0:00:02 > 0:00:04Back in 2015, Sofia Huddart's demanding career
0:00:04 > 0:00:06was taking its toll on family life.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09I feel I'm missing out a lot on the kids growing up.
0:00:09 > 0:00:11We have gone times where it's been almost two weeks
0:00:11 > 0:00:14before Sofia's actually seen the kids.
0:00:14 > 0:00:18She felt a new start in New Zealand could be the answer.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20Most of what people say about New Zealand
0:00:20 > 0:00:22seems to be very positive.
0:00:22 > 0:00:24When a week dipping their toes into Kiwi life
0:00:24 > 0:00:26showed just how much was on offer...
0:00:26 > 0:00:30I've certainly fallen in love with it. I mean, it's idyllic!
0:00:30 > 0:00:31..was it enough to convince husband Nik
0:00:31 > 0:00:34to leave his beloved London behind?
0:00:34 > 0:00:36I was up late last night and my brain was whizzing,
0:00:36 > 0:00:39thinking of things. We could quite happily stay in London.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42But where are the Huddart family now -
0:00:42 > 0:00:45in the UK or New Zealand?
0:01:09 > 0:01:13Around 1,000 miles long and 300 miles across at its widest,
0:01:13 > 0:01:17New Zealand's a nation roughly the same size as the UK.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20But with only a 14th of the population of Britain,
0:01:20 > 0:01:22there's plenty of room to roam.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26Boasting stunning, varied landscapes,
0:01:26 > 0:01:29the country's been a magnet for British emigrants since the 1800s,
0:01:29 > 0:01:33and latest figures show 7,000 UK citizens
0:01:33 > 0:01:35start a new life there every year.
0:01:37 > 0:01:41Hard-working mum Sofia believed New Zealand would offer her
0:01:41 > 0:01:44the family time she desperately needed.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47But while dad Nik agreed things needed to change,
0:01:47 > 0:01:50he worried that abandoning what they'd achieved in the UK
0:01:50 > 0:01:53could be too big a risk.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57And so we sent the Huddarts to New Zealand for a trial week
0:01:57 > 0:02:00to see if that risk was worth taking.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05It was the Huddarts' first ever visit to New Zealand,
0:02:05 > 0:02:08and they travelled for over 24 hours
0:02:08 > 0:02:10from London to Auckland via Singapore.
0:02:10 > 0:02:12Eventually touching down,
0:02:12 > 0:02:15the family were exhausted after a day's travelling,
0:02:15 > 0:02:19and Nik had certainly had an eventful flight.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22Both flights were long, but it wasn't too bad,
0:02:22 > 0:02:26apart from Aliza throwing up on me just before landing in Singapore,
0:02:26 > 0:02:28so I got off at Singapore smelling of sick.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32And all three of them finally slept for the last hour of the flight.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36- I had a big nap, didn't I, Daddy? - You did have a big nap, yeah.
0:02:36 > 0:02:41Sofia had already worked out her priorities for the coming week...
0:02:41 > 0:02:43The most important thing for me to find out is basically can I work here?
0:02:43 > 0:02:46If I can't work, then everything else just kind of falls apart, really.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49..while Nik knew this could be his family's only shot
0:02:49 > 0:02:53at determining if the country could become their new home.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56The most important thing this week is to find out if we can live here.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58Because it's such a long way,
0:02:58 > 0:03:00we can't really come and do it again.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02Sofia was raring to go.
0:03:02 > 0:03:03This will be exciting!
0:03:05 > 0:03:07The trial week would show if New Zealand could give her
0:03:07 > 0:03:10the family time she so deeply desired.
0:03:15 > 0:03:19Back in 2015, the Huddart family were from London.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22They were dad Nik, mum Sofia, five-year-old Aliza,
0:03:22 > 0:03:25Izzie, who was nearly two, and Idris, who was three.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31Having lived in London for over ten years,
0:03:31 > 0:03:33Nik thrived on life in the city.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36The thing about London is, you know, you can do anything you want.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38You meet so many different people from all walks of life
0:03:38 > 0:03:41and all sort of different countries that it's just...
0:03:41 > 0:03:43I find it a great place to live.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47- He absolutely adores London. - It was Dr Johnson who said,
0:03:47 > 0:03:49"When a man is tired of London, he's tired of life."
0:03:52 > 0:03:54After a career in IT,
0:03:54 > 0:03:57Nik had spent the last two years as a stay-at-home dad,
0:03:57 > 0:03:59which gave him more time to enjoy the city
0:03:59 > 0:04:02and polish his domestic skills.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05It is almost a complete sort of traditional role reversal.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08You know, Sofia's dinner will be ready by the time she gets back.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11I'll have done the washing and everything else, and the house is tidy.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13You know, I even make cupcakes. It's ridiculous.
0:04:13 > 0:04:17You know, I'm swapping recipes with children's mums outside,
0:04:17 > 0:04:18baking cakes for school sales.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22Nik's transformation into a househusband
0:04:22 > 0:04:25has also allowed Sofia to concentrate on her medical career.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27I specialise in anaesthetics,
0:04:27 > 0:04:30so my job involves putting patients to sleep for operations.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32That's the long and the short of it.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34- And then waking them up again. - Well, yes.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37That's kind of the other important bit of it!
0:04:37 > 0:04:42She was passionate about her job, but the shifts were demanding.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45My average working week is a 48-hour week.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47We don't really get away much less than that.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51It's a long week. Some weeks, it's just, you know, she's home,
0:04:51 > 0:04:54you know, for tea-time, or just after tea-time.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57There's other weeks where she's, you know, back incredibly late
0:04:57 > 0:04:58and then working the weekend.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02And the long hours were putting a strain on family life.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05We have gone times where it's been almost two weeks
0:05:05 > 0:05:07before Sofia's actually seen the kids.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09I feel I'm missing out a lot on the kids growing up,
0:05:09 > 0:05:10but certainly with Izzie,
0:05:10 > 0:05:12I went back to work when he was nine months old,
0:05:12 > 0:05:14and I still come back some days and say,
0:05:14 > 0:05:17"Oh, no, he's doing that now." And Nik'll say, "Oh, no, he's been doing it for weeks."
0:05:17 > 0:05:20"OK, fine." So, I've missed that, as well.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22It's not... It's not brilliant.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30After initially looking at Canada, America and Singapore,
0:05:30 > 0:05:33the couple had set their sights on moving to New Zealand.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36Most of what people say about New Zealand
0:05:36 > 0:05:40seems to be very positive from lots of perspectives.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45Neither she nor Nik had ever visited the country,
0:05:45 > 0:05:48but Sofia believed it could be the key to her spending more time
0:05:48 > 0:05:50with Aliza, Izzie and Idris.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55I'd love to see them grow up a little bit more.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57I'd love to spend time with them a little bit more.
