0:00:02 > 0:00:05For five years, Vivian Stirk dreamt about moving down under...
0:00:05 > 0:00:08When you see the lifestyle that you can have out there,
0:00:08 > 0:00:10why can't we have the same?
0:00:10 > 0:00:12..but the future she wanted
0:00:12 > 0:00:16- presented the toughest choice of her life.- I can't leave her! - SHE SOBS
0:00:16 > 0:00:20And after a week dealing with high prices...
0:00:20 > 0:00:22It's not going to happen, is it?
0:00:22 > 0:00:26..and high emotions, the Stirks had to decide if New Zealand was a dream
0:00:26 > 0:00:29they could afford and share.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32There's always going to be somebody in this triangle that is going
0:00:32 > 0:00:37- to be upset.- But where will we find the Stirk family living now -
0:00:37 > 0:00:40in the UK or New Zealand?
0:00:40 > 0:00:43FUNKY MUSIC PLAYS
0:01:02 > 0:01:06Every year, thousands of us move to New Zealand for a new start.
0:01:06 > 0:01:11The more relaxed pace of life, beautiful scenery and population of
0:01:11 > 0:01:15only 4.6 million are a powerful draw.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19However, the reality of taking on such a huge challenge doesn't work
0:01:19 > 0:01:23out for everyone, and many return home, missing their old lives.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29The Stirk family wanted to find out if emigration could offer them a
0:01:29 > 0:01:32better future.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36They had one week to experience life in New Zealand before they faced a
0:01:36 > 0:01:38huge decision -
0:01:38 > 0:01:43whether to stay in the UK or to make the move down under for good.
0:01:43 > 0:01:48Their journey took them across three continents and 12 time zones,
0:01:48 > 0:01:52spending an eye-watering 24 hours in the air.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54It's the first time any of the Stirks have set foot in
0:01:54 > 0:01:56New Zealand, and the marathon
0:01:56 > 0:01:59journey left them with mixed feelings.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03- We've had about two hours' sleep, so we're a bit tired.- If that!
0:02:03 > 0:02:05A bit strange to start with, but I'm sure we'll
0:02:05 > 0:02:09- all settle down soon. - I'm really excited.
0:02:09 > 0:02:10A little bit nervous as well,
0:02:10 > 0:02:15but looking forward to seeing the houses and the area itself.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18Ahead was a week that would challenge them all,
0:02:18 > 0:02:21half a world away from their home in Yorkshire.
0:02:23 > 0:02:28In 2012, the Stirks lived in the town of Cleckheaton.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31They were Viv, a school administrator, Darren,
0:02:31 > 0:02:35a telecommunications engineer, and their three children.
0:02:35 > 0:02:41Daniella was a student midwife, Emma was 16 years old, and Ben was 12.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45The family were born and bred Yorkshire folk and the couple had
0:02:45 > 0:02:47lived in Cleckheaton all their married life.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51- We are happy here, aren't we? - Yeah.- It's OK.
0:02:51 > 0:02:53I think we've got everything we need round here.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56So we're going to move to the other side of the world instead?
0:02:56 > 0:02:58- Possibly! - LAUGHTER
0:02:58 > 0:03:02- Yeah.- Viv's reasons for emigrating started out as a simple desire for
0:03:02 > 0:03:07- better weather.- I think the dream materialised
0:03:07 > 0:03:12originally because I got very, very fed up of our English climate.
0:03:12 > 0:03:14We do get some nice warm weather in our country,
0:03:14 > 0:03:16but it's just not consistent.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21The Stirks were an active, outdoor family, so the Kiwi lifestyle Viv
0:03:21 > 0:03:24dreamed of seemed perfect.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27The lifestyle that you can have out there, you just think,
0:03:27 > 0:03:29"Well, why can't we have the same?"
0:03:29 > 0:03:32Not that I'm not happy being here, but you just think,
0:03:32 > 0:03:35"Well, could we possibly have that?"
0:03:35 > 0:03:37While Viv's hopes grew over the years,
0:03:37 > 0:03:40Darren took longer to come round to the idea of emigrating.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44As the main breadwinner, he knew how big the risk was.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48From my point of view, giving up the best job I've ever had is something
0:03:48 > 0:03:50that I really need to be sure of.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54I don't want to just walk away from that and find I made the biggest
0:03:54 > 0:03:56mistake I could ever make.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59Despite the risks, they had hopes New Zealand would give their
0:03:59 > 0:04:02children a better life and a better tomorrow.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05It's all right encouraging your children to do well at school,
0:04:05 > 0:04:09go to university, but if there aren't the jobs there, then
0:04:09 > 0:04:11where's the future?
0:04:11 > 0:04:14And I'm hoping that I'm not wrong in saying that
0:04:14 > 0:04:18they might have a better chance of that over in New Zealand.
0:04:19 > 0:04:23Both Emma and Ben were happy to give New Zealand a try.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27I am excited about it all, but I'm really scared as well. Cos, like,
0:04:27 > 0:04:32if I don't like it but everyone else does, and how much it means to my
0:04:32 > 0:04:36- mum as well.- If it's good, then, you know, I might want to go,
0:04:36 > 0:04:37but if it's not...
0:04:39 > 0:04:42- ..stay here.- But for the eldest sister, Daniella,
0:04:42 > 0:04:44it was a far tougher decision to face.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46Daniella's got a boyfriend of 3.5 years.
0:04:46 > 0:04:51- That's not going to be easy to deal with, for her or for you.- No.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53That is a massive concern now.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56Daniella wanted to train as a midwife, and saw her career and
0:04:56 > 0:04:59future in the UK.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03I'm hopefully off to uni in October, so that's my career.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06To move and start totally again, it's just...
0:05:06 > 0:05:08It's like you're tied down here, really.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11She had been with Danny since she was 16.
0:05:11 > 0:05:16I do see myself being with Daniella in years to come and, er...
0:05:16 > 0:05:19I don't think we would still be together after this amount of time
0:05:19 > 0:05:21if I didn't at least think that.
0:05:21 > 0:05:25I think people always frown upon us saying that sort of thing
0:05:25 > 0:05:29- because we're so young.- Both Daniella and Viv had a difficult
0:05:29 > 0:05:32choice, and Viv knew just how much was at stake.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35The bottom line is I am asking
0:05:35 > 0:05:38her to finish things with Danny if
0:05:38 > 0:05:40it meant that we could all be together.
