Barker Family Wanted Down Under Revisited

If you passionately believed that there was a better

life waiting for you, on the other side of the world,

but the person you loved most didn't share your dream,

would you follow your head or your heart?

In 2013, Richelle Barker was facing that dilemma.

Today, we'll find out where she and her mum now call home.

Richelle was passionate about a move to the other side of the world...

I absolutely fell in love with New Zealand through geography in school.

..and was desperate for her mum to join her.

We're less like mother and daughter and more like best friends.

But for Mum, Lorraine, that meant facing an unbearable choice.

I can't see me being in New Zealand,

thinking "My God, I've left my mum."

Two years on, we'll find out where they are now.

At this moment in time, I'm feeling really positive.

Roughly the same size as Great Britain, New Zealand boasts

almost 9,500 miles of coastline and sandy beaches.

With most parts of the country enjoying

over 2,000 hours of sunshine each summer,

it's not difficult to see why, for almost 40 years,

it's been one of the top ten destinations

for UK residents choosing to emigrate.

Two years ago, Richelle Barker had just one week to convince Mum,

Lorraine, to uproot her entire life and start afresh in New Zealand.

But at the end of it, the pair faced a life-changing decision -

whether to stay in the UK, or take the plunge

and move to the other side of the world.

Today, we'll discover how and where

Lorraine and Richelle are now.

The Barkers' original trial week in New Zealand started with

a 12,000-mile journey with stops in four different time zones.

Despite the long flight, the ladies had arrived in good form.

It still hasn't hit home.

We were on the plane saying, "We are going to New Zealand!"

-It just doesn't feel real.

-This is my dream to come here.

To actually get that, it hasn't sunk in.

I don't think it will for quite a while yet.

With just one week to persuade her mum life would be better

New Zealand, Richelle would need to find her bearings fast.

In 2013, classroom assistant Lorraine

and then 18-year-old daughter Richelle were

living in a three-bedroomed bungalow in Kinmel Bay, North Wales.

And as relationships between mothers and daughters went,

they didn't come much stronger than this one.

We are less like mother and daughter and more like best friends.

She is my rock, my confidante, my everything.

The pair spent almost all their spare time together.

We go to these country and western festivals, and we dress up

with our Stetsons and our boots, and we do a bit of line dancing.

But that relationship was being put to the test.

Richelle was desperate to convince her mum to follow her dream

and move to New Zealand.

Everything Richelle seems to do, it's all with New Zealand in mind.

Well, I absolutely fell in love with New Zealand through

geography at school. We saw these amazing mountains with the snow.

They've got nice holiday destinations with beaches,

just like we have here, only they have the summer for it.

Lorraine had emigrated to Australia in her 20s,

but had returned to the UK before Richelle was born.

Nearly 30 years later,

she didn't know if she had the strength to do it all over again.

At 50, I can see pitfalls and problems arising,

and I'm really quite concerned if I'm doing the right thing or not.

A legacy from Lorraine's time down under was Australian

passports for her and Richelle,

meaning they wouldn't have needed visas for New Zealand.

But the downside was that if Lorraine left Wales,

she'd also be leaving her mum.

My mum has always been there to help.

She's always lived just down the road.

We always phone each other every day.

I can't see me being in New Zealand, thinking,

"My God, I've left my mum."

Health issues meant there was no chance of her nan

making the move with them and Richelle was all too aware

of the emotional turmoil her mum faced.

This is part of my dilemma.

If we go out to New Zealand and my mum is not settled,

that would break my heart to see my best friend unhappy.

For Richelle to realise her dream of a new life down under,

Lorraine faced having to choose between her mum and her daughter.

Whatever's going to happen, someone is potentially

going to lose their mum, whether it's me with you,

or you with your mum.

It's a dilemma all round.

For their first ever trip to New Zealand,

Richelle and Lorraine visited the greater Auckland region

in the north island.

Home for the week was a two-bedroom cottage in Coatesville,

a small, rural community about 18 miles north-west of the city.

Straight away, Lorraine was impressed.

-Wow! That is...

-No, mum. It's the little cottage on the left.

