Coe Wanted Down Under Revisited

Choosing to emigrate halfway around the world

can risk splitting your family in two,

and in 2011, the Coe family were faced with exactly that prospect,

as they decided whether to make the life-changing move to New Zealand.

One year on, we're catching up with them to find out what happened next.

The Coes' first attempt to move to New Zealand

almost ended in disaster.

It nearly broke our marriage.

We didn't speak for about six months.

And would another re-open old wounds?

You're not thinking straight.

-I am.

-No, you're not.

With so much at stake,

have they been able to go through with it this time?

If times are hard, it's a strain on any relationship,

you know, so we'll just have to see.

Let's hope times will be better for us.

In 2011, the Coe family faced

one of the biggest decisions of their lives.

After a week experiencing life in New Zealand, they had to choose

whether to stay in the UK or to make the move for good.

Today, we're revisiting them

to find out what's happened since we last met.

After 12,000 miles and a gruelling 24 hours in the air,

the Coes touch down in Wellington, tired but excited.

I hope this week we might be able to, you know,

sort of really be proactive and really give it a go.

I'm looking optimistic for a job, and hopefully I'll find something

and hopefully I'll stay.

'I feel really ready to go.'

In 2011, the Coe family lived in Clacton-on-Sea in Essex.

Sharon and Justin, then aged 46,

were parents to 21-year-old Samantha,

18-year-old Ashley

and Jeremy, who was 14.

Justin had his own carpentry business

and Sharon had recently qualified as an accounting technician.

For years, Justin dreamt of moving his family

for a better life in New Zealand.

After some initial reluctance,

Sharon was soon caught up with the romance of the idea.

My initial thoughts about moving to New Zealand

were I was a bit upset about leaving my mum,

but then it became a bit of an adventure

and I've got into this adventure

and I just want to be in New Zealand.

In 2009, with their bags packed and visas stamped,

the Coes were all set for a new life in New Zealand

until Justin dropped a bombshell.

One morning, I woke up in bed

and Justin came and sat on the edge of the bed

and said "I don't want to move to New Zealand."

That's literally his first words of how he broke it to me

that he didn't want to go to New Zealand.

He just sat on the edge of the bed and said, "I don't want to go."

I was told that there were no employment prospects for me

because they were only going to employ locals and so on.

I sort of got cold feet right at the last minute.

Well, the week before we flew.

So I cancelled the tickets and decided to stay in the UK.

It nearly broke our marriage.

We didn't speak for about six months.

After the recession,

the situation in the UK had been made even worse.

'Work's been hit and miss.'

The phone hardly ever rings.

You know, I can probably count on one hand

how many times I stay at home as opposed to go to work.

It's been really, really hard.

I lost my job last year and we've just literally had no income.

Coming from a very vibrant family with enough money to cover you,

we've gone down to having virtually nothing.

We're living hand to mouth.

Money comes in and by the end of the month, the bank account's empty.

With their age against them and only a year left on their visa,

it was Sharon's final hope of convincing him

their future together lay down under.

I still feel a bit let down.

I'm still wondering whether or not

he's actually going to come out and stay with me.

But it wasn't only Justin who was in two minds about emigrating.

Daughter Samantha was at university

and wasn't sure if moving was right for her.

I'm 21, I've got a lot of things here,

and also education is really important at the moment for me.

I might not like the universities out there.

And, erm... it's just quite difficult.

Sharon and Justin hoped New Zealand would give their sons

a better quality of life,

especially Ashley, who suffered from autism.

I'd like the boys to have more sports in their lives

because here they don't do many sports, they just sit at home on their computers.

Whereas in New Zealand, they seem to like the snowboarding.

I'm hoping to get them into other sports as well,

which will get them off their backsides and doing something.

They faced a massive decision.

One that could have also decided the future of their marriage.

In my mind, yes, I'm going and I'm staying.

My two boys will stay with me.

For me, it's now or never.

It's just that choice in life, you know.

So, it is the last chance.

The Coes visited Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand,

a popular, but expensive, destination for Brits.

Were the family going to be in for a shock?

They stayed in a modern apartment in the heart of the city,

but what was Justin's reaction?

This looks a little bit different, doesn't it?