0:05:57 > 0:06:03- Go, go, go, go! More, more, more! - CHEERING
0:06:03 > 0:06:05But while Nik could see some of the appeal,
0:06:05 > 0:06:08he was also more cautious about moving his family to a country
0:06:08 > 0:06:10that they'd never seen.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13I'd love for, you know, the boys to play rugby.
0:06:13 > 0:06:15It'd be great if they could learn to sail, as well.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17I think, by all accounts, the schools are better.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22Having managed to get his foot on the London property ladder,
0:06:22 > 0:06:25he had practical concerns about leaving the city he loved.
0:06:25 > 0:06:29House prices seem to be going up. Is it 13% a year?
0:06:29 > 0:06:33If a move didn't work out and the family returned to the UK,
0:06:33 > 0:06:35Nik knew the door could be firmly closed
0:06:35 > 0:06:38on owning a property in the capital again.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40The way the house prices are going here,
0:06:40 > 0:06:41it's difficult to move back.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44Even for two years, the gulf would be too much.
0:06:44 > 0:06:48If we sold the house, it's almost irreversible.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54Their upcoming trial week would decide once and for all
0:06:54 > 0:06:58if New Zealand was where the family should call home.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00It's a very important week for the both of us
0:07:00 > 0:07:03because it's a one-shot deal. It's, you know...
0:07:03 > 0:07:05Is it 12,000, 14,000 miles away?
0:07:05 > 0:07:07It's a long way. It's a 24-hour flight.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11It's five of us going out there. We're not going to do it again.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13This is not, "Oh, let's just see if we like it this time.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15"We'll go again next year."
0:07:15 > 0:07:19I just want to get it over and done with so I can put it to rest
0:07:19 > 0:07:22and then we can just move on, one way or another.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25And Sofia's job could be the deciding factor.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30I'm hoping that New Zealand will prove to be more,
0:07:30 > 0:07:32yes, I can do my work while I'm at work,
0:07:32 > 0:07:34but then I can come home and I can be with the kids.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38It all hangs off Sofia's job and Sofia's happiness in that job.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46The Huddarts spent their trial week
0:07:46 > 0:07:49in New Zealand largest city, Auckland.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51Their home was a four-bedroom house in Stanmore Bay
0:07:51 > 0:07:53on the Hibiscus Coast,
0:07:53 > 0:07:55just over half an hour north of the city centre.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02After the long journey, their temporary base
0:08:02 > 0:08:04was a sight for sore eyes.
0:08:05 > 0:08:10This is nice! Come on, kiddies! Come on in, kiddies!
0:08:10 > 0:08:13Aliza, Izzie and Idris were soon making themselves at home.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16- Whose room is this, then? - Ah, that'd be your room.
0:08:16 > 0:08:20Aliza! I think that might be your bed up there.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22I love the bunk bed!
0:08:22 > 0:08:26And Sofia was delighted with one kitchen feature.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30- Telescope.- Oh, look, the kitchen has an island! Look!
0:08:30 > 0:08:33- I really do like this.- You've got your island.- I've got my island.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35I'm quite excited by having an island.
0:08:35 > 0:08:39Upstairs, the view of the Hauraki Gulf impressed everyone.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41- It's beautiful. - It's beautiful, isn't it?
0:08:41 > 0:08:43- I can see our car. - You can see our car.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45But more importantly, you can see the ocean.
0:08:45 > 0:08:46Can you see the ocean?
0:08:46 > 0:08:49Let's pull the mattress up and we'll just lay out here!
0:08:49 > 0:08:51- Nice.- That'd be perfect.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53Keen to explore their new surroundings,
0:08:53 > 0:08:55the family headed to the beach.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58So busy! Idris, come on.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00It's just beautiful.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03And Nik spotted one difference from home straightaway.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06I'm struggling to find any litter. That's what's getting me.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08There's no litter at all round here.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11It's absolutely immaculate. It's beautiful.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14I'm not going to say it. I'm almost sold just on this.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18And the house and its environment had won both Sofia and Nik over.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20I can't, in some ways, believe that we're here,
0:09:20 > 0:09:23except for the fact that I can't get that view outside in the UK.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25This is just perfect. It's just beautiful.
0:09:25 > 0:09:27I could quite happily live here.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31You know, I need to find out if we could afford a house like this.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34As they settled in, Sofia had time to focus on the week ahead.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38There is going to be a change in our family,
0:09:38 > 0:09:41and I don't know in what direction it's really going to take us.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44But she was all too aware that their scenic surroundings
0:09:44 > 0:09:47would only be a feature of their future
0:09:47 > 0:09:49if she could secure the right job.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51So, this week, the most important thing is to find out
0:09:51 > 0:09:53whether or not I can get a job.
0:09:53 > 0:09:57And if I get a job, whether I like said job - hopefully...
0:09:57 > 0:09:58And then it's just a case of,
0:09:58 > 0:10:00"Well, can we get the lifestyle that we want,
0:10:00 > 0:10:04"and can I get the time with family that I want,
0:10:04 > 0:10:07"which I currently don't get in the UK?"
0:10:07 > 0:10:10The next few days would prove once and for all
0:10:10 > 0:10:13if New Zealand could deliver the life the Huddarts desired.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22Home for the Huddarts in the UK was this five-bedroom house
0:10:22 > 0:10:25in East London. The couple bought it in 2011,
0:10:25 > 0:10:28and it still needed some finishing touches.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31We've spent time and money trying to make it ours.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34It's still a little bit of a work in progress, but we like it.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37Living in a terraced house had had some limitations
0:10:37 > 0:10:39for a large, active family.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42The only thing I miss is a sideway where we can take the dirty bikes,
0:10:42 > 0:10:44dirty kids and, you know...
0:10:44 > 0:10:47- Dirty dog.- Yeah, exactly. This fabled dog I'd like to get.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49This fabled dog that might turn up.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52This meant the couple hoped for something bigger in New Zealand,
0:10:52 > 0:10:55with their £600,000 budget.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58There's no point moving if we're going to end up
0:10:58 > 0:11:01- with a terraced house. - We'd like a detached house.
0:11:01 > 0:11:02- Detached.- Five bedrooms.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05A lot of outdoor space for the kids to run around and play football.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07I'd love a swimming pool.
0:11:07 > 0:11:08We need a house with a little bit of a wow factor,
0:11:08 > 0:11:10where you go, "Whoa, this is great."
0:11:10 > 0:11:12And in the kitchen, Sofia?
0:11:12 > 0:11:14Sofia would like an island in the kitchen.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16With an island. It has to have an island!
0:11:20 > 0:11:24To find out what kind of house they could actually have in New Zealand,
0:11:24 > 0:11:26we showed the family three properties -
0:11:26 > 0:11:28two on budget, and a third,
0:11:28 > 0:11:30which could have been their dream home.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33Only after they saw each one did they find out its value.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38For their first viewing, the family headed four miles north
0:11:38 > 0:11:41from Stanmore Bay to the Silverdale area.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44This recently built home was near to numerous beaches,
0:11:44 > 0:11:46and with good schools nearby,
0:11:46 > 0:11:50the area would have been perfect for the Huddarts.