I don't care if it's that garage! It's fabulous.

Their rental cottage was attached to the owner's home

and formed part of a traditional Kiwi lifestyle plot.

I love these big, quirky rooms and the fire.

INDISTINCT

-It's different. Funny, funky room shapes.

-Yeah!

-That is what I'm talking about.

-Beautiful.

These lifestyle blocks are absolutely amazing.

It was an amicable start to the week,

but the pair's relationship risked being put through the ringer

if Lorraine was to be convinced of a future in New Zealand.

We'll just have to suck it and see.

Find out some more, first.

But first day,

first feeling, first impression is absolutely beautiful.

Back in the UK, the Barkers were living in a three-bedroomed

detached bungalow in Kinmel Bale, North Wales.

And if Richelle managed to convince her mum to move,

she had a clear idea of what a Kiwi home should have.

My dream house would be a wooden, weather-board house,

three bedrooms, big, private with a plot of land.

Half an hour to an hour away from civilisation.

I do like anything that's quirky or a little bit different.

-Some of it is quite similar, isn't it?

-Yeah.

There's one thing that we agree on, anyway - just location.

I've got this idea of having chickens and sheep.

I'd be happy with just a dog.

The Barkers had a budget of £200,000 for a home in New Zealand.

We showed them three properties -

one on budget, one their ideal home and one in-between.

First stop was the farming region of Kaukapakapa.

45 minutes from the centre of Auckland, it was popular with

people wanting to combine city working with rural living,

so should have been ideal for Richelle.

This four-bedroomed property had plenty of room inside.

And, with 2.4 acres outside,

it could have been perfect for those sheep and chickens.

-Wow. What do you think of this?

-It's a view, isn't it?

-Oh, it is lovely.

-Very nice.

So far, so good. But how did the inside fare?

It does need a lot of TLC, I think.

-It would have to be...

-Modernised!

But, depending on the price, things could be done with it.

Lorraine was underwhelmed.

Richelle needed to find something to please her mum quickly.

-This is bedroom number one. Decent size, isn't it?

-It is.

I suppose the bed is big, so it's taking up some room.

They've got cowboy hats, mum.

Ready for us to move in.

Nice try, but it wasn't enough.

There's a lot of money to be spent here.

This old electric. And that noise, all day,

because we're right on the busy road.

Inside had left a lot to be desired

and the busy road outside didn't help either.

I'm just not feeling it here. With that road, I think...

We're not used to it, are we?

It did have the land Richelle wanted,

so was it within their £200,000 budget?

-OK. Here we go.

-SHE MAKES A FANFARE

-Wow!

-£283,000!

So, that was quite a lot more than what we expected.

Wow! I thought our budget would be quite enough to buy a better house.

Oops!

The real cost of lifestyle living was threatening to derail

Richelle's dream.

Would the next house lift her spirits?

Further away from the city centre, this well-presented

house in Parakai should have offered more value for money.

Well, it's very suburban.

Squashed in with thousands of others.

It wasn't quite the lifestyle block Richelle was looking for,

-but did inside win her over?

-Oh, wow. Amazing.

-It's a bit more...

-Compared to the other house.

I love the way it flows outside.

But there was little room for Richelle's livestock plans.

It's a really nice garden,

but there's no way for chickens or for sheep.

And a lack space for animals wasn't the only problem.

I can see about 50 houses in one glance.

-Back indoors, size was an issue in the bathroom too.

-Right.

So, it's a main bathroom

-and it's got a washing machine in.

-OK.

-Erm... I don't think I could fit in that bath.

-It's usable.

If you are a hobbit, it's usable.

The bath was too small, the neighbours too close, but was

this somewhere they could afford anyway on their £200,000 budget?

Shall we see how much it's worth?

-Ah-ha!

-OK, so it's under budget by £5,000.

-But it's still overlooked.

-I don't think I can afford my dream.

It's quite a frightening aspect of it.

The day wasn't going to plan and, with just one property to go,

Richelle's chances of finding the right house at the right

price were looking slim.

The final stop was in Helensville,

within easy commuting distance to central Auckland.