Different to what we've got back at home, isn't it?

Oh, this is nice. I like that.

Sharon, make some tea. I'll be watching TV.

-No, you make the tea!

-Can we work out how to put heating on?

I thought I'd come to a semi-tropical island.

It's really cold here, isn't it?

And it wasn't just the apartment that left him cold.

I would say, from what I've seen,

it's not quite what it is on the postcards or the internet.

It does look a little bit run-down to me.

For a capital city, I'm very surprised at that.

And Justin's worries had Sharon concerned.

It's playing on my mind quite a lot that he might not want to stay here.

And I really want to stay here.

In the UK, the Coe family had a four-bedroom detached house

in Clacton-on-Sea in Essex.

It was on the market for £185,000.

They had strong ideas of what they wanted from their ideal home.

I guess my dream house would be a property that looks over a lake

or over the sea, because I've always lived near the water

and I think a changing view is fantastic.

The ideal house I'd like is I wouldn't want one

that's right in the town centre.

I'd like something slightly out in the suburbs.

It's got to have enough bedrooms,

because my boys like their own rooms.

Just one with a bit more space.

We arranged for the Coes to get a taste

of Wellington's housing market. We showed them three options

based upon what they wanted, what they could afford

and the real price of property down under.

Only after checking out each home would the family discover its price.

First stop was at a four-bedroom house

in the popular Paraparaumu area, 45 minutes

from the centre of Wellington.

The house could offer them plenty of space, if they could get inside.

This must be the way in. Can't be, can it?

Yep, that's the way in.

Well if it is, it's a climb round, isn't it?

Justin was struggling to see the potential in the house.

At first I thought this was a do-up,

but people were actually living in it.

It's quite surprising, because I wouldn't live like this. Would you?

No.

However, upstairs there was a big plus for Sharon.

-You can see real fantastic views.

-Yeah.

It reminds me so much of Clacton.

-No, it doesn't.

-No, that's true. It doesn't.

And there was a dream feature for Justin too. Well, sort of.

I've always wanted to put that into a house.

-A laundry chute?

-Yeah.

-That saves a lot of time.

-Doesn't it?

-That's brilliant.

-Straight into the washing machine.

The house is sold. Just with that, it's fantastic.

Despite all the space inside, the views and the laundry chute,

had the house convinced anyone?

-Could you see yourself living here?

-No.

Well, that was that sorted.

The house hadn't won them over,

but what about its cost? With New Zealand property prices

rising so much in recent years,

could they even afford it?

£194,000

or 380,000

-is sort of almost at the top of the budget.

-Yeah.

I would definitely want a garden

if I was paying that kind of money.

It makes me think that although this is a much larger house,

my little house is nicer

because it's all done up and how we want it.

-And you can get through the front door.

-Yeah.

It was a setback for Sharon.

Convincing Justin to leave Essex

would be even tougher if this was all they could afford.

Perhaps the second property would fare better?

It was a four-bedroom house in the Paremata area,

close to the centre of Wellington, which was good for work.

Hopefully it had a better build quality for Justin...

-It's nice.

-Looks like it's made of plywood, though.

..or not.

Inside though, it was a very different story.

-This is much cosier.

-Wow, lovely.

This is beautiful. Not in our price range though, is it?

Better go and find some more money then.

Yeah. Got to work harder, haven't I?

It's got a more cosy feeling to it.

That's the log fire, mate.

This really is a dream home.

This house was an instant hit

and it was certainly bigger than they were used to.

-Wow.

-Look at the size of this room. Unbelievable, isn't it?

-That's as big as Jeremy's bedroom!

-Exactly.

Even the views were bigger.

-Oh, look at this.

-Wow.

You'd have to take up yodelling for a living.

Look at that. It's snowing like in the Swiss Alps.

I don't want it to stay, though. I'd like warm weather.

Despite the chill, this house had left both Justin and Sharon

with a warm glow.

And the children seem to have had a change of heart too.

I think it's quite nice. I just love how it looks

and the feeling you get from it.

-We love it.

-It's amazing!

The house looked like a genuine dream for the Coes.

But was it within their £200,000 budget?

-How much is it?

-A million quid?

-No, it's not!

No. £330,000.

That's still out of your price range.