0:11:50 > 0:11:51This is the house, kids!
0:11:53 > 0:11:56Wow! This is the lounge.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58With two of the five bedrooms downstairs,
0:11:58 > 0:12:02there was some speculation over the floor plan.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04Another downstairs bedroom.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07- Aliza, is this house upside down, do you think?- Yes.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10I think it might be, yeah.
0:12:10 > 0:12:14It's a bathroom. A downstairs bathroom.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17Nik found it all a bit confusing.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20- What's next?- This is... I don't know what this is.
0:12:20 > 0:12:22Oh, it's like a breakfast room, isn't it?
0:12:22 > 0:12:24Yeah, but where's the kitchen?
0:12:24 > 0:12:26But on further inspection, the light dawned.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29There might be a kitchen... There is sort of a kitchen in here.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32- Ah, this is why hence the granny annexe bit.- Or maybe not.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36- I am confused now.- Oh, no, this is a utility room. That's what this is.
0:12:36 > 0:12:37No, no, don't mention the word granny flat!
0:12:37 > 0:12:40While the children played, Nik spotted an area
0:12:40 > 0:12:41which should have pleased Sofia.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43You might like this kitchen.
0:12:45 > 0:12:46That's nice!
0:12:46 > 0:12:49Islands are my thing. Only because it just then means
0:12:49 > 0:12:52that you've got a kitchen big enough to sit one in!
0:12:52 > 0:12:53That explained it.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56Nik eventually found the main bedroom.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59This has to be the last room. Wow!
0:12:59 > 0:13:02- Now, this is more master bedroom-like.- This is lovely.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06Ah, this is the walk-in wardrobe!
0:13:06 > 0:13:09Right, by a process of elimination, that has to be a bathroom.
0:13:09 > 0:13:10An en-suite.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13- Ah-ha! It is a bathroom. - It is the bathroom.- Nice.
0:13:13 > 0:13:15This one doesn't have a tub in it, but, hey.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17With direct access onto a deck,
0:13:17 > 0:13:21it could have been the perfect place to relax.
0:13:21 > 0:13:23- Nice.- See, you've got the river over there.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26- Yeah.- And then the sea.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28The couple seemed right at home.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30SHE SIGHS
0:13:30 > 0:13:32I could do this!
0:13:32 > 0:13:34- It's nice.- No, it is lovely. It is lovely.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38But back inside, the layout still caused concern.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42I'm still not sure about this upside-downness, though.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45- What would you...? I don't understand.- What?
0:13:45 > 0:13:47What would you use that and this for?
0:13:47 > 0:13:49So, you kind of... I guess you use that as a sort of telly,
0:13:49 > 0:13:53- messy-up area.- What's this, then? - And then this is your formal room.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56This house both pleased and perplexed,
0:13:56 > 0:14:01but could the Huddarts afford it with their £600,000 budget?
0:14:01 > 0:14:05- So, what did you say? - I said 560.- I said 580.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09- Ooh!- 613,000.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12Well, that was £13,000 over budget.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14That's a lot more than we thought.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17Workable. Maybe.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19Well, it's not too much over-budget. It's workable.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23- It's workable.- It's just a funny, upside-down layout.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25Oh, well, it's house number one.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27Let's see what else they've got for us.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32The family headed off to view property two.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35It was in the Schnapper Rock area of Albany,
0:14:35 > 0:14:38an easy 20-minute commute into Auckland city centre.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41With a large shopping mall and sports facilities nearby,
0:14:41 > 0:14:44it might have suited the family to a T.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48- Wow!- Wow, it's a big lounge. - What do you think?
0:14:48 > 0:14:50- And a telly.- And a telly.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52- This is much more homely than the last one.- It is.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55People actually live here, rather than just a show house.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57It feels like someone lives here. It's nice.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59Taking a break, the children were looked after
0:14:59 > 0:15:03by a childminder while Nik and Sofia explored further.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06And, yes, Sofia...
0:15:06 > 0:15:08- More kitchens with islands! - A kitchen with an island.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10There's two lounges in this one.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12That's what I said - it's more a sort of day room.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15And a cat. Are you OK? Flowers are nice.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18But, though it had an island, the kitchen wasn't sizing up.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21Got a big range, a big range cooker.
0:15:21 > 0:15:23I need a lot more kitchen.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26The main bedroom got a better reception, though.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28And this is the master bedroom.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31- SHE CHUCKLES - Right, this is a really nice size.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33Until, that was, Nik's attention was drawn
0:15:33 > 0:15:35to a very special lavatory.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39- His and hers sinks. - It's got a very bizarre toilet!
0:15:39 > 0:15:43- What's wrong with it?!- No, it's a Japanese, clean-your-bum toilet.
0:15:43 > 0:15:47But it was outside that received Nik's most cutting critique,
0:15:47 > 0:15:50calling time on the garden furniture.
0:15:50 > 0:15:54They have four table and chairs. Is it a pub?
0:15:54 > 0:15:58Finding a perfect home for the Huddarts could be a challenge,
0:15:58 > 0:16:01but was this a property they could have afforded
0:16:01 > 0:16:04with their £600,000 budget?
0:16:04 > 0:16:06- Will we go for it? - OK.- All right, 650.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10Ooh! 566.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12- So, it's cheaper than the other house.- Yes.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15- And it's a nicer area. - I'm surprised at that.- OK.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18So, the question is, then,
0:16:18 > 0:16:20if we went slightly up on that budget...
0:16:20 > 0:16:24- What could you get around here? - ..what could you get in Albany? OK.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26For the final property of the day,
0:16:26 > 0:16:29we found what we felt could have been the Huddarts' dream home
0:16:29 > 0:16:32just a 20-minute drive to the east in Rothesay Bay.
0:16:32 > 0:16:36Minutes from the beach, with schools and cafes only a stone's throw away,
0:16:36 > 0:16:40was this the one that would convince Nik leaving London was worthwhile?
0:16:40 > 0:16:42- Can we get down there?- Yeah.
0:16:42 > 0:16:44The incline of the driveway didn't get the viewing off
0:16:44 > 0:16:46to the best start.
0:16:46 > 0:16:51- Ah!- Stop. - I'm never going to get out!
0:16:51 > 0:16:54Inside, Nik kept a tally of the rooms.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58- Lounge number one. - We're not counting lounges any more.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01- There might only be the one this time.- OK.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04The bedrooms won approval for their size...
0:17:04 > 0:17:07- Bedroom number one. - It seems bigger than the others.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10..but it was the main bedroom that got them really excited.
0:17:12 > 0:17:14Wow! OK.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17- Hey, this is a nice room. - It's a beautiful room.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20This is a proper walk-in wardrobe, but it's quite functional.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23It's not very attractive with all the metal, but it's perfect.
0:17:23 > 0:17:24- It is.- Ensuite with his and hers sinks.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26His and hers sinks. Yes, I like that.