0:05:41 > 0:05:45But there's never going to be a happy ending, is there?
0:05:45 > 0:05:48There's always going to be somebody in this triangle that is going to be
0:05:48 > 0:05:52- upset.- Breaking family ties was another concern.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54Viv's parents had passed away,
0:05:54 > 0:05:57but the children were very close to Darren's mum and dad.
0:05:57 > 0:06:01We are taking their grandchildren away from them,
0:06:01 > 0:06:03but I also think that, deep down,
0:06:03 > 0:06:06they will understand the reasons for doing it,
0:06:06 > 0:06:10that we want to try and see whether there is a better future for us.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12But the prospect of the Stirks not
0:06:12 > 0:06:15being together put this future at risk.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18If Daniella can't go, we'll just have to give it up.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26- I can't leave her! - SHE SOBS
0:06:31 > 0:06:33You all right?
0:06:33 > 0:06:36I just can't leave her.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39I want us all to go, because I can't leave one of my children,
0:06:39 > 0:06:41no matter how old she is.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45If it's what she really wanted to do, then she should do it,
0:06:45 > 0:06:48so...
0:06:48 > 0:06:49But she won't if I won't go.
0:06:51 > 0:06:55At this moment in time, it's all of us or nothing, it really is.
0:07:00 > 0:07:01For their trial week,
0:07:01 > 0:07:04the Stirks visited Auckland on New Zealand's North Island.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08Home for the week was this three-bedroom apartment in the
0:07:08 > 0:07:11Mission Bay area, complete with its own shared sports facilities.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15Oh, this is absolutely awesome.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19It's amazing. It's just a world away from anything we've ever really
0:07:19 > 0:07:21- experienced.- Yeah, it is, yeah.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24Oh, we'd never get anything like this round, erm,
0:07:24 > 0:07:27- in Cleckheaton.- I think that's a definite yes,
0:07:27 > 0:07:31but thoughts do turn to the week ahead and the huge decision facing
0:07:31 > 0:07:33the Stirks.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37My hopes for this week are to get more of an answer as to
0:07:37 > 0:07:40whether we could make this work.
0:07:40 > 0:07:45We've still got to be realistic, but, yeah, it's looking good.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48I'm feeling nervous and excited.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51- Yeah.- So am I. - Cos it's something new.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54I'm looking forward to all the different experiences that I've got
0:07:54 > 0:07:58- to come.- So I'm hoping at the end of this week we can say,
0:07:58 > 0:08:01one way or another, "Yeah, we could definitely live here."
0:08:04 > 0:08:06Back in 2012,
0:08:06 > 0:08:10the Stirks shared this three-bedroom family home in Cleckheaton.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13They believed it was worth £140,000,
0:08:13 > 0:08:16and with a total budget of £200,000,
0:08:16 > 0:08:20they were being realistic over what they were looking for.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22The house doesn't need to be any bigger.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24Maybe an extra bathroom.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26It's a struggle having three females in the house and one bathroom.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33To find out what kind of house they could actually have in New Zealand,
0:08:33 > 0:08:35we showed them three properties -
0:08:35 > 0:08:38two on budget and a dream home to aspire to.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42First stop was Gulf Harbour,
0:08:42 > 0:08:46a peaceful suburb just an hour's drive from Auckland city centre.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49This semi-detached property had great sea views,
0:08:49 > 0:08:52but what did the Stirks think of it?
0:08:52 > 0:08:56Don't like it. It's not much of an area for sitting out as a family.
0:08:56 > 0:09:01It doesn't compare to the space that we have at home.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03That wasn't a good start.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05But did the indoors lift the mood?
0:09:05 > 0:09:07Kitchen straight into a living room.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10- We'd be giving up a lot of room.- If you're making a Sunday roast,
0:09:10 > 0:09:12- then you'd have a smell all in this room.- Yeah.
0:09:12 > 0:09:16It looked like open-plan was not to the family's taste, and the decking
0:09:16 > 0:09:17- area...- It doesn't blow me away.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19- No, it doesn't at all. - Definitely not.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22- It almost feels like you're living in a caravan.- Yeah.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24Whilst the three bedrooms were spacious,
0:09:24 > 0:09:29convincing Daniella to emigrate was made much harder by having to share
0:09:29 > 0:09:31a bedroom as she currently did.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34- It's a lot smaller than the one at home.- Yeah.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37One option was to convert the garage.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40- I think you'd spoil the house if you turned this into a bedroom.- Yeah.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43It looked as if the house was simply too small for the Stirks'
0:09:43 > 0:09:48needs, but with their £200,000 budget, was it affordable?
0:09:52 > 0:09:54£190,000.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57I'm a little bit stunned, actually, to how much that is.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00In spite of it being just within reach, the price tag was a real
0:10:00 > 0:10:02shock, especially for Viv.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07- It's not going to happen, is it? - It's not looking like it is, no.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09- It's not.- Not from what I've seen so far.
0:10:14 > 0:10:18Seeing the reality of living in New Zealand's most expensive city cast a
0:10:18 > 0:10:21dark cloud over the day.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27But did the next house help to raise everyone's spirits?
0:10:27 > 0:10:30It was a three-bedroom detached property in the Swanson area of west
0:10:30 > 0:10:33- Auckland.- What do you think, initially?
0:10:33 > 0:10:36- It looks nice, actually. Yeah, it does, it looks nice.- Yeah.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40That was much more encouraging, and the outdoor space ticked Darren's
0:10:40 > 0:10:43wish list for a large garden.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46- Wow, that's amazing!- Oh! - Yeah, I like...
0:10:46 > 0:10:48The surroundings are excellent.
0:10:48 > 0:10:53I like this. There's plenty of room there for sitting out on.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57The inside didn't disappoint either.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59- Nice size.- Yeah.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02Nice size. See what we've got in here.
0:11:02 > 0:11:03Bedroom.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08- Nice-size bedroom, isn't it? - Yeah, it's fine.
0:11:08 > 0:11:09Another bedroom.
0:11:11 > 0:11:15This bedroom is OK for Ben, but that other bedroom's not...
0:11:15 > 0:11:19- Big enough for the girls? - ..not very big.- Right.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23- So they could be struggling with the space.- Yeah.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25Despite the good start,
0:11:25 > 0:11:29the lack of a fourth bedroom was an all-too-familiar problem.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31- So, what we've got...- We would have
0:11:31 > 0:11:33to do the same thing that we've done at home and put...