I just think it is within our grasp if we both work hard.

We do work hard and I think we can still achieve this.

You're not thinking straight, you know.

-I am.

-No, you're not.

I'm sorry, you're just looking at it with, you know...

Because this is what you want.

Yeah.

Yeah, but it's not going to happen.

Ouch! It wasn't just the weather that had turned frosty.

It was definitely time to move on to the next property.

The third house was in the coastal village of Raumati South.

The big, open plan living area

would have given them plenty of space inside.

It had views that Sharon loved, but it did need some TLC.

This has got a nice view, from this room.

It's not a bad sized room.

This property is a little bit closer to the city,

-which is a good thing.

-Yeah.

-Again, it needs work.

That's the thing.

It's not a bad property. I think the gardens are nice.

It's got a lot of ground. Whereas, the others haven't had quite as much ground.

Again, the glass was half full for Sharon

but did the price of this house come as a surprise?

£235,000...

-You would have to spend a good £50,000...

-To bring it up, yeah.

To bring it up to standard.

That meant, in total, the house could end up

£100,000 over their budget.

It had been a tough day viewing all three properties,

with none of them really making the grade. So how did they vote?

Based on the properties that we've looked at today, our vote goes to...

-England.

-New Zealand!

-What did you do that for?

-There was one nice house

but you've got to look at all the others that we looked at.

I think the New Zealand properties are better.

So, you all went... Well, Jeremy might be on my side.

He's sick and tired of living in a cupboard!

If Justin really couldn't see himself in a New Zealand house,

would it spell the end for Sharon's dream?

Back home Justin ran his own carpentry business

but in New Zealand he would have to be employed for two years

before he could set up on his own.

A lack of job prospects put an end to the last move,

and he still had big worries.

Originally when we looked to emigrating to New Zealand

there were good business opportunities for me out there

and a good lifestyle for the family.

Since the recession, that's hit the construction industry very hard

so it means those opportunities no longer exist for me, or I don't believe that they do.

Sharon had lost her job

as an accounting technician during the recession,

which left the Coes struggling to make ends meet.

She was hoping for better luck in New Zealand.

By the looks of it, prospects are a lot better for me out there, than they are here.

On this trip I am looking for a job.

If I find one, then I'll stay.

We arranged for Justin to spend the day with a local building company.

Paul Winstanley emigrated from the UK

and had a thriving renovation business.

He was quick to address Justin's concerns.

Would you say there's a plentiful supply of skilled tradesmen to call on here?

No, I think there's a huge shortage of skills in New Zealand

and we've got a massive housing shortage looming.

Going forward, there's going to be massive demand for qualified people.

That was ideal news, but only if Justin could handle being an employee rather than the boss.

Across town, Sharon was heading to check on her job prospects.

Having put family ahead of her career, working down under

meant a lot more than earning a decent salary.

I've brought up the kids and done all that sort of thing for now.

Now I want a career of my own. It isn't just about the money, no,

it's more to do with that I want something that I can find,

that I enjoy and can get my teeth into and progress to a higher level.

She met with recruitment agent, Sharlene Yule,

but would there be good news?

Actually, the market's very buoyant.

There's a lot of work on.

I see you've got your accounting technician qualification.

That's recognised here in New Zealand. What you've got, in terms of your skills and experience,

you can hit the ground running, in terms of work.

That was promising, so what about the pay?

The range here in Wellington can be anything between 55,000 and 65,000.

Which is about 27 to £32,000, which is a lot more than I expected.

Well, you've got good skills and good experience,

-you want to be recognised for those.

-Thank you.

Good accounts people are really difficult to find.

It looked like Sharon's dreams were all coming true.

There was plenty of work and she could earn more than her and Justin's combined UK salaries.

That was brilliant because I think I could get myself a job in New Zealand.

I think I'm staying.

It looked as if Sharon wouldn't take "no" for an answer now,

but a cautious Justin still needed some reassuring.

He had some big questions.

What sort of money would a tradesman get out here?

Depending on age and experience, we would offer between 18 and 25.

-That's an hour.

-That's between ten and £12.50 an hour.

Yes, it's about that.

-Are you advertising for anyone at the moment?

-Yes, we are.

