing between
0:25:46 > 0:25:49finances in the UK or New Zealand?
0:25:55 > 0:25:57- New Zealand.- Undecided.
0:25:57 > 0:26:01We're £3,000 a year better off over here...
0:26:01 > 0:26:03- Yes.- ..but that would be with you working...- Yeah.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05and I can't work out in my head
0:26:05 > 0:26:09whether it's the right thing for you to go and work
0:26:09 > 0:26:11and only be that much better off.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13I don't know, I just feel...
0:26:13 > 0:26:17I can understand that, but I want to go back to work anyway.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25Phil's indecision was a blow for Gentle,
0:26:25 > 0:26:28and a sign he could be losing faith in his wife's belief that they would
0:26:28 > 0:26:30have a better life down under.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33And concerned about the effect a move would have on his parents,
0:26:33 > 0:26:36Phil's biggest hurdle was still to come.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38While Harrison took a nap,
0:26:38 > 0:26:41the couple watched messages from friends and family back in the UK.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46- Hi, guys.- BOTH:- Hi, Gentle, hi, Harrison, hi, Phil.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48I hope you've had a great week.
0:26:48 > 0:26:49They are a lovely little family.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52Gentle and Phil will do everything for Harrison.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55She's very daring.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57She likes to get into the action.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59She's really lovely.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01Well, we love him very much,
0:27:01 > 0:27:03he's a kind, loving person.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06And he tries to help us when he can.
0:27:06 > 0:27:07I was ill and he helped me.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09- He came home.- He took a year off uni to come home...
0:27:09 > 0:27:11- And helped me.- ..and look after her.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15Harrison is gorgeous, he's just adorable.
0:27:15 > 0:27:19He's very attached to us, for some reason or other.
0:27:19 > 0:27:21I think I'd really miss you
0:27:21 > 0:27:23and I would like you to stay,
0:27:23 > 0:27:24but I think you should go
0:27:24 > 0:27:26and do what you want to do.
0:27:26 > 0:27:30- So, go to New Zealand. - Go to New Zealand.
0:27:30 > 0:27:34Obviously, quite sad at the thought they might really do it.
0:27:34 > 0:27:36We'd both be pleased for them,
0:27:36 > 0:27:38but be upset for ourselves.
0:27:39 > 0:27:43- I'm going to cry.- Don't do that.
0:27:43 > 0:27:44We don't want them to go.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50But if they've got to go, they must.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52And whatever they decide,
0:27:52 > 0:27:55we are 100% behind them.
0:28:00 > 0:28:01Oh.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08You going to New Zealand will leave a big hole in my heart,
0:28:08 > 0:28:13but I know whatever decision you make, it will be the right decision.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17Don't really consider us, just get on with it.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19We will miss you.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22We will miss you so much.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24See you when you get back, my love.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27Bye. Love you all.
0:28:27 > 0:28:30- Oh, are you all right?- Yes.
0:28:30 > 0:28:35It's hard to see my parents getting upset like that.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38It's a difficult move, difficult decision to make.
0:28:38 > 0:28:40It's just so far away, isn't it?
0:28:40 > 0:28:43You do feel a sense of responsibility towards your parents.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46They've looked after you, your life, and when they start to get older,
0:28:46 > 0:28:49you want to be there to help them out.
0:28:52 > 0:28:56Seeing his parents so upset was an emotional blow for Phil,
0:28:56 > 0:28:59who now faced an impossible decision.
0:28:59 > 0:29:02Choosing to make his wife's long-held Kiwi dream come true
0:29:02 > 0:29:05would mean devastating his family back home.
0:29:07 > 0:29:09For as long as she could remember,
0:29:09 > 0:29:13Gentle had wanted to return to the country she left as a baby.
0:29:13 > 0:29:15But the week down under had shown New Zealand
0:29:15 > 0:29:19wouldn't necessarily deliver everything she'd been hoping for.
0:29:19 > 0:29:21Coming out here and finding some answers to questions
0:29:21 > 0:29:24has left me a little bit confused, which I didn't expect.
0:29:24 > 0:29:28And while the financial risks of a move had lessened for Phil,
0:29:28 > 0:29:31the emotional costs were still weighing on his mind.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33Maybe I'm starting to think
0:29:33 > 0:29:34a bit more about the emotional side
0:29:34 > 0:29:37and what it would be like leaving people behind.
0:29:37 > 0:29:39With their final decision approaching,
0:29:39 > 0:29:41Gentle knew how much was at stake.
0:29:41 > 0:29:44It's one of the biggest decisions we've ever had to make as a family,
0:29:44 > 0:29:46so it's a very big deal.