0:11:33 > 0:11:35- Yeah, two beds in.- ..Emma and Daniella in here...
0:11:35 > 0:11:37- They'd have to share one.- ..then we'd have to
0:11:37 > 0:11:39- go in there...- Yeah.- ..with the double bed.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43And the children didn't need to go too far to see what was missing.
0:11:43 > 0:11:45But if the price tag was right,
0:11:45 > 0:11:47were the Stirks willing to squeeze in?
0:11:52 > 0:11:54Oh...
0:11:55 > 0:11:59That's a shock. 192,000?
0:11:59 > 0:12:00Yeah. I think the prices are
0:12:00 > 0:12:02definitely going up because of the area.
0:12:02 > 0:12:07I personally think that you are getting better value for money with
0:12:07 > 0:12:09our house then you are with this.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11But I thought this was definitely doable.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14The property's price tag notwithstanding,
0:12:14 > 0:12:17this was a definite improvement for the family.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21Their final stop was further away from the city centre in leafy
0:12:21 > 0:12:23West Auckland.
0:12:23 > 0:12:27- I like this. Idyllic. - That looks absolutely gorgeous.
0:12:27 > 0:12:31On paper, this house had everything the Stirks were looking for,
0:12:31 > 0:12:34with four bedrooms, two bathrooms and plenty of living space,
0:12:34 > 0:12:38even for a family of five.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41- Oh, goodness me! - Open-plan lounge again, kitchen.
0:12:42 > 0:12:47- But just look at that.- Even the views were bigger.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50- It is perfection.- Oh, that is huge!
0:12:50 > 0:12:53- You can't hear the M62 from here, can you?- No.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57- That was Darren sold, and Viv? - I think this is probably the
0:12:57 > 0:13:00nicest house I have ever, ever seen in my life.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03- Really?- That I've ever been in. - If I could afford this, I would be
0:13:03 > 0:13:06- signing on the dotted line right now.- Right.- Seriously.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09It feels good, doesn't it? It does, it feels right.
0:13:09 > 0:13:10The Stirks had seemed to have
0:13:10 > 0:13:12found exactly what they were looking for.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15There was enough bedrooms for everyone, and two bathrooms,
0:13:15 > 0:13:19putting an end to the morning rush hour. And with a huge garden
0:13:19 > 0:13:23there was something for the whole family to enjoy.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26- It's just everything we've wanted in a house..- It is.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28..when we've talked about emigrating.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31It's like it's been made to our specifications, don't you think?
0:13:31 > 0:13:34- And put in the right place. - Put in the right place.
0:13:34 > 0:13:35Yeah. It's just perfect in every way.
0:13:35 > 0:13:40- Can't fault it at all.- I don't want to see the price, do you?- No.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42This house seemed to have rekindled Viv's hopes,
0:13:42 > 0:13:46but after seeing the hard facts of Auckland's property prices,
0:13:46 > 0:13:49was the dream house just that?
0:13:49 > 0:13:53Ready? I don't really want to look.
0:13:53 > 0:13:54Emma?
0:13:59 > 0:14:01£319,000.
0:14:01 > 0:14:05I'm not shocked and I'm not upset.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09I'm really glad that we have had the chance to look at this house.
0:14:09 > 0:14:13If this is £319,000, there could be something within our budget,
0:14:13 > 0:14:15- couldn't there?- We're going to have to get a mortgage, but then...
0:14:15 > 0:14:18- Yeah.- It was Emma's turn to be disappointed,
0:14:18 > 0:14:22but Viv had taken the positives from this house and it gave Darren an
0:14:22 > 0:14:26- idea.- If all three of us were working full-time, then...
0:14:26 > 0:14:29- We could just about pay the mortgage.- Am I living here as well? - LAUGHTER
0:14:29 > 0:14:32- I could never leave. - But it's nice to dream.
0:14:32 > 0:14:33It's nice to dream, yeah.
0:14:34 > 0:14:38It was quite a day for the Stirks.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40The first property was just about affordable,
0:14:40 > 0:14:43but it didn't have the space they wanted, inside or out.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46The second property was an improvement,
0:14:46 > 0:14:50but still missing that all-important fourth bedroom.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52And the final house offered everything they wanted,
0:14:52 > 0:14:55but at a very high price.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58So after a bumpy landing in New Zealand,
0:14:58 > 0:15:01did the Stirks believe that there could be a home for them down under?
0:15:04 > 0:15:07Based on the properties we've seen today, our vote goes to...
0:15:16 > 0:15:19- UK.- The UK.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23- Unanimous.- Yep. - Why am I not surprised?
0:15:23 > 0:15:25- I'm not surprised.- If you're going to move all this way,
0:15:25 > 0:15:27- you want to be blown away by your house.- You do.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30- Or at least like it a little bit. - Yeah. - LAUGHTER
0:15:35 > 0:15:39House prices in Auckland were a stony wake-up call for Viv's hopes
0:15:39 > 0:15:42of emigrating. If her dream was to become a reality,
0:15:42 > 0:15:47it was vital for Darren to find good work opportunities.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50Back in the UK, Darren was a telecoms engineer,
0:15:50 > 0:15:53earning around £25,000 a year.
0:15:53 > 0:15:57He knew the risks of leaving a secure job all too well.
0:15:57 > 0:16:02To give this up, I would have to be sure that what I'm walking into is
0:16:02 > 0:16:04either the same or better.
0:16:04 > 0:16:08With finances already tight, finding the right job was vital,
0:16:08 > 0:16:12so we sent Darren to a large telecoms company in Auckland,
0:16:12 > 0:16:15where general manager Ross Lockwood was on hand to meet him.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18- Come on through and we'll have a chat.- Thank you.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22A good result here promised a big lift for Viv, but with so much at
0:16:22 > 0:16:25stake, it was just one piece of the puzzle.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29If the job news is good news, we've got a lot of talking to do,
0:16:29 > 0:16:32because we've still got other things to think about.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35It's definitely a step in the right direction,
0:16:35 > 0:16:40but there's not just myself and Darren to consider about this.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43We've got three children who also need to be a part of it,
0:16:43 > 0:16:45so we'll just have to see.
0:16:45 > 0:16:50How similar do you think the role of my job would be to the UK?
0:16:50 > 0:16:54I think what you do, we have people that do exactly the same thing here,
0:16:54 > 0:16:58remembering, of course, that, originally, a long time ago,
0:16:58 > 0:17:00the whole network here and all the telephone exchanges
0:17:00 > 0:17:03were all modelled on the British Telecom system.
0:17:03 > 0:17:04Whilst Darren talked shop,
0:17:04 > 0:17:09Viv and Daniella visited the Auckland University of Technology.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12Daniella wanted to become a midwife, and if training in Auckland was an
0:17:12 > 0:17:14attractive option,
0:17:14 > 0:17:18Viv's hopes of keeping the family together would get a real boost.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22Dr Judith McColl was a course lecturer, and Daniella was keen to
0:17:22 > 0:17:26see if studying there was right for her.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29How competitive is it to be given a place?
0:17:29 > 0:17:33Probably a rule of thumb is we take about 100 to 110 first-year
0:17:33 > 0:17:36students, and probably for every one
0:17:36 > 0:17:38of those places we have four applicants for
0:17:38 > 0:17:41- every one of those places.- You'll recognise the qualifications, then,
0:17:41 > 0:17:43from the UK, that Daniella possesses?
0:17:43 > 0:17:47Yeah, what would get you entrance to university there,
0:17:47 > 0:17:50- entrance to university here.- Yeah. - Yeah.- Whilst the process of becoming
0:17:50 > 0:17:53a midwife was similar to home,
0:17:53 > 0:17:56- did Darren get equally good news on the job front?- It's subject to a
0:17:56 > 0:17:59whole lot of things that we'll run through in a minute.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02I'd be prepared to consider you for a position here now.
0:18:02 > 0:18:06We don't have a huge amount of business in Auckland at the moment,
0:18:06 > 0:18:09but we certainly have work and vacancies, you know,
0:18:09 > 0:18:11scattered throughout the country.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15That also sounded promising, but as the family breadwinner,
0:18:15 > 0:18:17what were his salary prospects?
0:18:17 > 0:18:21What would I be expected to earn with my skills?
0:18:21 > 0:18:24I've looked at the people that work in my organisation that have the
0:18:24 > 0:18:29same skills as you, and the minimum wage is £22,000 minimum,
0:18:29 > 0:18:33and the maximum person gets paid about £30,000 a year.
0:18:33 > 0:18:37- Thank you.- It looked like Darren could at least match his UK salary,
0:18:37 > 0:18:40but emigrating without a pay rise might not work if Daniella's
0:18:40 > 0:18:44university fees increased.
0:18:44 > 0:18:50It's about 7,000 a year for what we call domestic students.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53For international students, it's of course a lot more expensive -
0:18:53 > 0:18:56over 20,000 a year.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00Without a resident visa for Daniella, the course fees were much,
0:19:00 > 0:19:04much more. However, she did keep an open mind.
0:19:04 > 0:19:08It does sound very promising to come here and reassuring to have that
0:19:08 > 0:19:13option, but to already have the place in England,
0:19:13 > 0:19:16it puts another obstacle in my way.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18And after getting hands-on with Kiwi telecoms,
0:19:18 > 0:19:21Darren also had a lot to consider.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25So had he seen enough that day to vote for New Zealand?
0:19:25 > 0:19:29Based on my experience today at work, my vote goes to...
0:19:32 > 0:19:34New Zealand.
0:19:37 > 0:19:39I was a little bit apprehensive about what I would find, but it's...
0:19:39 > 0:19:43I'm looking at virtually the same thing as what I'm used to.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49Darren's vote for Auckland was a huge boost for Viv,
0:19:49 > 0:19:52but for a sport-loving family like the Stirks,
0:19:52 > 0:19:55it's the lifestyle that could be key to whether they move or not.
0:19:58 > 0:20:02At home, life for the Stirks was all about getting up,
0:20:02 > 0:20:06getting out and getting active.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09So we sent the family off to see what Auckland's great outdoors could
0:20:09 > 0:20:11offer them.
0:20:11 > 0:20:15As long as Dad could get into his life jacket! LAUGHTER
0:20:18 > 0:20:22And Ben looked happy, even if Emma was like a fish out of water.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24EMMA SCREAMS
0:20:24 > 0:20:26Put your legs out. Are you ready?
0:20:26 > 0:20:29I'm going to fall in!
0:20:29 > 0:20:32But for Viv, this was what she came here to find.
0:20:32 > 0:20:36I've noticed a difference in the children as the week's gone on.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39They've all seemed like they're starting to really
0:20:39 > 0:20:41get used to being here.
0:20:41 > 0:20:45- I mean, I'm already getting used to it.- Are you?- Yeah.- It's nice.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48- It's going to be a shock when we go home.- Cleckheaton.- Cleckheaton.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53But there was no reason to get unduly concerned yet,
0:20:53 > 0:20:55as the day had only begun.
0:20:56 > 0:21:01The family all had their favourite sports, and Emma's was gymnastics.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03Once back on dry land,
0:21:03 > 0:21:06she went with Daniella to see what facilities Auckland had to offer.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12Finding a connection to Kiwi life was an important element for the
0:21:12 > 0:21:16Stirks, one that might have helped cushion the blow of emigrating,
0:21:16 > 0:21:19making life easier to bear.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21Now, seeing the gymnastics,
0:21:21 > 0:21:23I feel like there's a lot more out here for me.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26Like, before I didn't really feel like I'd connected with anything,
0:21:26 > 0:21:28cos I hadn't really done much,
0:21:28 > 0:21:31apart from going and seeing the houses and that, but now I'm feeling
0:21:31 > 0:21:34a bit more confident and excited about it all.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37But if we moved over here...
0:21:38 > 0:21:41We couldn't really afford, and it all goes wrong,
0:21:41 > 0:21:44when our life at home is quite comfortable at the moment, so...
0:21:44 > 0:21:46It's a lot to put on the line.
0:21:49 > 0:21:53The girls knew just how much was at stake if they were to emigrate,
0:21:53 > 0:21:56but did the benefits make the risks worthwhile?
0:21:57 > 0:22:01The icing on the cake for a family who love rugby league most of all
0:22:01 > 0:22:04was a chance to see New Zealand take on Australia.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08ENERGETIC DANCE MUSIC PLAYS
0:22:08 > 0:22:11CHEERING
0:22:11 > 0:22:15So, having sampled the lifestyle, did they vote home or away?
0:22:15 > 0:22:18Based on the lifestyle of New Zealand compared to the UK,
0:22:18 > 0:22:20our vote goes to...
0:22:26 > 0:22:30- New Zealand!- New Zealand. - New Zealand.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32Everyone's voted New Zealand.
0:22:32 > 0:22:33It's been a really good game of rugby,
0:22:33 > 0:22:37and with the added bonus of being able to be nice and warm.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40It's nice not to wear five jumpers, isn't it?
0:22:43 > 0:22:48A unanimous vote for New Zealand was one step closer to Viv's dream,
0:22:48 > 0:22:51but a lifestyle has to be paid for.
0:22:51 > 0:22:55Getting the right price for their UK home in Cleckheaton was vital if
0:22:55 > 0:22:58emigrating was to be affordable.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01The Stirks believed it was worth £140,000,
0:23:01 > 0:23:04but did two local estate agents agree?
0:23:04 > 0:23:06A nice living room.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09You know, a good focal point for the house, really.
0:23:09 > 0:23:13Modern kitchen, very light, very airy, opening up onto the garden,
0:23:13 > 0:23:16which is excellent. It's a nice room, is this.
0:23:21 > 0:23:25Very good-sized garden, but they've landscaped it. It's very nice.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27They obviously spend a lot of time out here.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31Again, it's very well decorated.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34Two sharing - I presume it's a teenagers' bedroom.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36The space isn't massive, but they've got the best use out of it,
0:23:36 > 0:23:39- and I think that's it. - LAUGHTER
0:23:39 > 0:23:43So what will be the second original bedroom they're using as the master
0:23:43 > 0:23:46bedroom, utilising the space of the room there,
0:23:46 > 0:23:48with the fitted wardrobes.
0:23:48 > 0:23:50Just exactly what you need.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55So what I'd expect from a third bedroom is this.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58I don't think anybody would want any more from a third bedroom.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00It's not a box room, by any means.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04Overall, excellent family house.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06Been extended, so you've got a lot of space downstairs.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09Within half a mile of the M62, which is great for commuters.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11So a good residential family area, yeah.
0:24:11 > 0:24:16My valuation today as an asking price would be 125,000,
0:24:16 > 0:24:18to probably achieve around about 120.
0:24:21 > 0:24:24In my opinion, in the current market, this house is worth 125,000.
0:24:24 > 0:24:28For a quick sale, you'd probably be looking at about 115.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34- Huh...- That's even... That's a long way under what I...
0:24:34 > 0:24:37- Less.- A lot less. - VIV SIGHS
0:24:37 > 0:24:40- Not good, is it?- No.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42With the work that's gone into the house, and the extension,
0:24:42 > 0:24:45- I'm actually quite shocked. - Mmm. Me too.
0:24:48 > 0:24:52It's amazing how your feelings can just dumb down so much, isn't it?
0:24:52 > 0:24:56- Mmm.- You want to move to New Zealand to better your life,
0:24:56 > 0:24:58but the way things are going, you'd be making it harder.
0:25:00 > 0:25:04The house evaluations were far less than Viv and Darren had hoped for,
0:25:04 > 0:25:09and once again, finances became key for this emigration dream.
0:25:09 > 0:25:13So we provided a comparison of the family's costs of living at home and
0:25:13 > 0:25:16abroad. First was the weekly shop.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18Milk's quite expensive, isn't it?
0:25:18 > 0:25:20- Yeah, milk's expensive, yeah.- We do go through a lot of milk.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23- A joint of meat's about the same. - Yeah.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25So in the UK...
0:25:27 > 0:25:29101 a week.
0:25:31 > 0:25:32125.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36That wasn't the best start,
0:25:36 > 0:25:40but it was the family's mortgage payments that were crucial.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43They based them on a £200,000 mortgage.
0:25:43 > 0:25:49- And the repayments would be £804... - £804 a month.- ..a month, yeah.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52Right, but ours is 210.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55Yeah, that's what we're paying now, what our house is costing us now.
0:25:55 > 0:25:59- Yeah.- Their monthly mortgage had just gone through the roof,
0:25:59 > 0:26:02and that was without the cost of relocating.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04Looking at these figures now, then,
0:26:04 > 0:26:09we would actually be about £634 worse off, living in New Zealand,
0:26:09 > 0:26:14so... Do you think this move's affordable?
0:26:14 > 0:26:16- No.- Definitely not?- No.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20Oh, dear.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23With the figures presenting a serious risk to the family's
0:26:23 > 0:26:27finances, Viv's dream was once again looking unreachable.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30So, based on the numbers, how did they vote?
0:26:33 > 0:26:35- UK.- The UK.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42I'd love to live here, there's no doubt about that.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45It's a beautiful place, and you can see that the weather and the
0:26:45 > 0:26:47- lifestyle is fantastic.- Yeah.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49But you've got to be able to afford it as well.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51Yeah, just not rich enough, are we?
0:26:51 > 0:26:52No, we're not rich enough.
0:26:53 > 0:26:57- Poor Northerners.- Poor Northerners.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59Never mind.
0:27:06 > 0:27:10The messages from friends and family were always going to be difficult,
0:27:10 > 0:27:12but all the Stirks wanted to watch,
0:27:12 > 0:27:15no matter how emotional it might have been.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18Well, hi, everybody. I hope you're having a great time out there.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21- Hi.- Hiya from Mum's house.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24- Hiya, Daniella...- Hope you're having a great time.- ..Emma, Ben,
0:27:24 > 0:27:27Darren, Viv. Out of the three of them, I would say Daniella will be
0:27:27 > 0:27:30the one that could cause a problem. She'll want to please her mum and
0:27:30 > 0:27:33dad, but she'll also want to please her boyfriend
0:27:33 > 0:27:36who she's been going out with for three years, which is a long time.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39I mean, I was married at 19, so, you know,
0:27:39 > 0:27:41which is the same age as what Daniella is now.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46I love my family beyond measure.
0:27:47 > 0:27:51If they do go, I would miss them so much.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54Well, I know I'm not going to be happy, but
0:27:54 > 0:27:57I've just got to accept it and hope that they have a nice life
0:27:57 > 0:28:00and everything turns out nice, you know, and well for them.
0:28:01 > 0:28:06Their going would leave a void that would be impossible to fill.
0:28:07 > 0:28:11I think we'd be bereft, wouldn't we?
0:28:11 > 0:28:13SHE WEEPS
0:28:15 > 0:28:17It's a prospect that I don't really want to contemplate.
0:28:21 > 0:28:25Hello, everyone. Hope you're all having a good time.
0:28:25 > 0:28:30I hope you're enjoying it, and I'm missing you a lot, Daniella.
0:28:31 > 0:28:34I don't want you to go, really, but...
0:28:35 > 0:28:39..that's completely up to you. Obviously I can't stop you, but
0:28:39 > 0:28:43I'd really, really miss you if you went,
0:28:43 > 0:28:45and I'd like you to stay, but...
0:28:46 > 0:28:49..decision's yours. Don't come to any hasty decisions.
0:28:50 > 0:28:53And, erm, just enjoy it while you're out there.
0:28:58 > 0:29:00Yeah, you can understand where they're coming from.
0:29:01 > 0:29:04- And their views and opinions are... They're natural, aren't they?- Yeah.
0:29:04 > 0:29:07You don't want to sound selfish by saying you've got to live your
0:29:07 > 0:29:12- life for yourself. But you have, haven't you?- Mmm.
0:29:12 > 0:29:16- Do you think any of them will lend us any money? - LAUGHTER
0:29:16 > 0:29:18I really don't know!
0:29:21 > 0:29:25Seeing the people they love was a reminder for the Stirks that the
0:29:25 > 0:29:29real cost of emigrating is not counted in dollars.
0:29:29 > 0:29:33But having fallen for the lifestyle, and their week all but over,
0:29:33 > 0:29:37was their final vote made with their hearts or with their heads?
0:29:37 > 0:29:40The week has been absolutely fantastic.
0:29:40 > 0:29:45There's been a couple of emotional times, but generally, for me,
0:29:45 > 0:29:47it's been very fulfilling.
0:29:47 > 0:29:50It's a lovely place.
0:29:50 > 0:29:52It's just a perfect place to live...
0:29:53 > 0:29:55..if you could afford it.
0:29:56 > 0:29:58We've come here ten years too late.
0:29:58 > 0:30:01There's a lot of obstacles that wouldn't have been there ten years
0:30:01 > 0:30:05ago that are there now - financial and personal.
0:30:06 > 0:30:09I did really hope that Daniella would come round
0:30:09 > 0:30:11to our way of thinking.
0:30:11 > 0:30:14I honestly do believe that she's
0:30:14 > 0:30:18shut her feelings off since we've been here,
0:30:18 > 0:30:21purely because Danny's in her life.
0:30:21 > 0:30:25I came with an open mind, but deep, deep down,
0:30:25 > 0:30:28I am more pointed to the UK because of everything that you have got to
0:30:28 > 0:30:31- lose.- If they were, you know, nine,
0:30:31 > 0:30:34six and two, that would be different,
0:30:34 > 0:30:38but they're teenagers and they've got their own plans now, to a point.
0:30:38 > 0:30:41I know there's no way I could ever leave Danny. Like,
0:30:41 > 0:30:43I'm happy where I am.
0:30:43 > 0:30:46I can't see myself with anybody else.
0:30:46 > 0:30:49So it does change things,
0:30:49 > 0:30:52- obviously. - SHE LAUGHS
0:30:52 > 0:30:54It was an eye-opening week for the Stirks,
0:30:54 > 0:30:58but did emotional and financial costs end this dream? Or did the
0:30:58 > 0:31:02taste of life down under convince them that the biggest gamble
0:31:02 > 0:31:05of their lives was worth it?
0:31:05 > 0:31:08Based on our week in New Zealand, our vote goes to...
0:31:19 > 0:31:21- New Zealand.- New Zealand.- UK.
0:31:25 > 0:31:27- Three to two, we're outvoted.- Yeah.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30So why did you choose UK, then?
0:31:30 > 0:31:35This is a beautiful country, but I just miss family too much.
0:31:35 > 0:31:39I can see myself living here, cos it is a very nice place,
0:31:39 > 0:31:42but I'm still a bit undecided, and like you said, "Go with your heart,"
0:31:42 > 0:31:45and my heart says UK.
0:31:45 > 0:31:47Why have you chosen New Zealand?
0:31:47 > 0:31:50In my heart, I do feel that if we really wanted to give it a go,
0:31:50 > 0:31:53we could find the perfect property for us.
0:31:53 > 0:31:58And I have enjoyed this experience so much that it's going to be really
0:31:58 > 0:32:02- hard, I think, for me, just to walk away...- To get back into, er...
0:32:02 > 0:32:04..I really do.
0:32:10 > 0:32:14There are no easy answers for a family divided on whether to
0:32:14 > 0:32:19emigrate or not. But with Viv well and truly won over by what this
0:32:19 > 0:32:21country had to offer, it's clear
0:32:21 > 0:32:25they had a lot to talk about when they got home.
0:32:25 > 0:32:27So, five years later,
0:32:27 > 0:32:31it's time to find out if the family are living at home or away.
0:32:33 > 0:32:37It's April 2017, and the Stirks are living in...
0:32:38 > 0:32:41Cleckheaton in the UK!
0:32:41 > 0:32:44When the trial week was over, the divided family spent a little
0:32:44 > 0:32:47more time down under before returning home.
0:32:47 > 0:32:50So, after the trial week, we decided to stay on another week.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53- We hired a car...- And we travelled round the Bay of Islands, went
0:32:53 > 0:32:56- camping, saw loads of sites. - We stayed there for five nights.
0:32:56 > 0:32:58There was a river, as well, running by, wasn't there?
0:32:58 > 0:33:00- Beautiful, yeah, really...- That was really lovely.
0:33:00 > 0:33:03Looking off the top of the house and being able to, like, see the sea
0:33:03 > 0:33:05and the nice view.
0:33:05 > 0:33:09Which was lovely, but I think my mum knew...
0:33:09 > 0:33:10I think she knew whilst we were
0:33:10 > 0:33:13there that it was never going to happen.
0:33:13 > 0:33:17Viv's dream was partly scuppered by the harsh financial realities of
0:33:17 > 0:33:19living in New Zealand.
0:33:19 > 0:33:23The cost of living over there was quite high, and our budget just...
0:33:23 > 0:33:25Supermarket shopping was expensive, though.
0:33:25 > 0:33:27- It was.- We did go to a few, and they were pricey.
0:33:27 > 0:33:31Our budget didn't stretch that far, so, you know,
0:33:31 > 0:33:33before you've even started, you can't afford, can you?
0:33:33 > 0:33:37My gut instinct, even quite early on in that week, was,
0:33:37 > 0:33:39"This isn't going to work."
0:33:41 > 0:33:44- Especially when we saw that first house! - HE LAUGHS
0:33:44 > 0:33:46And I did cry at that first house,
0:33:46 > 0:33:49cos I knew that it didn't look good.
0:33:49 > 0:33:54The financial restraints would have been like going back to being 25
0:33:54 > 0:33:58again. And that, I didn't fancy that.
0:33:58 > 0:34:02But the final votes were not all founded on affordability alone.
0:34:02 > 0:34:07There were obviously good points about being in New Zealand as well,
0:34:07 > 0:34:09but it just kind of...
0:34:09 > 0:34:12A bit scary when it becomes a bit more of a reality,
0:34:12 > 0:34:13which, I guess, for me,
0:34:13 > 0:34:16that was what my vote was based on, a little bit.
0:34:16 > 0:34:22I voted New Zealand with my, er, heart,
0:34:22 > 0:34:26but probably still, deep down...
0:34:27 > 0:34:31..was more likely to stay at home.
0:34:31 > 0:34:33You know, like, the people I know, I've known them for...
0:34:34 > 0:34:37..since I was about five years old,
0:34:37 > 0:34:41so I wouldn't want to be put into a situation where I don't know anyone.
0:34:41 > 0:34:44It...I think I'd have struggled with it a bit.
0:34:44 > 0:34:46Everybody gave it their best shot,
0:34:46 > 0:34:49and they all had to have their own opinion as well.
0:34:49 > 0:34:52I couldn't sway their decisions one way or another.
0:34:52 > 0:34:55On the way back, me and my mum sat together on the flight and we had a
0:34:55 > 0:34:57good old laugh, like we always do.
0:34:57 > 0:34:59And I just... I think she knew,
0:34:59 > 0:35:03but she's never held it against me for not wanting to go.
0:35:03 > 0:35:07Daniella's boyfriend Danny was a huge consideration for her.
0:35:07 > 0:35:10But for Viv, this was just one piece of the puzzle.
0:35:10 > 0:35:14I don't want people thinking that we didn't go because of Daniella.
0:35:14 > 0:35:17Because she did say to me that people are going to think it was
0:35:17 > 0:35:20all her fault that we didn't go, and that is just not true.
0:35:20 > 0:35:23That is not true. People don't have to blame Daniella.
0:35:23 > 0:35:25If we'd have wanted it enough,
0:35:25 > 0:35:29then there could have been a trial period of going and leaving Daniella
0:35:29 > 0:35:31- here.- But I...- We did talk about that, but...
0:35:31 > 0:35:33I could not have done that.
0:35:33 > 0:35:35For me, there was no trial period.
0:35:35 > 0:35:39We're all together as a family, and I did stipulate that.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42Family is everything to Viv,
0:35:42 > 0:35:45and while she was reconciled with the fact that her New Zealand dream
0:35:45 > 0:35:49was over, it took its toll when they returned.
0:35:49 > 0:35:51She doesn't really like talking about it,
0:35:51 > 0:35:55to the point where we just don't talk about it.
0:35:55 > 0:35:59The first rule about New Zealand is not to talk about New Zealand.
0:35:59 > 0:36:01I think, erm...
0:36:01 > 0:36:06it was the only chance I was going to get to see whether it would work
0:36:06 > 0:36:10for our family, because the children were getting older,
0:36:10 > 0:36:12and more complications.
0:36:12 > 0:36:14If we didn't do it then, we never would do it.
0:36:16 > 0:36:19It probably took me a good month, I'd say, to shake that feel of,
0:36:19 > 0:36:22feeling of, erm...
0:36:24 > 0:36:26It wasn't depression - that's too strong a word - but I just felt
0:36:26 > 0:36:29deflated, because I knew that it was all over.
0:36:32 > 0:36:37With a heavy heart, Viv gradually immersed herself back into UK life,
0:36:37 > 0:36:41which came as a huge relief to Darren's family.
0:36:41 > 0:36:45My father said that he would have been bereft in that interview,
0:36:45 > 0:36:49if we'd have gone. So, yeah, it would have upset them a lot more
0:36:49 > 0:36:51than you appreciate.
0:36:51 > 0:36:54We're really close to our grandparents, uncles, aunties.
0:36:54 > 0:36:58We don't see them as often as what we probably should, but everyone...
0:36:58 > 0:37:01We're all so busy, we all work full-time hours,
0:37:01 > 0:37:04but you know that they're always on the end of a phone if you want a
0:37:04 > 0:37:06chat or you want to call round for a coffee,
0:37:06 > 0:37:09you know that they're always on the end of a phone and you can just
0:37:09 > 0:37:12- nip round. You don't have to plan your flights! - SHE LAUGHS
0:37:13 > 0:37:17And, over time, the family settled and began to thrive.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20Darren's mum was there to see them.
0:37:20 > 0:37:22They all seem happy and...
0:37:23 > 0:37:26..they do a lot as a family.
0:37:26 > 0:37:29They all join in with activities together,
0:37:29 > 0:37:33go out together, and, you know, they still go on holiday together.
0:37:33 > 0:37:38Danielle has moved out now, so we don't see as much of her, but
0:37:38 > 0:37:42obviously we do still see her as much as we possibly can.
0:37:42 > 0:37:46Yeah, we're still very close as a family.
0:37:46 > 0:37:48And, like I said, we always will be!
0:37:48 > 0:37:51For me, family is...
0:37:51 > 0:37:54It really is a strong part of my life, and it's the best job I've
0:37:54 > 0:37:56ever had, being a mum.
0:37:56 > 0:37:59Viv was born to be a mother, there's no doubt about that.
0:37:59 > 0:38:01I absolutely love the three children I've got,
0:38:01 > 0:38:03and if I could go through it all again, I would do it.
0:38:03 > 0:38:08- So...- I wouldn't. No, I'm only joking.- No, it's...
0:38:08 > 0:38:10Yeah, it really is important, and if it wasn't important,
0:38:10 > 0:38:14then I wouldn't have cared about what my children thought.
0:38:14 > 0:38:17I'd have been selfish, but I'm not selfish, so...
0:38:17 > 0:38:20I'm just glad we're all together, still as a unit.
0:38:20 > 0:38:22As well as Darren's telecom job,
0:38:22 > 0:38:26this unit now includes a fully qualified midwife...
0:38:26 > 0:38:29I love being a midwife,
0:38:29 > 0:38:31working with women in...
0:38:31 > 0:38:35Sometimes in vulnerable positions. It's heart-warming, knowing that
0:38:35 > 0:38:38you're with them during a time in their life that... Not a lot of
0:38:38 > 0:38:40people get to experience that,
0:38:40 > 0:38:45and I feel privileged to say that I'm a midwife.
0:38:45 > 0:38:48An apprentice engineer-cum-drummer...
0:38:48 > 0:38:51I started playing the drums about three years ago.
0:38:51 > 0:38:56But are you wanting to make music your career?
0:38:56 > 0:39:00I think it's a possibility, me making a career out of music.
0:39:00 > 0:39:03- Hopefully.- ..a personal trainer...
0:39:03 > 0:39:07I've nearly qualified for my personal training,
0:39:07 > 0:39:10so that's what I want to do, really, with my future.
0:39:10 > 0:39:15It's just a case of building that up and building my own business,
0:39:15 > 0:39:18- really.- ..and a contemporary romance novelist.
0:39:18 > 0:39:22Yes, Viv is now a writer!
0:39:22 > 0:39:26Though how she does it with drums in the background is anybody's guess!
0:39:26 > 0:39:31At the time, when I thought about the idea of writing a novel,
0:39:31 > 0:39:33the children were too young for me to put enough time into it,
0:39:33 > 0:39:36so I put it on the back burner for a while,
0:39:36 > 0:39:40and as the children have got older, I'd been thinking about writing,
0:39:40 > 0:39:44and a character's name popped into my head, so that was it -
0:39:44 > 0:39:47I just put my iron away, I wrote down that character's name,
0:39:47 > 0:39:50and that was the first steps to me writing my first novel.
0:39:53 > 0:39:57So, it's contemporary romance, so it's all about everyday people.
0:39:57 > 0:40:01I try and keep it as lifelike as I possibly can.
0:40:01 > 0:40:04The energy Viv had put into her New Zealand dream is now clearly evident
0:40:04 > 0:40:08in her writing. Not only is she prolific,
0:40:08 > 0:40:13but she self-publishes online and has customers all over the world.
0:40:13 > 0:40:18I wrote the seventh novel, and I actually self-published that one,
0:40:18 > 0:40:20that was the first one that I ever did.
0:40:20 > 0:40:22I've now got 14.
0:40:22 > 0:40:25I'm an unknown author, nobody at all knows me,
0:40:25 > 0:40:29but I'm doing really well in America - a lot of Americans buy my
0:40:29 > 0:40:34work. I've sold in Canada, Brazil, even France and India.
0:40:34 > 0:40:38And even Darren has a role to play in Viv's writing.
0:40:38 > 0:40:41Well, Viv sits doing her writing, and I walk the dogs and make the
0:40:41 > 0:40:44- tea, so... - LAUGHTER
0:40:44 > 0:40:46Makes it easy for me when Darren's off, because he does walk the dogs,
0:40:46 > 0:40:49so I've got that extra hour that I would have been walking the dogs to
0:40:49 > 0:40:51do a bit more writing or housework.
0:40:51 > 0:40:54I get my jobs done first and then my writing comes after that.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57Life for the Stirks is on the up and up,
0:40:57 > 0:41:01and with Daniella and Danny still going strong after nine years
0:41:01 > 0:41:03together, the future looks positive.
0:41:03 > 0:41:06We're currently saving up to buy a house.
0:41:06 > 0:41:10Hopefully have children shortly.
0:41:10 > 0:41:12We're not in any rush to get married,
0:41:12 > 0:41:14because we want to do the other things before,
0:41:14 > 0:41:17and I'll just say we're as good as married.
0:41:17 > 0:41:20I'd love to be a grandparent, but again, there's no pressure.
0:41:20 > 0:41:24You know, it is another chapter in our book,
0:41:24 > 0:41:27but there's... You can't put any pressure on them, can you?
0:41:27 > 0:41:30And as for the New Zealand dream,
0:41:30 > 0:41:34is anyone in the family still staring at far-distant shores?
0:41:35 > 0:41:39I don't have any regrets about staying here.
0:41:39 > 0:41:42It's one of them things, you never knew what opportunities you're going
0:41:42 > 0:41:45to get, and you never know where your life's going to be, so I can't
0:41:45 > 0:41:47say, "No, I wouldn't think about it,"
0:41:47 > 0:41:50but I can't say I would, at the same time.
0:41:50 > 0:41:54You just...just live each day, really, and just see what happens.
0:41:54 > 0:41:57I don't think that I will ever emigrate.
0:41:57 > 0:42:00Me and Danny have spoke about when we're much older, possibly,
0:42:00 > 0:42:03more retirement sort of age,
0:42:03 > 0:42:06we'd maybe like to buy a small house or a villa in Spain or something,
0:42:06 > 0:42:10France, somewhere like that, but when we are much older.
0:42:10 > 0:42:12But what about Viv's dream?
0:42:12 > 0:42:16I think she was disappointed at the beginning, but she's got her writing
0:42:16 > 0:42:20now, and she seems to have got into...deeply into that.
0:42:20 > 0:42:25So I think she realised that it
0:42:25 > 0:42:28wasn't logical or sensible.
0:42:28 > 0:42:31I do like my life. I've got a decent job, I've got my passion for
0:42:31 > 0:42:33writing, I've got three children
0:42:33 > 0:42:35that are doing really well in their lives.
0:42:35 > 0:42:37You know, I've got Darren, who's very supportive.
0:42:37 > 0:42:39I've got a lovely home,
0:42:39 > 0:42:42lovely garden that we can all go out when it's lovely.
0:42:42 > 0:42:45I can't fault the life that I've got.
0:42:45 > 0:42:49If I say I don't regret not going, erm...
0:42:51 > 0:42:53I think regret's too strong a word, really.
0:42:53 > 0:42:56I'm sorry that it didn't work out for us as a family,
0:42:56 > 0:43:00but I don't regret not going, because everybody's still together,
0:43:00 > 0:43:02and we're all happy in our own lives.
0:43:08 > 0:43:12Despite the original crushing blow to Viv's dream of living a life
0:43:12 > 0:43:15down under, she and her family have
0:43:15 > 0:43:18created a small piece of paradise there in
0:43:18 > 0:43:21the West Yorkshire town of Cleckheaton.
0:43:21 > 0:43:24We wish the Stirks the very best for the future.
0:43:24 > 0:43:27FUNKY MUSIC PLAYS