We've got a huge volume of work to do. We're booked up till March at the moment.

-Work booked right into next year?

-Yeah, it is.

There's no shortage of work coming in at the moment.

That was more good news,

but would the promise of work and a bigger salary

compensate Justin for leaving behind everything he'd built up at home?

Do I carry on in my own business or do I come out here and start working for somebody?

That's something I'd find difficult to adjust to.

So which way did he vote?

UK.

No prizes for guessing which way Sharon voted.

New Zealand!

It had been quite a day,

and it looked like there was plenty to talk about back at the apartment.

-Well, how did you get on?

-Really good.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

We're staying here.

-Oh, that's not so good, then, is it?

-Yes, it's brilliant!

-I reckon I'll get a job, easy.

-That's quite promising, isn't it?

-Knowing I can get work, we've got to move here.

-We'll have to discuss that...

It's going to be hard for me to wrench myself away from the UK.

But it's not all about me, is it? It's about the family as well.

-No, that's it.

-Yeah.

We'll see how we go, then.

But if the weather's like this, I'm not moving out here!

Even though there was work for both of them in New Zealand,

Sharon and Justin didn't seem any closer to a decision on their future.

Sometimes you're being forced into a corner, that you don't want to be in

and, erm...

In some ways it's a little bit my fault

because it was my original idea.

If Sharon decided to move out here and, obviously, she'll take all the family and so on.

Well, could I leave all my family and be the only one in the UK?

I'd have to make a sacrifice.

Back in the UK, the Coes hoped to raise £185,000

from the sale of their house.

We sent round a couple of estate agents to get their opinion.

If they couldn't get the right price,

renting it could have been an option, until values rose.

A good-sized study area, right by the front entrance hall.

I wish we'd tidied it up a bit!

LAUGHTER

That's a nice-sized lounge.

A very good-sized master bedroom.

Another reasonable size single bedroom. Very good.

For the current market conditions,

I would estimate the property will be worth around £175,000.

For a quick sale, I would estimate the owners

would have to take between 165 to 170,000.

For the current rental market, I'd estimate the property would achieve, £750 to £775 per calendar month.

For a quick sale, it'd need to be in the low 170s.

There's a number of similar properties in the local area

ranging from 150, 160,000 upwards.

That was more than £15,000 less than the Coes had hoped for.

I don't think selling it in the present market is an option for us.

No, we'll just rent it out until the market recovers.

I think that'll probably be the best option.

Then, of course, we've still got a home to go back to.

That sounded like a distinct lack of commitment!

Maybe the cost of living would make Justin think otherwise.

We prepared some figures to show them how far their money would go in New Zealand compared to the UK.

In New Zealand, it looks like we'd be earning £17,000 more than we earn in the UK,

-which is quite a difference, isn't it?

-It is.

-Yeah.

So we've got £3,275 of income. Yeah?

But your outgoings are 3,679.

According to these figures... OK?

-You're not earning enough in the UK for everything.

-No. you're right.

We can't afford to live in the UK,

and if you got a better salary, let's say your top rate,

-then you'd actually have spare money to spend.

-Yeah.

Now it's all down on paper, we can see where our money's going.

I've been cutting the shopping and that's why there isn't much food.

-There isn't the money to buy it.

-That why we've been eating beans.

Clearly, the Coes would have been better off in New Zealand.

But did that finally convince Justin?

Based on the cost of living in New Zealand to the UK, our vote goes to...

BOTH: New Zealand.

I'm pleased you did that one.

Well, it's a lot cheaper to live out here than in the UK.

-It is.

-So you'd have a much better lifestyle and you'd have money to spend on leisure activities.

At the moment our joint income in the UK can't sustain our living costs.

We don't have an extravagant lifestyle, it's a basic lifestyle.

In New Zealand, we could afford to live.

The Coes had been undecided about their possible future in New Zealand

and with things looking tougher at home,

would a life down under have been in their best interests?

Did seeing messages from home swing their votes yet again?

Come on, Ash.

Sharon is kind, caring...

Very generous.

To be honest, she's always there for you.

Justin, I'd say...

He's quite a joker, isn't he?

They're a good laugh.

Our Aunty Sharon would drop anything to come and help us.