What did they make of this spacious four-bedroomed house?

-There's a real cottagey look to it, isn't it?

-It's got a chicken.

That had to be good sign.

Oh, look, Mum, it's got a Kent fire.

-It'll be lovely and warm in the winter.

-It's nice and open-plan.

It flows into the dining room, which is quite nice.

It's a nice-sized kitchen. Needs a bit of TLC.

It's the size we are looking for.

It was looking promising so far.

-Quite a big-sized room.

-Wow, it's huge. Yeah.

It's got a really nice view, as well.

Richelle and Lorraine seemed won over inside,

but did the garden offer more privacy than the last property?

You feel like your private and secluded, really.

This house seemed to work for them, inside and out.

So, was it priced to please?

I'm going to say it's bang on our budget at 200,000!

Right. Do you want to go for it?

-Oh! £217,000.

-Which is NZ395,000.

That was £17,000 over the Barkers' budget.

House prices are so much more expensive than I imagined.

It had been a bad start to Richelle's week, as the real

cost of the kind of property she wanted had been revealed.

Property one offered the lifestyle block she'd been dreaming of,

but at a price they weren't prepared to pay.

The second house was more affordable,

but also too overlooked, and the final house was almost perfect,

but just beyond their budget.

So, based on what they'd seen,

did the Barkers vote for property in the UK or New Zealand?

-UK.

-I'm very undecided

and I'm surprised that you have picked the UK.

It's just been super disappointing.

I just thought we would get so much more for our money

than what we've been shown today.

Richelle had been dreaming of a life in New Zealand for almost ten years,

but the true cost of property down under

meant that finding a job with a good salary was crucial.

Back in the UK, Richelle had been earning around £10,000 a year

as a full-time accounts assistance while studying for her final exams.

I'm not on much at the moment but, if we do go,

we will need a mortgage, so the right salary would be needed.

As a classroom assistant for young people with learning difficulties,

Lorraine earned a similar wage.

She loved her job, but was willing to be flexible in New Zealand.

At 50, I'm not sure I'm going to have a lot of options,

but I would like to think that I would gain a similar position.

As part of their fact-finding week down under,

we'd arranged for Richelle and Lorraine

to explore the local job market.

Lorraine visited the Wilson School for children with special

needs in Takapuna and was hoping principal

Jan Pennington would put some of her worries to rest.

I am 50 and I'm a little bit concerned.

Is that too old to be applying for posts for a teacher's aid?

Age isn't a barrier in most special schools in New Zealand.

What we are looking for are people who are passionate,

and ready and willing to roll their sleeves up and get stuck in.

A question of what you're prepared to do rather than what

-you're qualified to do.

-I see.

It was exactly what Lorraine had needed to hear

and a happy mum meant potentially less pressure on Richelle.

Yesterday was very disappointing, so today...

Everything is riding on today, really.

Richelle was due to graduate as an accounts technician

and hoped her qualifications would be transferable to New Zealand.

To find out, she met with Martin Richardson,

director at a local accountancy firm.

He was quick to point out that, on top of her qualifications,

Richelle would still need to complete a further training

programme in New Zealand.

There's a foundations programme that takes the first

year and then there's another two or three years.

So, if I were to emigrate, I would have to do the extra three

-to four years...

-Yes.

-..to be recognised?

That meant more studying for Richelle,

but it didn't seem to put her off.

So, are there many job opportunities for someone like me

-emigrating to New Zealand?

-Oh, I think so.

Currently, we are employing for next year's grad intake,

so there could be up to 300-400 grad jobs going.

It sounded as if New Zealand could have offered more job

opportunities for Richelle than the UK.

What kind of salary would I expect with my age? I am only 18.

Currently, we are offering 44,000 for the graduates that we're

taking on next year.

The starting rate for seniors is about 65,000, currently.

About two years later, you can get to manager, which is about 80,000

and then, basically, the sky's the limit after that.

-Wow, that's brilliant.

-It was great news.

If Richelle earned around £24,500,

it would have more than doubled what she was making a home.

Her dream was back on track,

if Lorraine was happy with possibilities in her line of work.

Are there jobs available?

There certainly are jobs available in special schools,

but also supporting students in mainstream schools.

Good news again, but did Lorraine fare as well on the financial front?

Middle-of-the-range teacher aides would be earning

somewhere between 18,500-19,000.

That was just over £10,000,

slightly more than Lorraine was getting a home.

Had the day addressed some of her concerns?

Today, it was so positive. I don't see a barrier any more.

After a disappointing start to their week,

work opportunities had proved much more positive,

so were Lorraine and Richelle a step closer

to making a new life in New Zealand?

Based on what we found out today, we're going to vote for...

-New Zealand!

-New Zealand!

-Really?

-Oh, yeah!

-Wow!

It's been awesome.

It's really been interesting and I'm blown away by what I've found out.

Well, that's fantastic. Auckland's winning you over, then?

Exploring work options had proved a positive experience,

but Richelle knew there was still a long way to go.

Would a day experiencing the New Zealand lifestyle

help take her a step further towards her dream?

In the UK, Richelle loved off-road driving,

so the day got underway with a four-wheel-drive experience,

offering her the chance to combine her hobby

with her love of the great outdoors.

I feel so excited to actually be on a four-wheel-drive

tour in New Zealand. It's going to be so good.

Lorraine didn't quite share Richelle's enthusiasm.

If Richelle's dream was to avoid biting the dust,

she needed to remember the day was about selling

the lifestyle to her mum, too.

Oh, my God. What an experience!

I don't think it would be quite for me.

It just blows your mind.

Blows your mind.

The pair headed off to explore the scenery from the seat

of a saddle and it was much more to Lorraine's taste.

I think it was last year when we went on our bikes last. So cold.

Takes the joy out of it, then, doesn't it?

It you've got a place like this,

with all this view and these houses...

-Yeah.

-Beautiful.

-Absolutely fabulous.

It was a much more positive reaction,

but Richelle knew her mum still faced a difficult decision.

If she wants to stay at home with Nan, that's her decision,

but I've got to go where my heart is

and my heart's definitely in New Zealand.

It was a real turning point for Richelle, who, until then,

couldn't have imagined a future in New Zealand without her mum.

But if Lorraine did stay put in the UK,

it could have been her only option.

Would I be happy knowing my mum's alone

and lonely in the UK?

I don't think that would sit well with me.

I don't think that's right at all.

No matter what Lorraine decided,

she faced having to say goodbye to someone she loved.

If Richelle decided to move to New Zealand without me,

I would feel lost.

Since the age of three, it's only been her and I.

Tough decisions lie ahead but, based on their lifestyle day,

had Lorraine seen enough to want more

of what New Zealand could offer?

Based on our experiences today, we vote for...

-New Zealand.

-New Zealand.

Really? It really is a winning you over.

It is, I've got to say.

It's been an awesome day and it's just unbelievable what

opportunities there are.

And, today, it just opens your eyes

to the possibilities and I'm really impressed.

-Really good. I'm really glad.

-Whoop, whoop.

Lorraine seemed to be coming round, but could mother and daughter

actually afford the lifestyle Richelle wanted?

They needed to figure out if the finances would work down under.

To help, we provided a comparison of costs between

the UK and New Zealand.

They started with the weekly shop.

Oh, milk. Four pints.

NZ, the difference is...

£1.75 for milk

-Wow.

-For four pints.

-So, it's cheaper in the UK.

-Mmm-hmm.

Chicken is cheaper and rice is cheaper in New Zealand, as well.

But were they cheap enough to make a difference to the food bill?

So, it's £47.99 in the UK, and £73.84 in New Zealand,

so that's £25.85.

-So, you're looking at £100 a month difference.

-Yeah.

-That's quite...

-That is quite a lot.

Even basing their calculations on the cheapest property they saw,

it was suddenly looking like an expensive move.

Was Richelle's pay increase enough to pull them out of a hole?

But we haven't taken into account the combined income,

which is £637 a month,

-so that leaves us with £415.55 better off in New Zealand.

-A month?

-A month.

-For real?

-For real!

It was time to vote.

Today, we did a comparison check on the cost of living

in New Zealand and, based on what we found today,

we're going to vote for...

-Both:

-New Zealand!

-Really?

-Yeah.

-Wow!

It is looking really good.

It was another good result for Richelle,

but Lorraine had always been concerned starting again in a

new country wouldn't be as easy for her as for her 18-year-old daughter.

They were both keen country music fans at home,

so we arranged a trip to a local line dancing club to give them

a taste of the social scene New Zealand could offer.

Is it a good way of making friends, joining this kind of club?

Absolutely. There are a few groups around,

so some of these ladies go to several different

classes during the week, so they might go three or four times.

So, you get different groups of friends and then you get to know

other ones...and it's...yeah.

-That sounds brilliant.

-Yeah, it's awesome.

It was small steps, but Richelle's dream of having her

mum by her side in New Zealand seemed to be getting closer.

The pair lost no time getting into the groove.

But had the evening given Lorraine

the answer she was looking for?

It's a really good way of making friends

and it could be just that little thing extra that entices me

to think, wow, I could go for it, you know,

just on something like this.

-BOTH:

-Yee-haw!

It had been a positive week for Richelle as, one by one,

her mum's concerns about life in New Zealand seem to have vanished.

But with Lorraine worried about leaving her own mum,

the biggest hurdle was yet to come,

as the pair sat down to messages from their loved ones back in the UK.

Hello, Lorraine. Hello, Rich.

I hope you find what you're looking for, my love,

and the weather is kind to you.

Hi, Lorraine. Hi, Richelle. I hope you've had a fab time.

I hope it's been what you expect it to be.

Hi, Rici. I hope everything's going all right.

I know you'll be enjoying it already.

Hello, Lorraine. Hello Richelle. I hope your week has gone really well.

I hope the weather's been really good.

They are the loveliest two people I have ever met in my life.

You have to go a long way to meet anybody like that.

I know I'm their mother, and you shouldn't talk like that,

but I'm telling the truth.

Smashing two people, inside and out.

Lovely. I do love them to bits.

Don't tell them.

Rici is a fun, bubbly, crazy, generally nice, happy person

and I'm glad I met her.

If they move... See? I'm started already.

Sorry. Oh, I'll miss her terrible.

I know she's there when I need her. Do you know what I mean?

And I think, sometimes, a friend hasn't got to be

living on the doorstep.

They can be just somebody you know is there for you, you know.

Oh, I'll miss them with all my heart,

but it's life. I accept that.

I'm not one to sit and cry.

As long as they're together and look after each other,

and they're happy, that's the main thing.

That's what I do think.

No, I don't want Richelle to go. I'd rather she stayed...

..with all her friends.

Ric, Lorraine, you've been out there now for a week.

You should know what it's like.

You should go with your instincts, and go and have a ball.

As long as you find happiness, your old mum is happy.

One of these days, I'll knock at your door and say,

"Ric, get that cup of Oxo on." I'll be out there to see you.

All the very best, love. I miss you both. Bye.

That was a bit more emotional than I thought it was going to be.

Listening to my mum, she didn't seem very positive there.

She seemed, like, waving us off. That's how I felt. That she was...

It's final, won't hold you back, but adios.

So there didn't seem any input from her that she would

contemplate coming with us.

Watching messages from loved ones had brought home to Lorraine

the heartbreaking dilemma she was facing -

having to choose between her mum and her daughter.

Richelle had been dreaming of a life in New Zealand for almost ten years.

It hasn't hindered my dream in any way, coming out.

In fact, it's escalated it, which is brilliant.

It's just an amazing country.

But her biggest challenge was always going to be convincing Mum,

Lorraine, to start a new life on the other side of the world.

It's been quite a turbulent journey for me, emotionally.

The trial week had helped Lorraine set aside most of her fears,

but Richelle knew she was still torn over leaving her mum back in the UK.

My nan is quite a frail lady.

She's 82 now and I think my mum would stay with her.

Were Richelle and Lorraine coming to the end of their life together?

This is my dream and there's no going back for me.

I've had an incredible journey with Richelle

and I really want to carry on with that,

even if it's from a distance when she's got her own family.

With her hopes still pinned in New Zealand,

Richelle's future with her mum was uncertain.

As their final vote approached,

would Lorraine's final decision delight or devastate her daughter?

We've both had a really adventurous week out in New Zealand

and, based on all our findings, we vote for...

-New Zealand.

-UK.

No! Only joking!

-New Zealand!

-Really?!

-Yeah! Yes, really.

-I've got a feeling I don't even want to go on that plane to go home.

-Why?

I know. How weird is that?

-I just feel that this is it.

-My heart sank so much.

-I had you!

-No, I really don't want to get on that plane to go home.

-Wow!

-I'm so glad. Really?

-Yeah.

I'd say, give us 18 months and we'll be here.

-I really feel that strong about it.

-Wow!

-That's amazing!

-I want to die here,

not particularly this week! Not this week!

Not for a long time, but I feel like this is it. I want to restart here.

I want to retire here and...that's it.

-Wow! My God!

-Whoop, whoop!

-Wow.

THEY WHOOP AND SHRIEK

When it came to her final decision,

Lorraine had been won over by what New Zealand had to offer

and Richelle had secured the result she'd definitely been hoping for.

So, two years after their week in Auckland,

have the pair made it to the other side of the world?

It's October 2015 and the Barkers are living in...

..Rhyl in north Wales!

But the town won't be home for too much longer.

Richelle was delighted when her mum signed up to follow her dream.

When my mum turned the card to Australia at the last minute,

it was just like all my dreams had come true. It was...

-You turned the card for New Zealand.

-What did I say?

-Australia.

-Did I?!

Well, it has been two years, I guess!

Their trial week in the country had proved a turning point for Lorraine.

Within three days of landing in New Zealand,

I started to see things in a different light

and I thought, "You know what? This just could be for me.

'The high points for me were the landscapes,'

meeting the people, which are so friendly.

And New Zealand had delivered on all fronts for Richelle.

'I loved the weather, the beaches.'

It ticked all of my boxes. It was everything I thought it was going to be.

Flying home on cloud nine, Richelle made the most of her time

in the air to start planning her move down under.

'I was so excited on the way home.

'My mum had made everything seem possible.'

We had reams of paper for lists, detailing all the things

we needed to sell, do, see.

Returning to Rhyl, they got the ball rolling straight away.

We put the house up for sale and we thought, "That's a good start."

The pair couldn't wait to break their news to Lorraine's mum.

But, on seeing her, their excitement quickly faded.

We went to my mother and said all this to her,

and even though she was very positive and said,

"Go for your dream", we could see that she was a very ill woman.

Though she'd been ill for some time,

Lorraine was shocked by the change she saw.

We were only gone, I think it was, just over two weeks.

But when we came back, in that short time,

I could see her health had deteriorated.

Lorraine knew leaving her mum just wasn't an option.

I can't go to New Zealand knowing she's, A - on her own.

B - quite old, C - very ill.

I thought, "What are you thinking?"

She and Richelle put their dream move on indefinite hold.

'Life just take over sometimes.

'You haven't got much control of something.'

The decision was taken out of my hands really.

'It put everything on stop.

'I did think about going to New Zealand on my own.'

But with Mum saying that she couldn't leave Nan

because her conscience wouldn't let her,

I couldn't leave my mum then because I would feel the same.

I just thought it's a little tiny price to pay for her,

who's been with my all my life.

Over the next couple of years, Nan's health continued to deteriorate

and in April 2015, she sadly passed away.

She just stopped fighting.

We couldn't do anything, the doctors couldn't do anything.

I wouldn't have liked to see her in pain

because she was in a lot of pain at the end and...

I did pray to God to take her because it's not nice to see.

It's very selfish, I think, to want to keep somebody just for you.

Nan's death left a huge void in Richelle and Lorraine's life.

It was so sad.

It was a big loss to lose my nan.

She was a third of my family, so to lose her, it was just devastating.

Richelle's gran had thoughtfully left behind a card for her

21st birthday.

On opening it, mum and daughter discovered a poignant message.

She wrote us both a card to say follow your dreams,

which was her final blessing to go to New Zealand.

The inspiring thought meant the world to the pair.

I know she's in a better place and I know she's given us

her blessing to go.

-She'll always be with us in here. Yeah?

-Mm.

With Nan's blessing in hand,

there's now no stopping Lorraine and Richelle.

The dream's back on track and the two-year delay means Richelle feels

she's in a better place to embrace life on the other side of the world.

'Since we've been to New Zealand, I do feel a little bit older,

'a little bit wiser.'

I've had more work experience and I've been like a rolling stone,

and I've collected all that moss and I'm ready now to go to New Zealand.

But it won't just be Lorraine and Richelle making the move,

for Cupid's arrow has struck.

I said, "What kind of guy would you like to meet?" Do you remember this?

-Yeah.

-You said, "Well, he's got to be big and he's got to have tattoos,

"and he's got to have a motorbike."

And I said, "It doesn't work like this."

But when I met him, he's the walking checklist of what she wanted!

'It was pretty much love at first sight.'

When I met her, I just knew she was the one.

She was so beautiful, I was lost for words.

She's a go-getter, you know. She's all that I need and want.

Luckily, mum and boyfriend Kieran have hit it off.

He's a lovely, lovely guy.

'Me and Lorraine click really well.

'We have laughs. You know, I can talk to her about anything.'

She's like my second mum really.

'I'm so glad you both get on really well'

because that would be a major factor,

because my mum is my best friend.

New Zealand had always been Richelle's first love

but, luckily for her, Kieran was quickly on board with the idea.

Once he heard I wanted to go to New Zealand, he said, "I'm coming too."

He'd never been abroad when I met him,

so to go 36 hours to a new place is, like, crazy.

And... But he wants to do it.

From the start, I knew it was clear she wanted to go to New Zealand.

I was so in love with her I'd follow her anywhere.

'It's her dream and I'm willing to share the dream

'and make it both our dream.'

'It just meant that I could re-fire'

this dream that I've always had with the love of my life.

Kieran's wasted no time in putting his money where his mouth is.

Next year is the year that he qualifies to be the mechanic

that he's always wanted to be.

He's been e-mailing the garages out there to say,

"I'm coming out next year. What do I need to work in your garage?"

I'll be looking to go into a garage straight away.

It's what I want to do.

In the end, I want to open my own garage, a Welsh garage,

in New Zealand.

I'm going to take a little bit of Wales with me to New Zealand.

While Richelle's Australian passport means

she doesn't need a New Zealand visa, Kieran will

and that means a short delay in them making the move.

'To enable Kieran to come out,'

we need to be living together for 12 months,

which is why we're renting our own little house before we come out.

With nothing holding her back,

Lorraine's bravely decided to head down under first - alone.

Mum is going out first by the end of this year,

and me and Kieran to follow next year.

I'm hoping to go to New Zealand by the end of the year

and that will be my ideal.

But while she's itching to embark on her new life,

Lorraine's dreading being separated from her daughter.

'I'm not looking forward to the gap because we've always been

'quite close, so it is a little bit daunting'

to go to New Zealand and know that she's not down the road,

she's not even in the next town or even on the same island.

'So, I have thought about it and I'm just hoping that we can get by.'

-Like that, Mum?

-Yeah, that's nice.

'She is my best mate and I don't really...'

..really relishing the thought of being the other

side of the world away from her.

'It's quite scary that I'm going to let her go free.'

I know it should be the other way around, but I do help my mum quite

a bit and I think it's quite scary that, A - I'll have no-one to help.

And B - she'll have to do it all on her own.

But Lorraine's trying to stay positive.

It's just a few months, when you think of it, 12 little months.

SHE CHUCKLES

-Yeah? Like that, yeah? Happy with that?

-Mm. It's all right.

It's all right!

Though they spent their trial week in Auckland,

two years on, the pair's destination down under has changed.

I've sort of researched lots of different areas

of New Zealand to see where else we could go

and the one that came out to me, blazingly came out, was Wellington.

It's a little bit warmer.

It's got loads and loads of things for me to go

and explore and discover,

and house prices are very much more favourable.

And it's got a Welsh club and it's part of the rugby,

so what more could I want?

I'd love to see the Hakka.

-The Hakka?

-Hakka. I want to see that.

All those naked thighs running around!

THEY BOTH LAUGH

I've researched it quite a lot. I like the set-up.

It is the capital and, for that reason,

I think there'll be more chances job-wise,

especially for Richelle because she's a financial assistant.

I think, if you can get into the government in some form,

I think there's openings there.

While Richelle's been busy plotting her course

for a career in New Zealand...

I'm still hoping to be an accounts assistant or an office worker.

I've got a few courses and things I've done under my belt here

that should help me get quite a wide range of jobs out there.

Lorraine's keeping an open mind on work down under.

I don't mind taking a completely new career change.

If it's working in a shop, driving a bus.

I'm quite up to any suggestions, really, as long as I'm enjoying it.

But if she did have her choice, there's one role she'd relish.

My ideal job, I think, for me in the future,

I would love to be some part of, and this sounds silly but,

on a tour bus and go round and make the journey funny,

and look around myself whilst I'm there.

Finding out different roads where they lead to,

what's this mountain called?

The history of the Maori people.

I think it's all interesting.

That'll be my ideal job.

I'm hoping not too bad or too severe a challenge,

but it's going to be a new avenue, a new experience

and I think, at my age, I could do with a little bit of that.

The coming year is going to be life-changing for the Barkers

and in more ways than one.

Then next year we're getting married, so that's really exciting.

The big day's set for May 2016.

I'll change that to the colour...

No, it's something old, something borrowed...

Something new and something blue.

We're planning the wedding so soon,

so we'll get to see everyone together in the same place.

It's a chance to say goodbye as well as we're getting married.

It's going to be a really emotional day.

Mum would have perhaps preferred a longer engagement.

At first I felt, and there is still a little tiny part of me

that feels she's too young, myself.

But knowing Kieran, knowing how they are together,

they're so good for each other.

He is a lovely guy and I think, "Well, let's run with it."

They're happy.

And she'll be making the journey back to the UK

to give the pair her blessing.

The plan is to come out, just for the week,

so that I can catch the hen night and obviously the wedding.

And then go out back to New...home, back to home in New Zealand...

a day or two after.

As if planning for a wedding wasn't enough,

Richelle's also been busy preparing for her life-changing move.

We've researched companies and things we can do out there,

and house prices, and we're saving for a deposit for our house.

She's sticking close to her original vision of life down under.

'My forever home in New Zealand would be somewhere where

'I could have chickens and sheep,

'a huge kitchen where would be the heart of the house,'

and somewhere with a lot of land to play in and, hopefully,

in the future, a lot of children to play in too.

Lorraine's clearer on what she wants from the future.

'I would like to think, in three years' time'

I'm settled in my home, I've got a nice little part-time job,

I'm in some different courses and clubs,

and I've got a little network of social life, friends

and being part of Richelle and Kieran's life as well.

It's taken a bit longer than expected,

but finally it looks like all systems go for Richelle's

lifelong dream of a new life in New Zealand.

At this moment in time, I'm feeling really positive about the move.

My mum's house is up for sale, she's sold all her furniture,

she's on track to move out.

'It's very much, after our wedding, what are we waiting for?

'I really, really believe in adventure and I think you've just

'got to go for it sometimes and have some fun,'

and do what you want to do.

New Zealand's always been a part of me

and I think, even from a young age when I was in school,

people knew me as the girl who wanted to go to down under.

I think it's just something everyone knows and is just waiting for.

So, I'm just really glad now that I can say, "It's happening."

It's going to be a massive year for the Barkers,

with not only a life-changing move on the cards

but Richelle tying to knot too.

We hope Richelle and Kieran's big day is a truly special one

and that they, and Lorraine,

go on to have a very happy future together in New Zealand.