0:17:27 > 0:17:31Sofia's mood continued to soar when she came face-to-face
0:17:31 > 0:17:34with the kitchen of her dreams.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37- Now, this kitchen has got work space!- This is a huge kitchen!
0:17:37 > 0:17:39- OK.- This is beautiful.
0:17:39 > 0:17:43And white rather than black, sort of for the shiny effect.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46- SHE GAPS - A walk-in pantry!- No!
0:17:46 > 0:17:49- And the light comes on when you open it.- Oh, my dad would love this.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53And outside lay the luxury item Nik had been hoping for.
0:17:53 > 0:17:57- HE LAUGHS - I knew it! It's got a pool.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59That's really special.
0:18:01 > 0:18:02It's not that bad. I'd go in.
0:18:04 > 0:18:08Both Nik and Sofia had fallen for this house,
0:18:08 > 0:18:11but was it within reach of their £600,000 budget?
0:18:11 > 0:18:14Oh, God, I can't even begin to take a guess at this house.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16It's nice, it's got a pool, near the beach.
0:18:18 > 0:18:22- 680. I'm throwing out random numbers here.- OK.
0:18:24 > 0:18:25Go on, then. Tell me.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29708,000.
0:18:29 > 0:18:321.5 million.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35Yeah, that's still quite a lot out of our budget.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38It is out of our budget. It's not a million miles away from our budget.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41It had been a day of mixed fortune hunting
0:18:41 > 0:18:43for property in the Auckland region.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47Property one's layout was far too confusing.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50House number two failed to cut the mustard
0:18:50 > 0:18:53with a pub-style garden and a technological toilet.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57But with its resort-style swimming pool,
0:18:57 > 0:19:02property three really was the dream home, if over budget.
0:19:02 > 0:19:03So, when it came to the vote,
0:19:03 > 0:19:06did the couple choose property at home or away?
0:19:09 > 0:19:10My vote goes to...
0:19:12 > 0:19:14- BOTH:- New Zealand!
0:19:16 > 0:19:17You kind of guessed that, didn't you?
0:19:17 > 0:19:19- I kind of guessed that. - Why?- Why not?
0:19:19 > 0:19:21Well, you liked the houses. It's amazing.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24Well, especially that last house. But with this on your doorstep...
0:19:24 > 0:19:27- I know, yeah.- With the level of housing we've seen,
0:19:27 > 0:19:28I'd quite easily forget London.
0:19:34 > 0:19:38Despite the initial properties being uninspiring,
0:19:38 > 0:19:40a vote for New Zealand from Nik meant his concerns
0:19:40 > 0:19:42could have been crumbling.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46But it was Sofia's job that had led the family to consider emigrating,
0:19:46 > 0:19:48so securing the right role would be key
0:19:48 > 0:19:50if they were going to make the move.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57Back in the UK, Sofia was the family's sole breadwinner.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59At the time, she was working as an anaesthetist
0:19:59 > 0:20:02whilst training to become a consultant.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05I love my job. Anaesthetists find themselves
0:20:05 > 0:20:08in quite a lot of hairy situations, and for me that's quite nice.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10So, for the most part, everything is calm and going,
0:20:10 > 0:20:14and then you occasionally have sort of little adrenaline rushes where it's all, "Go, go, go!"
0:20:14 > 0:20:16Working around 50 hours a week
0:20:16 > 0:20:19meant she could go days without seeing her children.
0:20:19 > 0:20:20The job is, like, the linchpin.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23If I don't work and I don't have the work-life balance that I want,
0:20:23 > 0:20:25then nothing else is going to work.
0:20:26 > 0:20:28Good luck. Don't forget your bag.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33With the family's future resting on what she would discover,
0:20:33 > 0:20:36Sofia headed out to investigate her work possibilities.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38At Auckland's Southern Cross Hospital,
0:20:38 > 0:20:41she met David Findlow, an expat anaesthetist
0:20:41 > 0:20:44who had been living in New Zealand for 15 years.
0:20:44 > 0:20:45Shall we start with, can I find a job here?
0:20:45 > 0:20:48Well, I've had a good look over your CV.
0:20:48 > 0:20:54If you were hell-bent on Auckland, then the job market is tight.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57And you would probably have to enter the Auckland system
0:20:57 > 0:21:01as a senior trainee, or what we call a fellow.
0:21:01 > 0:21:05And that has implications in terms of lower salaries,
0:21:05 > 0:21:09yet another year of training before you get a consultant job.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12A move to Auckland could have meant a delay for Sofia
0:21:12 > 0:21:15in becoming a fully-fledged consultant.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18But not too fazed, she was keen to find out
0:21:18 > 0:21:20about her potential earnings.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23Salary difference-wise, sort of between the UK and here,
0:21:23 > 0:21:25consultant and fellow?
0:21:25 > 0:21:27The fellows are usually employed
0:21:27 > 0:21:30- on what's called a Medical Officer Scale.- Yeah.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32Now, the start of a Medical Officer Scale,
0:21:32 > 0:21:37for a basic working week, is 114,000.
0:21:37 > 0:21:41But that can then be bumped up by either on-call
0:21:41 > 0:21:45- or weekend work allowances of about 25,000 more.- OK.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48- So, that pushes you around 140.- Yeah.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51And then, on top of that, you have an allowance
0:21:51 > 0:21:55for what's called CME - continuing medical education.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58The total package could have reached £67,000 -
0:21:58 > 0:22:02not far off the £70,000 she currently earned at home.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06Meanwhile, as Nik planned to continue in his role
0:22:06 > 0:22:08as a househusband in New Zealand,
0:22:08 > 0:22:12he took the opportunity to find out about Kiwi education.
0:22:12 > 0:22:16At Stanmore Bay School, he met with principal Carol Abley.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18So, this is our library.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21So, the children come in here for library lessons.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23- I like storybooks. - Do you?- You like storybooks?
0:22:23 > 0:22:26Carol explained that the school taught much more
0:22:26 > 0:22:28than just core subjects.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31So, we've got a composting bin, we've got a wind farm,
0:22:31 > 0:22:34we grow our own vegetables, and we've got an orchard.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39Nik was impressed with what he saw.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41The way that school was put together,
0:22:41 > 0:22:44the way the children behaved, all the outdoor stuff -
0:22:44 > 0:22:46it's far better than I thought.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49Back at the hospital, Sofia was getting down to the crunch.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52Would working in New Zealand mean more time at home?
0:22:52 > 0:22:57- What's an average working week? - The days can be reasonably long.
0:22:57 > 0:23:02So, a typical in-theatre session would start at 7.30am,
0:23:02 > 0:23:06and then a full day's list is scheduled to finish at 4.30pm,
0:23:06 > 0:23:10- but as you well know, the unpredictability is such... - Yes, the unpredictability.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13Long days were exactly what Sofia was trying to escape.