She's quite an unselfish, caring sort of girl,

spoils everybody around her and always treats everybody.

-Sharon's always been very close to her mother.

-Yeah.

I'm very surprised that she has decided to do this.

I think she will miss her mother perhaps more than she realises.

If I had my way, she wouldn't go.

Like I say, it's her dream.

And...

Don't get upset.

It's her dream, but I shall miss her something chronic.

I probably won't see her again, once she goes.

It'll be like grieving for a lost daughter.

Well, the boys, as well and Justin...

No, to me it'll be a big loss.

You know that we're missing you already and, although it's only been a short while,

it feels like you could be out there for ever,

and, you know, we'll miss you.

Don't get too bowled over by the good life and look at all the aspects.

If you decide to stay out there, I shall miss you really terribly.

Whatever you do, look after my boys...

I can't...

I think the problem is, it's almost like we're going to die. It's like a bereavement for them.

If you don't give it a go, the regrets will be there for the rest of your life.

All those messages are, Sharon wants, Sharon wants. It's everything that you want in life.

-And, maybe not what all of us want in life.

-Yeah.

I've lived your life, you've had your career.

You've done everything you've wanted to do.

And now you've got to give a little way and let me have some.

We've come so far down the line, that we've got to give it a go

and see if this is what we want.

It had been a long week and now it was time to make the final vote.

It seemed the outcome was once again far from certain.

It was my idea in the beginning and I wish I didn't have these ideas sometimes.

I said, at the beginning of the week, it's going to be a make or break situation.

Maybe I'm the one who's breaking it and that's not fair on Sharon.

I have been here before.

Justin does keep chopping and changing his mind,

but I think this time I can win.

If Sharon and myself are still split after the vote, where do we go?

I think...I'd like to sit down with her

and have a good conversation

and weigh up the pros and cons and see how we go forwards,

not only with this decision, but our relationship.

I really don't know what's going to happen in the end.

Mum's very stubborn, but I think Dad normally relents,

but I don't think he'll relent on this. I really don't know.

With so much on the line, it really was a life-changing decision.

How did they vote?

Our final vote goes to...

-New Zealand.

-Undecided.

-UK.

You're still in the minority.

-You've got an undecided, two undecides.

-And two for New Zealand.

-You two are coming over here.

-It looks like two of us are.

It's been difficult. I nearly went for New Zealand just to keep the peace,

but I had to vote honestly and say where I'd like to live

and spend the rest of my days.

I think it'll be the good old UK.

As it stands, it looks like me and my eldest son are coming to New Zealand.

It had been a tough week for the Coes.

Their experiences of New Zealand had left them divided about where their future lay.

I caught up with the Coes a month later

to see if they'd reached an agreement.

Last time we'd seen Sharon, she had been dead set on moving to New Zealand,

with or without Justin.

You haven't changed your mind at all?

No, I haven't. I still want to live in New Zealand.

Does it scare you to think you're going to be moving that distance?

I am absolutely terrified to move that distance away,

but I've really got to try it. If I don't, it'll always be, "What if?"

I'm going to have a word with Justin

-and hear his thoughts on this possible move.

-Yeah.

Justin's heart was firmly in the UK,

but since the vote, he'd had a lot of time to think.

What's your final decision, or is there one?

I think it's still up in the air and watch this space and see where we are in a few months' time.

I think, ultimately, if Sharon moves out there and took the family with her,

do you really think I'd stay here?

No, I don't. I really, really don't.

I think you would follow her out and, I think, that's what she wants in her heart as well.

After a tough week in New Zealand, the Coe family were no closer

to making a decision about their future.

But was there just a glimmer of hope of Sharon's dream from Justin?

A year later, we've caught up with them to find out.

It's June 2012 and the Coe family are all together...

..in the UK. But that's about to change.

Our visas are just about to run out.

We've only got a few weeks left on it, so it's a case of,

do we go for another try in New Zealand and to get work,

or do we just let the visas lapse?

With Sharon more determined than ever,

the pressure was on Justin to finally make that decision.

I think Sharon's always decided that she's going to go back to New Zealand whatever, you know.

But, erm, it's just sort of trying to convince us whether, you know,

whether we should go out and give it another go.