0:29:46 > 0:29:51And either way we vote, it will change the course of our life.
0:29:51 > 0:29:53After decades of dreaming,
0:29:53 > 0:29:56it was time to see if Gentle would follow her heart,
0:29:56 > 0:30:00and if Phil had been persuaded to uproot from his family at home.
0:30:09 > 0:30:11- New Zealand.- New Zealand.
0:30:11 > 0:30:14- I didn't know right up until right then.- I know what you mean.
0:30:14 > 0:30:15It was kind of uncertain,
0:30:15 > 0:30:19but when I think about the potential out here
0:30:19 > 0:30:20and the potential for Harrison,
0:30:20 > 0:30:22I think, yeah, let's give it a go.
0:30:22 > 0:30:24Excited and a bit nervous
0:30:24 > 0:30:28and just keen to see where we go from here, really.
0:30:37 > 0:30:40With most of his practical concerns put to bed,
0:30:40 > 0:30:42Phil was reconciled to taking Harrison away
0:30:42 > 0:30:46from his grandparents in the UK in order to green-light
0:30:46 > 0:30:49Gentle's lifelong dream of moving back to the country
0:30:49 > 0:30:51where she was born.
0:30:51 > 0:30:57So, time to find out - did they or didn't they actually make the move?
0:30:57 > 0:31:00It's April 2016 and Phil, Gentle
0:31:00 > 0:31:03and Harrison are currently living in...
0:31:03 > 0:31:05New Zealand.
0:31:05 > 0:31:07Their trial week was the catalyst for the life
0:31:07 > 0:31:10they've now got on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula,
0:31:10 > 0:31:13just 15 miles north of Auckland.
0:31:13 > 0:31:18It really helped Phil work out the nitty-gritty of moving over here
0:31:18 > 0:31:20and decide that, actually, it was possible.
0:31:20 > 0:31:23Gave me confidence about job opportunities
0:31:23 > 0:31:26and that we could actually come out here and make a go of it.
0:31:28 > 0:31:31On returning to the UK, the couple had busied themselves
0:31:31 > 0:31:33with the logistics of making the move.
0:31:33 > 0:31:35Once we'd made the decision, that was it.
0:31:35 > 0:31:39We got home and we started putting things into...plans into action.
0:31:39 > 0:31:42- High five. Good job. - LAUGHTER
0:31:42 > 0:31:46It was then a bit of a whirlwind trying to sell the house,
0:31:46 > 0:31:51get the visas, all that sort of practical stuff that we had to do.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54All in all, it was probably about six months
0:31:54 > 0:32:00and we had everything sorted and that was it, ready to go.
0:32:00 > 0:32:01HARRISON WAILS
0:32:01 > 0:32:03Fortunately, the news they were moving
0:32:03 > 0:32:07to the other side of the world wasn't too much of a shock
0:32:07 > 0:32:09for their loved ones back in the UK.
0:32:09 > 0:32:11Our family and friends had already guessed, really,
0:32:11 > 0:32:13that we were going to come over and they had already
0:32:13 > 0:32:14kind of come to terms with it.
0:32:14 > 0:32:16'They were sad we were going,
0:32:16 > 0:32:19'but then at the same time they were happy for us.'
0:32:19 > 0:32:21Before setting off on their new adventure,
0:32:21 > 0:32:25the family said goodbye to life in the English countryside
0:32:25 > 0:32:27with a knees-up in their local village hall.
0:32:27 > 0:32:30All our friends came, all our family,
0:32:30 > 0:32:33everyone who could make it and it was really cool.
0:32:33 > 0:32:36Everyone was crying their eyes out and being silly,
0:32:36 > 0:32:38but it was really good fun,
0:32:38 > 0:32:40it was a lovely way to say goodbye to everyone.
0:32:40 > 0:32:42And everyone was calling Gentle the ice queen,
0:32:42 > 0:32:45- because they were trying to make her cry.- I didn't cry.
0:32:45 > 0:32:48I was very sad inside, but I just didn't cry.
0:32:48 > 0:32:50She's the ice queen.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55The Spenceleys arrived to start their new lives in New Zealand
0:32:55 > 0:32:58in October 2014.
0:32:58 > 0:32:59And perhaps surprisingly,
0:32:59 > 0:33:03it was Gentle who found their first weeks back hardest to deal with.
0:33:03 > 0:33:06It's getting over the jet lag to start with
0:33:06 > 0:33:08and then when you start getting over the jet lag,
0:33:08 > 0:33:10then the reality kicks in.
0:33:10 > 0:33:14It felt very isolating to start with.
0:33:14 > 0:33:17We had ourselves as a little family, but, yeah,
0:33:17 > 0:33:20definitely was hard for the first few weeks.
0:33:20 > 0:33:24Sometimes you really did question why you moved over here.
0:33:24 > 0:33:26OK, let's do the buttons first.
0:33:26 > 0:33:27- Are you eating that?- Yeah.
0:33:27 > 0:33:31- You're supposed to put it on the gingerbread man.- Yeah.
0:33:31 > 0:33:33And she knew Harrison was unsettled too.
0:33:33 > 0:33:35Right, do you want to do some glitter?
0:33:35 > 0:33:37We were busy getting on with stuff, so I think, for him,
0:33:37 > 0:33:42it probably wasn't the best of times when we first moved over here.
0:33:42 > 0:33:44OK, that's a very glittery gingerbread man.
0:33:44 > 0:33:48- What do you think?- That looks great. - THEY LAUGH
0:33:57 > 0:34:00But despite his initial reservations about emigrating,
0:34:00 > 0:34:03Phil took to his new surroundings straightaway.
0:34:03 > 0:34:07I've definitely found the move easier than I thought it would be.
0:34:07 > 0:34:09'It's all been very positive,'
0:34:09 > 0:34:11a little bit scarily so, but...
0:34:13 > 0:34:15Helping Phil make the transition was the fact
0:34:15 > 0:34:18he'd been able to keep the job he did in the UK
0:34:18 > 0:34:20and move it with him down under.
0:34:20 > 0:34:23Previously worried about work and finances,
0:34:23 > 0:34:24it was the perfect scenario.
0:34:24 > 0:34:27'It definitely made things easier when we moved over as well,'
0:34:27 > 0:34:29it kind of took some of the pressure off.
0:34:29 > 0:34:33We could just focus on getting a house, getting a car
0:34:33 > 0:34:36and we knew we were secure for a certain amount of time,
0:34:36 > 0:34:39because Phil had his job in England.
0:34:39 > 0:34:43So it was really, really a blessing to be able to do that.
0:34:43 > 0:34:47Their biggest concern was finding a new home,
0:34:47 > 0:34:50but even that turned out easier than anticipated.
0:34:50 > 0:34:53We looked into getting a rental place.
0:34:53 > 0:34:57And then we realised that actually we could get a mortgage
0:34:57 > 0:34:59from the bank, which was really surprising,
0:34:59 > 0:35:02because we thought being first timers over here,
0:35:02 > 0:35:03it would take a while.
0:35:03 > 0:35:06I think the conversation went sort of along the lines of they said,
0:35:06 > 0:35:09"I assume you're going to want a mortgage."
0:35:09 > 0:35:11I said, "I assumed I wouldn't be able to get one."
0:35:11 > 0:35:14And they said, "Why?"
0:35:14 > 0:35:17And it didn't take very long,
0:35:17 > 0:35:20it was sort of a half an hour meeting or something
0:35:20 > 0:35:22and we had an approval in place.
0:35:23 > 0:35:26The couple purchased and moved into this new-build
0:35:26 > 0:35:28just before Christmas 2014.
0:35:37 > 0:35:40We've got a really nice house, and it's lovely where we live.
0:35:45 > 0:35:50This is the lounge. It's a separate room to hide away in at night,
0:35:50 > 0:35:51so you can shut the doors.
0:35:51 > 0:35:53And it's something I've always wanted to have,
0:35:53 > 0:35:55a bit of a separate living area,
0:35:55 > 0:35:57rather than just having everything open-plan.
0:35:57 > 0:36:00Yes, so it's nice and snug in the evening.
0:36:00 > 0:36:04It's got four bedrooms, it's got an en-suite,
0:36:04 > 0:36:07it's got a separate lounge, big double garage.
0:36:07 > 0:36:11So in that sense, it's everything we described that we wanted.
0:36:18 > 0:36:19This is the pantry,
0:36:19 > 0:36:22which is nice, cos I can shut it off with the doors,
0:36:22 > 0:36:24so all the mess can disappear.
0:36:24 > 0:36:26But otherwise, it's really nice to have another space
0:36:26 > 0:36:28to prepare tea and toast.
0:36:28 > 0:36:31But there's one thing the house doesn't have.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34We kind of need to put some air con in in summer, cos it gets so hot.
0:36:34 > 0:36:40It's been designed to retain heat and it really does that very well.
0:36:40 > 0:36:42This is the boat.
0:36:42 > 0:36:44And that's a tractor.
0:36:44 > 0:36:46And that's a dinosaur.
0:36:46 > 0:36:49And that's a dump.
0:36:49 > 0:36:51A few weeks after moving in,
0:36:51 > 0:36:55the family were finally reunited with their belongings from the UK,
0:36:55 > 0:36:56an event that signalled
0:36:56 > 0:36:59the start of happier times for Harrison.
0:36:59 > 0:37:00Should I push this one along?
0:37:00 > 0:37:02- Yeah, Mummy.- Toot toot!
0:37:02 > 0:37:04As soon as he got his toys, he felt settled enough.
0:37:04 > 0:37:07What are we going to do?
0:37:07 > 0:37:09We started making friends, he started making friends.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12And then he felt really settled.
0:37:18 > 0:37:20Shortly afterwards,
0:37:20 > 0:37:22Gentle gave up being a stay-at-home mum
0:37:22 > 0:37:23to return to her career
0:37:23 > 0:37:25as a veterinary nurse,
0:37:25 > 0:37:28having found it easier than expected to find a position.
0:37:28 > 0:37:30Hello. 'I saw the job advertised in the paper'
0:37:30 > 0:37:33and thought, "That's down the road, it's part-time,
0:37:33 > 0:37:35"that sounds perfect."
0:37:35 > 0:37:36'So I went in and went for an interview,
0:37:36 > 0:37:39'literally, the day after I handed my CV in.
0:37:39 > 0:37:42And they pretty much offered me the job straightaway
0:37:42 > 0:37:47and I thought, "Wow, can't turn that down, cos it's just perfect."
0:37:47 > 0:37:50The reality hasn't disappointed.
0:37:50 > 0:37:52CHATTER
0:37:52 > 0:37:53'So I really enjoy my job,
0:37:53 > 0:37:55'because the people I work with are lovely.'
0:37:55 > 0:37:58And I do perfect hours, it's 9-3, three days a week,
0:37:58 > 0:38:01so I get to pick up and take Harrison to preschool.
0:38:03 > 0:38:06Going back to work has helped Gentle feel more settled, too.
0:38:09 > 0:38:11It felt like, you know, this was it,
0:38:11 > 0:38:13this was my life and I lived here now.
0:38:19 > 0:38:23Meanwhile, Phil is continuing to enjoy working remotely
0:38:23 > 0:38:25for his employers back in the UK.
0:38:25 > 0:38:28'I work four days a week for them, Tuesday to Friday.'
0:38:28 > 0:38:33I tend to do calls of an evening to either report on progress
0:38:33 > 0:38:36or just make sure that it keeps things ticking along.
0:38:36 > 0:38:39I've been surprised at the level of communication I've had
0:38:39 > 0:38:41with people in the UK still,
0:38:41 > 0:38:45so I do keep in contact with a lot of members of the team.
0:38:45 > 0:38:46'That helps keep me in the loop.'
0:38:46 > 0:38:49And despite working at opposite ends of the world to his colleagues,
0:38:49 > 0:38:51he has no plans to move on.
0:38:51 > 0:38:52I see it being
0:38:52 > 0:38:56a long-term relationship, so long as my employers
0:38:56 > 0:38:59continue to be happy with the work that I put out.
0:38:59 > 0:39:03Having achieved a perfect work-life balance,
0:39:03 > 0:39:07Phil and Gentle have had plenty of time to host family and friends
0:39:07 > 0:39:10from the UK throughout the past 18 months.
0:39:10 > 0:39:12Both of our parents have visited us.
0:39:12 > 0:39:14My parents have been over twice so far
0:39:14 > 0:39:16and they're coming out again in February.
0:39:16 > 0:39:18We're really lucky in that sense.
0:39:18 > 0:39:21For Phil in particular, the opportunity to show his folks
0:39:21 > 0:39:26the lifestyle they'd left England for was really important.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29They definitely saw and appreciated why we had made the move.
0:39:29 > 0:39:31I think if they were maybe ten years younger,
0:39:31 > 0:39:34I think they'd probably try and think about coming out here
0:39:34 > 0:39:37six months of the year and being in the UK six months of the year,
0:39:37 > 0:39:39chasing summer.
0:39:39 > 0:39:41CHATTER
0:39:43 > 0:39:45In the absence of friends and family from home,
0:39:45 > 0:39:49the Spenceleys have also forged plenty of new friendships
0:39:49 > 0:39:52and admit their personal lives are busier than ever.
0:39:52 > 0:39:55I probably do quite a lot more socialising here
0:39:55 > 0:39:56than I did back in the UK.
0:39:56 > 0:40:00But, yeah, we've got a good group of friends now.
0:40:00 > 0:40:03I think the biggest part of our life over here is socialising.
0:40:03 > 0:40:05We seem to do a lot of it, cos we're basically
0:40:05 > 0:40:08relying on our friends as our family, almost.
0:40:10 > 0:40:12A lot of them are in the same situation
0:40:12 > 0:40:14where they haven't got their family around here,
0:40:14 > 0:40:17so we enjoy our time together.
0:40:21 > 0:40:23And even when it's just the three of them,
0:40:23 > 0:40:26they are making the most of the country's outdoor lifestyle.
0:40:26 > 0:40:30'I feel that we get a lot of really good family time together.'
0:40:30 > 0:40:33'We are enjoying the walks, we are enjoying exploring'
0:40:33 > 0:40:37new areas. But quite often we will just go to the park,
0:40:37 > 0:40:40'like, a regional park. It's got, like, green space and a beach.
0:40:40 > 0:40:42'And in the summer when it's nice and warm,'
0:40:42 > 0:40:44we go for swims in the sea.
0:40:44 > 0:40:47We've also got a swimming pool down the road,
0:40:47 > 0:40:48so we will do that as well.
0:40:48 > 0:40:53The way of life over here is definitely very good.
0:40:53 > 0:40:55'And I think the weather is a big factor of that.
0:40:55 > 0:40:57'Just able to do a lot more.'
0:40:57 > 0:41:01But they've also discovered a tiny negative to all that sunshine.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04There's a downside to having nice weather is the sunscreen,
0:41:04 > 0:41:06but at the same time,
0:41:06 > 0:41:08it's something I'm prepared to deal with!
0:41:09 > 0:41:12It's not the worst thing in the world to be complaining about.
0:41:12 > 0:41:14- No, exactly.- First world problems.
0:41:15 > 0:41:18It's fair to say establishing the life Gentle had dreamt of
0:41:18 > 0:41:22in New Zealand has been pretty plain sailing.
0:41:22 > 0:41:25I'm really happy we made the move out here.
0:41:25 > 0:41:28I'm really enjoying life out here at the moment.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31'I think we are very lucky to have what we have over here,
0:41:31 > 0:41:34'so at the moment, I feel really happy and settled.'
0:41:34 > 0:41:38'I don't think I've ever felt anything that said
0:41:38 > 0:41:40'this was not right decision.'
0:41:40 > 0:41:41I said I didn't
0:41:41 > 0:41:44feel quite so settled in the house we were in in the UK.
0:41:44 > 0:41:46I feel a lot more settled over here.
0:41:46 > 0:41:49- And there.- There's one.- There's one.
0:41:49 > 0:41:51'We really kind of landed on our feet here.'
0:41:51 > 0:41:53- That's an even bigger one.- Whoa.
0:41:53 > 0:41:55And Harrison's made himself at home too.
0:41:55 > 0:41:58'Very occasionally, like the other day, he said,
0:41:58 > 0:42:01'"I want to go back to England to live with my nanny and gramps,
0:42:01 > 0:42:04'"meaning grandma and grandad."
0:42:04 > 0:42:07'That made us really sad, but then the next day'
0:42:07 > 0:42:10we were doing something super fun, he was like,
0:42:10 > 0:42:12"I love living here. I don't want to live in England!"
0:42:12 > 0:42:15So for him, it's each day as it comes.
0:42:17 > 0:42:20Now, 18 months into their new lives,
0:42:20 > 0:42:23the Spenceleys will soon be visiting the UK for a wedding,
0:42:23 > 0:42:26but it doesn't sound like the family will be giving up
0:42:26 > 0:42:28on New Zealand any time soon.
0:42:28 > 0:42:31- It's really nice here, isn't it? - I saw a stingray!
0:42:31 > 0:42:34It's always difficult to say 100% where your future lies,
0:42:34 > 0:42:37but I kind of think I feel very settled here.
0:42:39 > 0:42:42'Our lives have turned out really well...'
0:42:42 > 0:42:46by fluke. It's just...we've been really lucky.
0:42:50 > 0:42:53It's everything that we expected and more, so we're really happy.
0:42:59 > 0:43:01With everything falling into place,
0:43:01 > 0:43:06Gentle's New Zealand dream really has become the reality for her,
0:43:06 > 0:43:08Phil and Harrison.
0:43:08 > 0:43:12And it looks like the whole family have made the country their home.
0:43:12 > 0:43:16We wish them all continued health and happiness down under.