0:23:13 > 0:23:17She asked David how he found the difference in work-life balance
0:23:17 > 0:23:19since moving to New Zealand.
0:23:20 > 0:23:25Certainly, in medicine, I don't see any great difference.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30What you do with the life element of your work-life balance, of course,
0:23:30 > 0:23:34is very different. The main positive difference between,
0:23:34 > 0:23:38for me, between New Zealand and Britain when I first came over here,
0:23:38 > 0:23:41it would be in a single word and that would be positivity.
0:23:41 > 0:23:48The attitude of local medical people, on the whole,
0:23:48 > 0:23:50is positive and can-do.
0:23:52 > 0:23:56Back at base, it was time for Sofia to vote.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59Based on the job that I've seen, my vote goes to...
0:24:04 > 0:24:06..New Zealand.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09Based on what I've seen and what I've heard about jobs
0:24:09 > 0:24:12and working life and conditions in New Zealand,
0:24:12 > 0:24:15it seems to be that New Zealand is where I should be.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21Enjoying a rare day out,
0:24:21 > 0:24:24the family took to the water with a sailing lesson on Lake Pupuke.
0:24:41 > 0:24:45The afternoon had confirmed Sofia's thoughts on New Zealand.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47The kids loved being out there on the lake.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50Aliza loved the steering and pulling the boat rests.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52She was really excited. She enjoyed it so much.
0:24:52 > 0:24:56And more than anything else, I think I'm more convinced
0:24:56 > 0:24:58that this is the right thing for us to do.
0:24:58 > 0:25:03When we were on the boat, it was quite funny.
0:25:03 > 0:25:07And I forgot to go down when we turned.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11Nik also seemed to have been won over.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13It's the outdoor lifestyle. It's the Kiwi lifestyle.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15I think, for them, as kids,
0:25:15 > 0:25:18I think it's very important that we make this move.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21And the hold London had on him seemed to be slowly weakening.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23And the one thing that has surprised me this week
0:25:23 > 0:25:26is how much I like Auckland. It's beautiful.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29It had been a fun day out for the whole family,
0:25:29 > 0:25:32and it was time to discover, when it came to lifestyle,
0:25:32 > 0:25:35if everyone was sold on what New Zealand had to offer.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39We've had a great day out in New Zealand, so our vote goes to...
0:25:39 > 0:25:40Turn the card! Keep turning!
0:25:46 > 0:25:50- Undecided.- New Zealand! - New Zealand!
0:25:50 > 0:25:54- Outnumbered.- I was outnumbered. Didn't expect that one, did you?
0:25:54 > 0:25:56- Go on, then.- For the family,
0:25:56 > 0:26:00for seeing the joy on the kids' faces and you on the boat,
0:26:00 > 0:26:03- it has to be New Zealand.- Yeah. But? - For me, it's slightly undecided.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06I really loved it. The kids had such a good time,
0:26:06 > 0:26:08other than the slight rain that came in and out.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11- SLIGHT rain?- But it came and it went, unlike London,
0:26:11 > 0:26:13where it would just be there for the whole day
0:26:13 > 0:26:14and we'd be stuck inside the house.
0:26:23 > 0:26:25A day out together had shown the couple
0:26:25 > 0:26:28New Zealand could be the ideal place to raise their children.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30They just needed to see if they could afford
0:26:30 > 0:26:33the lifestyle they'd fallen for.
0:26:33 > 0:26:35Sofia and Nik sat down to compare the cost of living
0:26:35 > 0:26:37in New Zealand with the UK.
0:26:37 > 0:26:42Their calculations were based on the first property they saw.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45- The difference in the mortgage bill? - £599 more expensive.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48- Did we really need a calculator for that?- Yeah.
0:26:48 > 0:26:52Transport costs. UK is 300. Here is 150.
0:26:52 > 0:26:56- So, that's 150 less.- Really? - Yeah.- OK.- That's surprising.
0:26:57 > 0:27:02- 586.- 586 more expensive. - Yeah, actually, that makes sense.
0:27:02 > 0:27:06In total, the couple would be spending around £7,000 a year more
0:27:06 > 0:27:08in New Zealand.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11Which is, to be fair, mostly mortgage.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14When Sofia's potential salary was taken into account,
0:27:14 > 0:27:17the picture improved, but not by much.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21- 287.- Yeah.
0:27:21 > 0:27:26The family would be around £3,500 out of pocket each year
0:27:26 > 0:27:28should they choose to move to New Zealand,
0:27:28 > 0:27:31but they both felt it was a shortfall they could overcome.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36- It's all the mortgage. OK. - Yeah, it's mostly the mortgage.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38- OK?- Which is not impossible.
0:27:38 > 0:27:42- It's not impossible.- Even though I needed a spreadsheet!
0:27:42 > 0:27:46The overall financial picture didn't seem to have caused much concern,
0:27:46 > 0:27:48so would that mean another clean sweep
0:27:48 > 0:27:52as they prepared to vote on finances in New Zealand versus the UK?
0:27:52 > 0:27:55Based on the finances that we've seen today,
0:27:55 > 0:27:57our vote goes to...
0:28:03 > 0:28:08- New Zealand.- Undecided. - Really? Why?- I don't know.
0:28:08 > 0:28:10I just couldn't quite decide
0:28:10 > 0:28:13whether we'd be better off or worse off here.
0:28:13 > 0:28:14There was nothing in there that was unworkable.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17- I kind of have to mull it over a little bit longer.- OK.
0:28:21 > 0:28:25While Nik had been the one to voice practical concerns about the move,
0:28:25 > 0:28:29the financial realities seem to have given Sofia a moment to waver.
0:28:29 > 0:28:32The emotional cost also needed to be considered.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35After first discussing it with the children,
0:28:35 > 0:28:39they all sat down to watch messages from friends and family together.
0:28:40 > 0:28:45Hi, Sofia, Nik and kids!
0:28:45 > 0:28:46Hi, Nik and Sofia!
0:28:46 > 0:28:48- Papa!- Papa.
0:28:48 > 0:28:50Hi, Nik. Hi, Sofia. Hi, kids.
0:28:50 > 0:28:53As a family unit - very, very close.
0:28:53 > 0:28:57Sofia is very capable. A very good mother.
0:28:57 > 0:29:02She's got a one-track mind - she gets to where she wants to get.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05Nik is probably one of the kindest and nicest boys.
0:29:05 > 0:29:07- "Boys." I'm still a boy! - You're still a boy.
0:29:07 > 0:29:12She works really, really hard. She's a fantastic mother.
0:29:12 > 0:29:15Nik is a wonderful father.
0:29:15 > 0:29:17He looks after the children very well.
0:29:17 > 0:29:20- The children love him.- Hello!
0:29:20 > 0:29:24They're really good fun, actually. Similar to Nik and Sofia,
0:29:24 > 0:29:27they're quite outgoing and loud and noisy, but just lovely.
0:29:27 > 0:29:31Very full of cuddles and fun and good to be around.
0:29:33 > 0:29:37Obviously, we'll be very sorry to see them go,
0:29:37 > 0:29:40particularly to see them growing up.
0:29:40 > 0:29:42Now, we make about
0:29:42 > 0:29:4412 hours' journey to the UK.
0:29:44 > 0:29:46From here to New Zealand,
0:29:46 > 0:29:48it's probably about nine hours.
0:29:48 > 0:29:52So, I guess we could see them more!
0:29:52 > 0:29:55I'll miss seeing the children grow up,
0:29:55 > 0:29:57and I'll miss Nik calling.
0:29:57 > 0:29:59It's up to you. It's your decision.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02If you do decide to go
0:30:02 > 0:30:03to New Zealand,
0:30:03 > 0:30:06I think you'll be quite happy with that.
0:30:06 > 0:30:09No, we wish you the best of luck
0:30:09 > 0:30:13in whatever you do, and God bless.
0:30:13 > 0:30:15It's a great opportunity, so...
0:30:15 > 0:30:19We really miss you, but we'll save up
0:30:19 > 0:30:21and we'll be coming out to see you guys.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24Yeah. Do the right thing for you, and if you do move,
0:30:24 > 0:30:26get another hot tub, put it in the back garden,
0:30:26 > 0:30:29- and we'll see you there. - You can have mine, Matty!
0:30:29 > 0:30:31I will miss you. I'll miss you loads and loads.
0:30:31 > 0:30:33You know that.
0:30:33 > 0:30:36But I'm sure you'll make it for the best decision,
0:30:36 > 0:30:39you know, for yourselves. So, have fun,
0:30:39 > 0:30:45and maybe we can come and visit if you do decide to stay!
0:30:45 > 0:30:47You know that I will totally miss you,
0:30:47 > 0:30:52but I think that our family bonds and our love for each other
0:30:52 > 0:30:56will transcend distance and time zones.
0:30:56 > 0:30:58So, have a great time there.
0:31:00 > 0:31:03As I thought, mostly positive and supportive of whatever...
0:31:03 > 0:31:05There was no-one saying you shouldn't do it. It was all...
0:31:05 > 0:31:08They're all trying to get rid of us, I think!
0:31:08 > 0:31:10I think Matty wants the hot tub.
0:31:10 > 0:31:11See, if we sell the house to Matty...
0:31:11 > 0:31:14- He can have the hot tub.- Yeah! - I'm not shipping the hot tub out!
0:31:14 > 0:31:17If we can rent it out to Matty and then we'll eventually
0:31:17 > 0:31:19- sell it to them, we'll be all right! - That's not a bad idea.
0:31:19 > 0:31:21I thought there'd be more weeping in there.
0:31:21 > 0:31:23I thought there'd be more sadness. "Please don't go."
0:31:23 > 0:31:26- Wailing and gnashing of teeth. - Really?!- Yeah, I thought...
0:31:26 > 0:31:28I think we deserved a bit more than that!
0:31:37 > 0:31:39Setting foot in New Zealand for the first time,
0:31:39 > 0:31:42Sofia had been hoping it would provide the answer
0:31:42 > 0:31:46to issues at home, and the country had certainly worked its charms.
0:31:48 > 0:31:51I've certainly fallen in love with it. I mean, it's idyllic!
0:31:53 > 0:31:56Nik, too, had fallen under its spell.
0:31:56 > 0:31:58This week has gone far better than I thought.
0:31:58 > 0:32:00It's just been lovely. We've got a beach like this
0:32:00 > 0:32:04100ft from our doorstep, and it's clean and it's beautiful
0:32:04 > 0:32:07and families are playing happily. It's just wonderful.
0:32:07 > 0:32:09One of Sofia's main worries had been that
0:32:09 > 0:32:12her husband's love of London would stifle the dream.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15I've been giving, you know, my love of London
0:32:15 > 0:32:18and my thinking of moving a lot of thought this week.
0:32:18 > 0:32:21I was up a little late last night and my brain was whizzing,
0:32:21 > 0:32:24thinking of things. We could quite happily stay in London.
0:32:26 > 0:32:29Sofia felt she had made real progress on persuading him.
0:32:29 > 0:32:32I think I've gotten him over that barrier.
0:32:32 > 0:32:34I think there is more for us that we could do as a family
0:32:34 > 0:32:36outside of London.
0:32:37 > 0:32:40But it had not all been plain sailing.
0:32:40 > 0:32:43Learning her working hours wouldn't get any better in New Zealand
0:32:43 > 0:32:44came as a disappointment.
0:32:44 > 0:32:48But the week had shown Sofia the move could reap other rewards
0:32:48 > 0:32:50for the whole family.
0:32:50 > 0:32:54The reasons that I think I'd like to come here have changed slightly.
0:32:54 > 0:32:58Cos, initially, it was more for me and work and things like that,
0:32:58 > 0:33:00but, actually, now it's become more about the kids.
0:33:01 > 0:33:03It was time to take their final vote
0:33:03 > 0:33:07and decide on life in New Zealand or the UK.
0:33:08 > 0:33:10We've had a great week here in New Zealand
0:33:10 > 0:33:12finding out lots of things, discovering more about New Zealand.
0:33:12 > 0:33:15So, our final vote goes to... Go!
0:33:21 > 0:33:24- ALL:- New Zealand! - New Zealand!
0:33:24 > 0:33:28THEY LAUGH EXCITEDLY
0:33:28 > 0:33:30That is definitely a New Zealand flag!
0:33:30 > 0:33:32Why do you want to live in New Zealand, Idris?
0:33:32 > 0:33:35- Because I like the sea. - You like the sea?
0:33:35 > 0:33:37And why did you vote New Zealand, Aliza?
0:33:37 > 0:33:39Because it's so tidy and neat
0:33:39 > 0:33:41and people put their rubbish in the bin!
0:33:41 > 0:33:45- They put their rubbish in the bin! - That feels really good.
0:33:45 > 0:33:50I've finally weaned him off London enough that he would move away.
0:33:50 > 0:33:52It's a difficult lifestyle not to love.
0:33:52 > 0:33:54And I think it forces you to be outdoors,
0:33:54 > 0:33:56it forces you to enjoy the outdoors.
0:33:56 > 0:33:58It's all the stuff, you know, that I think we'd like doing.
0:34:03 > 0:34:07Although Sofia would be required to still put the working hours in,
0:34:07 > 0:34:10both her and Nik agreed the improved lifestyle
0:34:10 > 0:34:15New Zealand could offer their family was more than enough to compensate.
0:34:15 > 0:34:19But in the end, did the Huddarts decide to risk everything
0:34:19 > 0:34:21by making the move down under?
0:34:22 > 0:34:25It's 2017, and the Huddarts are in
0:34:25 > 0:34:29Auckland, New Zealand, and they've barely touched down.
0:34:29 > 0:34:32We've been here six months now.
0:34:32 > 0:34:35We have been here six months. We came at the end of November.
0:34:35 > 0:34:37When we got back to the UK after being here last time,
0:34:37 > 0:34:39all we could do was wait,
0:34:39 > 0:34:42because Sofia had to finish her registrar training
0:34:42 > 0:34:47as an anaesthetist before she could apply for a job out here.
0:34:47 > 0:34:53And then we had to wait for either a consultant job to be posted,
0:34:53 > 0:34:56or your current fellowship job to be posted,
0:34:56 > 0:34:59which wasn't advertised until March 2016.
0:34:59 > 0:35:01Yeah. So, we had to kind of wait for that.
0:35:01 > 0:35:04We were just telling people, "Yes, we're planning on going,
0:35:04 > 0:35:07"but I have to finish and get a job and all the rest of it."
0:35:07 > 0:35:12And then once the job came through, which was about...May time,
0:35:12 > 0:35:15May, June time, suddenly, it was all systems go -
0:35:15 > 0:35:17house being sold, packing up.
0:35:17 > 0:35:22As soon as Sofia got the job, we divided the labour.
0:35:22 > 0:35:25Sofia dealt with the visas and the job.
0:35:25 > 0:35:28I dealt with houses, schools and the moving company,
0:35:28 > 0:35:32and then selling the house, which we sold in a day...
0:35:33 > 0:35:34..before Brexit.
0:35:34 > 0:35:37And then they pulled out two and a half months later.
0:35:37 > 0:35:40Then we sold again in a day. Then that couple split up.
0:35:40 > 0:35:42We had an offer, yeah.
0:35:42 > 0:35:47And then the third buyer offered us a lot less, but cash,
0:35:47 > 0:35:49so we accepted them.
0:35:49 > 0:35:54And then the day before I flew out from the UK with the kids,
0:35:54 > 0:35:57cos Sofia stayed on for a bit, they dropped the price,
0:35:57 > 0:36:00and so we sold it for less than we wanted to, but it's sold.
0:36:00 > 0:36:03But selling the house was only half the challenge.
0:36:03 > 0:36:05The Huddarts now had to look for a home in New Zealand -
0:36:05 > 0:36:09not straightforward when you're 10,000 miles away.
0:36:09 > 0:36:12Getting a property over here was never easy.
0:36:12 > 0:36:14Cos everything's advertised online,
0:36:14 > 0:36:18you've got a 13-hour time difference,
0:36:18 > 0:36:19so trying to ring them is difficult.
0:36:19 > 0:36:22And you'd see a property which looked nice,
0:36:22 > 0:36:24but then I'd e-mail the estate agent saying,
0:36:24 > 0:36:28"We're interested in this property," and I'd get one e-mail back saying,
0:36:28 > 0:36:30"You must see the property first."
0:36:30 > 0:36:33So, we found one property - this one -
0:36:33 > 0:36:36and I wrote the e-mail to the lady and she said, "Give me a ring."
0:36:36 > 0:36:40Her main question was, "What if you don't like it?"
0:36:40 > 0:36:41I said, "Well, that's my bad."
0:36:41 > 0:36:44So, she sent me other pictures, and it looked really nice.
0:36:44 > 0:36:45We knew the area.
0:36:45 > 0:36:48So, then what we had to do was write a letter
0:36:48 > 0:36:50to say why they should give it to us,
0:36:50 > 0:36:54why we were a nice family, and referees.
0:36:54 > 0:36:56- We haven't rented a house for ten years.- I know.
0:36:56 > 0:36:59Luckily, my old landlady is a friend of mine,
0:36:59 > 0:37:00so she wrote a reference.
0:37:00 > 0:37:02We gave the estate agent as a reference.
0:37:02 > 0:37:05- And your work was a reference. - Yeah, my work was a reference.
0:37:05 > 0:37:0811 people saw this house. Ten people wanted it.
0:37:08 > 0:37:13So, then we had the send over 5,000 Kiwi dollars to get the house.
0:37:13 > 0:37:16- Not having seen the house! - Not seen the house.
0:37:16 > 0:37:20So, we arrived here on Tuesday. We stayed at a hotel down the road.
0:37:20 > 0:37:22Came here Wednesday to pick up the keys
0:37:22 > 0:37:25for the house that we'd given 5,000 for.
0:37:25 > 0:37:28And, luckily, we liked it. So, it was a bit of a gamble,
0:37:28 > 0:37:31but what that meant was that we already knew
0:37:31 > 0:37:33which school they were going to go to.
0:37:33 > 0:37:35So, as soon as we had the tenancy agreement,
0:37:35 > 0:37:39two days after flying in, we went to the school.
0:37:39 > 0:37:41We arrived on the Tuesday.
0:37:41 > 0:37:43We went to the school on the Thursday.
0:37:43 > 0:37:45And the kids were in the next day.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48Got uniforms. Spent 500 on uniforms on the Friday.
0:37:48 > 0:37:49And then they started school on Monday.
0:37:49 > 0:37:52They had two weeks before Christmas, which was great,
0:37:52 > 0:37:54and it got them back into the swing of things.
0:37:54 > 0:37:56And just how are the children settling in?
0:37:56 > 0:38:00I think the kids are loving things here.
0:38:00 > 0:38:04Izzie wants to be a Kiwi kid cos he doesn't wear shoes.
0:38:04 > 0:38:06- You can tell...- He's like, "I'm a Kiwi kid today."
0:38:06 > 0:38:09You can tell the Kiwi kids cos they don't wear shoes.
0:38:09 > 0:38:10They don't wear shoes at school.
0:38:10 > 0:38:14Idris is out playing tennis. They're both doing swimming.
0:38:14 > 0:38:17Idris wants to play all the sports that are available.
0:38:17 > 0:38:22Yeah, they do hockey and other sort of variety of sports on a Tuesday.
0:38:22 > 0:38:23Wednesday, they've got swimming.
0:38:23 > 0:38:25- Thursday, they're allowed the day off.- Yeah.
0:38:25 > 0:38:27Friday, he's got tennis.
0:38:27 > 0:38:29And then if you've got a spare five minutes,
0:38:29 > 0:38:31you can go to the beach or go to the playground.
0:38:31 > 0:38:33- It's just great.- Mm.
0:38:33 > 0:38:36So, a few months in, how are Nik and Sofia adapting
0:38:36 > 0:38:38to the Kiwi way of life?
0:38:38 > 0:38:41We've got a camper van. That's part of the dream.
0:38:41 > 0:38:44We went away to a little place called Miranda,
0:38:44 > 0:38:46which has hot springs. So, we stayed at a campsite.
0:38:46 > 0:38:49They had a hot pool on the campsite.
0:38:49 > 0:38:52Had a trampoline, had loads of stuff for the kids.
0:38:52 > 0:38:56The kids were cycling around the campsite, which was great. Everyone was really friendly.
0:38:56 > 0:38:58Just a really nice place to be.
0:38:58 > 0:39:02And then we packed up, came back the scenic route along the coast,
0:39:02 > 0:39:05got back home, unpacked the camper van,
0:39:05 > 0:39:08and it's about four o'clock on a Sunday.
0:39:08 > 0:39:10And then we thought, "Hang on, let's go to the beach,"
0:39:10 > 0:39:12which, in London, or wherever in the UK,
0:39:12 > 0:39:14is a massive undertaking.
0:39:14 > 0:39:17We just, "Let's go to the beach." So, we got there about five o'clock.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20We go away on weekends. Even if I'm working,
0:39:20 > 0:39:22because there's a couple of weekends when I've been working,
0:39:22 > 0:39:24and Nik will just take the camper van out
0:39:24 > 0:39:27to one of the local regional parks and park the camper van up
0:39:27 > 0:39:29and I'll just drive up when I'm finished at work.
0:39:29 > 0:39:34And how is the crucial work-life balance for Sofia?
0:39:34 > 0:39:37My situation now is that I'm a fellow,
0:39:37 > 0:39:40which is basically what they call a senior medical officer,
0:39:40 > 0:39:43down at North Shore Hospital, which is literally, what,
0:39:43 > 0:39:45five minutes down the road in the car?
0:39:45 > 0:39:49Which is brilliant. Most days, I actually come back
0:39:49 > 0:39:52and I can have dinner with the kids, I can help Nik with bed and bath,
0:39:52 > 0:39:55which was difficult and probably...
0:39:55 > 0:39:58What, two, three nights out of four, I wouldn't be there for that?
0:39:58 > 0:40:00And there would be full weeks
0:40:00 > 0:40:02where I would sort of leave for work so early,
0:40:02 > 0:40:05then I'd come back so late, that I would barely see the kids
0:40:05 > 0:40:08unless they came in. And that's not so much of an issue now
0:40:08 > 0:40:09because I do see them before bed,
0:40:09 > 0:40:12and I can sit and help them with homework and stuff,
0:40:12 > 0:40:13which is really lovely.
0:40:13 > 0:40:17Unfortunately, it's not been all smooth sailing with Sofia's work.
0:40:17 > 0:40:20At the moment, the job that I have is for one year
0:40:20 > 0:40:24and it will finish in December and I'm on a job hunt at the moment.
0:40:24 > 0:40:26Been for a job interview today for a permanent post
0:40:26 > 0:40:28over at the Auckland City Hospital.
0:40:28 > 0:40:32So, I'll hear about that in a week, so fingers crossed.
0:40:32 > 0:40:36You know, well, Sofia needs to get a job so we're here permanently,
0:40:36 > 0:40:39cos the visa is hanging off her job at the moment,
0:40:39 > 0:40:41in the hope of staying here.
0:40:41 > 0:40:43If it doesn't work out here,
0:40:43 > 0:40:47I would definitely consider other parts of New Zealand, as well.
0:40:47 > 0:40:49The kids are pretty settled here,
0:40:49 > 0:40:52so, ideally, it would be nice not to have to move them.
0:40:52 > 0:40:54But, on the other hand, as we said, it's an adventure,
0:40:54 > 0:40:58so I don't mind moving wherever things take us.
0:40:58 > 0:41:00I know Nik is very keen on it being...
0:41:00 > 0:41:02But it would need to be another permanent move.
0:41:02 > 0:41:05I don't want to keep moving them round the country.
0:41:05 > 0:41:07I know Nik really wants to know
0:41:07 > 0:41:09where we're going to spend this Christmas.
0:41:09 > 0:41:11At the moment, without being too melodramatic,
0:41:11 > 0:41:14- if our visa status doesn't change on our passports...- Yeah.
0:41:14 > 0:41:17..and Sofia doesn't get a permanent job,
0:41:17 > 0:41:20we're on a plane home in January.
0:41:20 > 0:41:23So, all this furniture has to go back,
0:41:23 > 0:41:25that camper van has to be sold,
0:41:25 > 0:41:28which could be a real stupid purchase if we have to go home.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31- Ah, well.- The kids will be uprooted. We don't know where we're going.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34We should just gypsy ourselves round the world to nice places.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37It'd be fantastic, but Nik really doesn't like this idea.
0:41:37 > 0:41:38We've put a lot of...
0:41:38 > 0:41:41Invested a lot of time and a lot of effort,
0:41:41 > 0:41:43a huge amount of emotion, into New Zealand,
0:41:43 > 0:41:45and research into New Zealand.
0:41:45 > 0:41:48And it suits us. We like living here.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50- We like the people.- We do. - We like the climate.
0:41:50 > 0:41:52Parts of the Caribbean are nice.
0:41:57 > 0:41:59But despite this concern,
0:41:59 > 0:42:02there doesn't seem to be any regrets about the move.
0:42:02 > 0:42:04It's definitely the right move.
0:42:04 > 0:42:07There's been no question from any of us that this was, you know,
0:42:07 > 0:42:10a wrong move. It's definitely the right move to make.
0:42:10 > 0:42:14As I say, the concern is making that move permanent.
0:42:14 > 0:42:17Generally, I think we're all a bit happier.
0:42:17 > 0:42:20Well, are we happier? We're more relaxed about it,
0:42:20 > 0:42:21and just able to spend some time.
0:42:21 > 0:42:24And I have to say, even though I was a bit opposed to the idea,
0:42:24 > 0:42:26I actually really enjoy the camper van!
0:42:26 > 0:42:29SHE LAUGHS
0:42:29 > 0:42:31I just didn't see the point of spending shedloads of money
0:42:31 > 0:42:33on this camper van.
0:42:33 > 0:42:36But it has been really nice.
0:42:36 > 0:42:38The best thing about being here?
0:42:39 > 0:42:42It's not one thing. I think it's everything.
0:42:42 > 0:42:45I think, if I put it down - and I keep saying this -
0:42:45 > 0:42:47it's that people are more smiley.
0:42:47 > 0:42:51There's 4 million people here, compared to 62 million in the UK
0:42:51 > 0:42:53and everyone's got a little bit more time,
0:42:53 > 0:42:56it's a little bit more friendly. It just all adds to it.
0:42:56 > 0:42:58You know, sometimes, the weather is absolutely awful.
0:42:58 > 0:43:00You know, it can rain for days,
0:43:00 > 0:43:02and it can rain more rain than I thought was possible.
0:43:02 > 0:43:05It can be more windy than I thought was possible.
0:43:05 > 0:43:08But then a day like, you know, we had yesterday,
0:43:08 > 0:43:10where the sun was out and it's the middle of winter,
0:43:10 > 0:43:11it's just stunning.
0:43:14 > 0:43:17The Huddarts' dream is well and truly underway,
0:43:17 > 0:43:20and whilst there's still some uncertainty
0:43:20 > 0:43:22about how things will turn out,
0:43:22 > 0:43:26the one thing they are sure of is that New Zealand is home.
0:43:26 > 0:43:30We wish the entire family the very best for the future.