So what's it to be?

You are going anyway, aren't you?

-Whatever happens, so...

-Yes. I'm going.

So it looks like I've got to go with them.

With only one week before they fly,

how did Sharon finally convince Justin

that New Zealand was a good move for the Coes?

I've been discussing with Justin for some time

about returning to New Zealand and I wasn't getting anywhere

so me and my daughter decided that we would just sit down

and book the tickets to go to New Zealand.

I booked them in my name so that he cannot cancel them.

It's either I stay here on my own or go out with them,

so it's just giving it that last bash, you know.

Also, I don't think that we wanted to look back at life and say,

"If only we'd gone out,

"maybe our children would have had a better life and so on."

Having rented out their house in Clacton,

the whole family have been living with Sharon's mum

for the past two months.

We're living with my mum in a two-bedroom bungalow,

which is very, very cramped so there are six of us

living in two bedrooms and an attic,

so it's very tight for space and we haven't got any room for anything

and my poor old mum can't even get in the bathroom.

Taking the house off the market was one less worry for Justin.

I think the thing that's made Justin feel more comfortable

about going to New Zealand is the fact that we haven't sold the house,

that it's only rented, and we have not lost the asset

or the money that we've gained over the years.

That has made him more comfortable to make the move.

With the tickets booked and only a few days left until they emigrate,

Sharon is as excited as ever, while Justin has some familiar concerns.

I'm very worried about being in this week before we fly

because he did cancel the flights before.

We are about the same...

We've got a week to go before we leave and...

I wonder if I could just say that maybe it's not such a good idea

-and...

-HE CHUCKLES

It's not only making the flight that's the big worry

for both of them, it's also staying put once they've arrived.

It's always, "When we come back," or, "If..."

You know, more or less saying that we are going to come back.

Just not planning too far in the future, you know?

We'll just go over, see how it is and then...

And then, if it's good, then we'll carry on.

If it's not, we'll be back.

-No, we're not coming back.

-No?

-No, I'm planning to live out there.

-Yes.

Sharon was always convinced the move would help her boys

lead more active lifestyles

and this was something that Justin couldn't argue with.

Towards the end of our trip to New Zealand

Jeremy, just all of a sudden,

we were sitting on the plane on the way home in Auckland,

and he said, "I've changed my mind, I want to stay in New Zealand."

It does make it a lot easier that everybody seems to want to go

and give New Zealand a go.

I think that I've got to go for that, for the children.

It's, you know, try and make their lives a little bit more successful

and give them a better future than I could in the UK.

With the clock ticking, there's been plenty to do,

for one of the Coes, at least.

To be fair, Sharon has done pretty much everything,

packed up the house, moved out

and I've been very reluctant.

You know, it's um...

I think if it was up to me, I would still be dragging my heels.

So, it's like my life is being packed up for me, which is...

I don't know if that is good or bad, I'll let you know.

I've already packed up once to go to New Zealand

and this is the second time around, so I've packed the boxes,

unpacked them and repacked them now for the second time,

so hopefully they won't be unpacked until they get to New Zealand now.

However Sharon's decision to leave suffered a serious blow

when her brother passed away suddenly.

I think at the moment, leaving my mum behind is quite bad

because of what's been happening in the last three months,

because she gets very upset and very depressed

because my brother's just passed, so she is already not in

a very good state of mind and then with me leaving as well,

it's like losing two children, rather than just one.

It has sort of like split the decision,

am I making the right decision to go? Because of my mum.

But I think we have gone too far down the road to actually turn back

at the moment. I think we have got to go and see what it's like.

Her decision to move to the other side of the world

was tested further when daughter Samantha decided

she wouldn't be staying on in the long-term.

She started a photography degree at Ipswich University,

a course she plans to complete in the UK.

Samantha is the only one that's undecided at the moment

on when she's going to come to New Zealand.

In the UK, she's got nine months to a year left on her degree.

I'm going out to New Zealand for two months with my family

and then I'm going to come back to finish the last year of my degree.

I'm not sure if I'll go out there once I finish my degree,

or stay here, it depends where I get work once I finished,

or if I decide to do postgraduate.

I'm very glad they've actually made a decision because I felt like

I'm not really settled anywhere for the last few years because

they're moving to New Zealand, they're not moving to New Zealand.

And there are benefits in having

a family on the other side of the world.

It just gives me a lot of choice.

I think so many people are so closed in once they finish their degree,

I've got a lot of options.

Samantha isn't the only one hitting the books.

Justin's continued work shortage inspired him to study

an accountancy course at Colchester Institute.

Rather than sort of waste my time,

I thought it was important that I had a professional qualification

that I could take across to,

not only construction industry, but also other industries as well.

After years of struggling to find work in the UK,

Justin can see the plus points in a move down under.

If I found work out there that I enjoyed,

it would be much easier to settle and carry on working,

but the main thing I'm optimistic about is the fact that

we can buy land out there to build a property.

Now, that would be an amazing thing, if I could do that for my children,

so when they start in life,

you know, we can actually build a house to their own specifications.

I think that would be a really positive thing to do.

There's always light at the end of the tunnel, you know?

But it's just whether it's a train coming the other way, or not!

There's not many around this area.

With Justin inspired by the thought of building a house,

they still need a rental property in the meantime.

Luckily help has been on hand.

I haven't actually had a lot of time to look on the internet

and research because I have been packing

and trying to sort out all of this side of stuff.

But my daughter is actually doing the research at the moment

and showing us.

She's looked and researched all the schools to find out

the best schools for my son to go to and the colleges,

she has done all of this for me

so she has been a real big help and taken some of the pressure off.

There's only a few days to go until the move.

Samantha has found them a place to stay,

but only for the first six weeks.

We found a very nice rental property in Onslow.

We could have booked it for longer, but we thought

by then we'd want our own place and start buying stuff for ourselves.

So, with the big day ever closer and emotions running high,

do they finally agree on how they feel about the move?

I'm feeling excited...nervous...

all rolled into one.

I feel sick to my stomach, honest to God.

It's...

It's a very...

It's a very scary thing to do.

I think once he gets settled and the children are settled,

mainly if the children are settled, then he'll be settled in his life

in New Zealand, but it's getting the children settled first.

Surely Justin can see some positives about living in New Zealand?

It's just having a comfortable living.

A nice home.

A nice home and also having the time to enjoy life.

Whether it's simple things like going swimming or whatever.

One of the things on Wellington Harbour is they've got

a diving board, that's planked out in the summer.

I'm looking forward to running off that diving board

and splashing into the sea. And that don't cost you nothing.

So, if that sort of sums up what life could be like, then,

it could be fun.

Justin and Sharon have faced many challenges in the past

and are looking forward to the future together.

This year will be our 25th wedding anniversary

so we wouldn't have stayed together that long

if this was the only decision.

If times are hard, it's a strain on any relationship.

So we just have to see, let's hope that times will be better for us.

The big day has arrived.

With bags packed and the family waiting to say their goodbyes,

it all seems to be happening.

Surely by now, Justin has come round to the idea.

I think I'll stay here, it's less stress!

But at least Sharon seems hopeful.

I think that Justin will get on the plane and I think he will go.

I think he has started looking for work and things like that

so he is getting in the mood to go.

I'll be very nervous at the airport

but very, very excited because I'm so looking forward to going.

All right? See you soon, all right?

'What's going to go through my mind is what I'm leaving behind.'

And, I think that on that journey to the airport

will be all those things of what I'm leaving behind,

but...yes.

You've got to be a little bit positive, haven't you?

And I'm just looking forward...

I hope things work out well for Sharon

and everything goes the way that she wants it.

For me, I don't care what happens to me.

You know, it's as long as they're all happy,

that's the most important thing.

So Justin has made it to the airport

and appears more positive about what's in store.

-He'll be OK.

-It'll be all right.

-I'm going to miss my home town and my family.

-I'm very excited,

I just want to get on my journey now cos I like travelling.

It's the end of a chapter.

You know, it may be the start of a new chapter.

Even though Justin still has his doubts,

the family know that it's time to look forward to a brighter future.

With all five of them making it onto the plane at last,

their adventure starts here.

So, after years of false starts and sleepless nights,

the Coe family are finally on their way to a new life down under.

Whatever the future holds, we wish them the best of luck.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd