0:00:02 > 0:00:05Time spent travelling on the other side of the world
0:00:05 > 0:00:07when you're footloose and fancy free
0:00:07 > 0:00:10can often leave you longing for more,
0:00:10 > 0:00:13but when your bachelor days are behind you
0:00:13 > 0:00:16and you've a wife that's happy at home,
0:00:16 > 0:00:19is it a move you can realistically make?
0:00:19 > 0:00:22In 2015, Greg and Jenni Wallen
0:00:22 > 0:00:25spent a week in New Zealand to find out.
0:00:25 > 0:00:29Today we'll discover where they are now.
0:00:29 > 0:00:31Ever since backpacking in New Zealand,
0:00:31 > 0:00:34Greg Wallen had been bent on making a permanent return.
0:00:35 > 0:00:39I want to make a home in New Zealand more than anything in the world.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42In 2015, his wife was willing to be convinced.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44It's always been his dream,
0:00:44 > 0:00:47it's been what he wants to do and he put all of that on hold for me.
0:00:47 > 0:00:48I owe him to try.
0:00:48 > 0:00:52However, when a trial week in the country didn't quite go to plan...
0:00:52 > 0:00:53It's cold, the floor feels damp.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56It's not the image that I had in my head of moving to New Zealand.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59I'm worried, Jen, really, really worried.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02One year on, is there a happy ending for both of them?
0:01:02 > 0:01:05I'm not convinced that we are on the same page.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30Lying nearly 1,000 miles from its neighbour Australia,
0:01:30 > 0:01:34New Zealand's home to the southernmost capital in the world.
0:01:34 > 0:01:38A third of the country is designated as national parks and reserves and
0:01:38 > 0:01:41inhabitants are never more than 80 miles from the sea,
0:01:41 > 0:01:44so it's easy to see why every year
0:01:44 > 0:01:467,000 adventure-loving Brits
0:01:46 > 0:01:48choose to make the country home.
0:01:48 > 0:01:53Greg Wallen was all set to return to the land he loved as a backpacker
0:01:53 > 0:01:55when a dabble in online dating
0:01:55 > 0:01:57bought his plans to an abrupt halt.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00Fast forward to 2015,
0:02:00 > 0:02:04and Greg still believed New Zealand was where he should be living,
0:02:04 > 0:02:05but to make the move,
0:02:05 > 0:02:09first he needed to convince wife Jenni it was a realistic option.
0:02:10 > 0:02:15The Wallens' trial week began with more than 22 hours in the air,
0:02:15 > 0:02:17flying to Auckland via Hong Kong.
0:02:21 > 0:02:23It can be a tough journey for anyone,
0:02:23 > 0:02:27but it's only made worse when, like Jenni, you're three months pregnant.
0:02:27 > 0:02:31My morning sickness, which lasted...
0:02:31 > 0:02:3327 hours,
0:02:33 > 0:02:34was not great!
0:02:34 > 0:02:37Three-year-old Evie struggled, too.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40- You didn't sleep, did you, madam? - Evie didn't sleep at all...- No.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44..from Hong Kong to here, but she was good, she was good.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47The long trip's given Jenni plenty of time to think about the distance
0:02:47 > 0:02:49she's put between family.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52I had a few tears on the plane already!
0:02:52 > 0:02:56I kept thinking about how often my mum would likely come over,
0:02:56 > 0:03:00and it all just got a little bit overwhelming, didn't it?
0:03:00 > 0:03:05And for Greg, touching down on Kiwi soil was moving, too.
0:03:05 > 0:03:07I got a bit emotional when I landed, actually.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10It was kind of like, almost like an "I'm home" feeling.
0:03:10 > 0:03:12It's weird. It's good.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15I feel completely comfortable, completely at ease here.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18Whether New Zealand would become his home would depend on Greg persuading
0:03:18 > 0:03:21Jenni over the next seven days.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28Meet the Wallens.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32They are Greg, Jenni and three-year-old Evie, from Sheffield.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36In 2010, as a young carefree bachelor, Greg spent a year
0:03:36 > 0:03:40backpacking in New Zealand, and the country captured his heart.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42The thing I liked most about New Zealand was the people,
0:03:42 > 0:03:44the culture of the country.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46Everything was really, really clean.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49Within about six weeks of being in New Zealand,
0:03:49 > 0:03:52I felt completely at ease with life.
0:03:52 > 0:03:56When his travel visa expired, Greg reluctantly returned to the UK,
0:03:56 > 0:03:59but smitten with everything New Zealand had to offer,
0:03:59 > 0:04:02he immediately began planning to move there for good.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07I came back to the UK, had a job lined up here in Sheffield.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11I had about a six months, tops, target in my head and then go back.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14But fate intervened in his New Zealand plans
0:04:14 > 0:04:18when he dipped his toe in the waters of online dating.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21I wasn't looking for anything serious, wasn't looking for love,
0:04:21 > 0:04:23wasn't looking for marriage, I was just looking for someone to spend
0:04:23 > 0:04:27time with because I didn't really know anyone in Sheffield, really.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30I'd gone on it, being a single parent, not having much opportunity
0:04:30 > 0:04:34to meet anyone, and we talked online and met up for a date.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37Greg and Jenni hit it off straight away,
0:04:37 > 0:04:41but Greg was upfront from the start he was on his way back down under.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45I don't think either of us really went into it thinking,
0:04:45 > 0:04:49"This is going to be a long-term relationship."
0:04:49 > 0:04:52Then as it got more serious and as I started to feel more for him
0:04:52 > 0:04:57I started to get a bit more worried he was going to up and leave me.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59I was like, "OK."
0:04:59 > 0:05:00Within two weeks of meeting,
0:05:00 > 0:05:04Greg was begging Jenni to join him for a new life in New Zealand.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06As their relationship blossomed,
0:05:06 > 0:05:09she was clear her heart lay in the UK.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12I fell in love with Jen, and the more I was falling in love with Jen,
0:05:12 > 0:05:15the more the dream was slipping away at the same time.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18And then Jen was going, "Stay, don't go back. We can have a good life here."
0:05:18 > 0:05:22And I was just obviously torn.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25And then obviously I decided to stay with Jen.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29Choosing love over the Kiwi lifestyle,
0:05:29 > 0:05:32Greg settled into home life with his new-formed family.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36The couple married in 2013,
0:05:36 > 0:05:40but Greg's dream of a life in New Zealand hasn't disappeared.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43I think at the point where Jen wasn't as keen as I was,
0:05:43 > 0:05:47it was a blow, but it never really went away for me.
0:05:47 > 0:05:52I want to make a home in New Zealand more than anything in the world.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55While he fell in love with the country as a single man,
0:05:55 > 0:05:59he believes it's the ideal place for his new family to settle.
0:06:00 > 0:06:04When I lived in New Zealand I felt it was perfect for me.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07I remember walking through towns, parks, beaches - kids everywhere,
0:06:07 > 0:06:10and they were all incredibly happy, and I remember just thinking
0:06:10 > 0:06:13to myself all the time, "This is a brilliant place to raise a family."
0:06:16 > 0:06:20With Jenni expecting, the family will soon outgrow their current home.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23And Greg believes it's the ideal opportunity
0:06:23 > 0:06:25to kick-start his dream once again.
0:06:27 > 0:06:28It's only two bedrooms.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31If we have another child it would be very difficult.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33The living space is just not big enough.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35It's not big enough as it is, to be fair.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37- We are already overflowing, aren't we?- Yeah.
0:06:37 > 0:06:41Instead of using the money we have got to move to a bigger house,
0:06:41 > 0:06:45we could potentially use that money to emigrate to New Zealand.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47Knowing how passionate her husband is about making a home
0:06:47 > 0:06:51on the other side of the world, Jenni's prepared to give it a shot.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56If we can make it work, finance, job-wise, quality-of-life-wise,
0:06:56 > 0:06:59now would be a good time.
0:06:59 > 0:07:04But she's already losing sleep thinking about leaving her family behind.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07I wake up in the middle of the night, or I'll be talking to one
0:07:07 > 0:07:11of my family or friends who are saying, "Oh, we're going to miss you."
0:07:11 > 0:07:15And I crumble and go, "Oh, I don't know if I can do this."
0:07:16 > 0:07:20And taking Evie away from her parents is also causing concern.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22It's one of the things that holds me back,
0:07:22 > 0:07:25thinking that Evie is not going to have that relationship
0:07:25 > 0:07:30with her grandparents that I really want her to have.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33Leaving loved ones could be hard for Greg too.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36He's only recently reconciled with his mum.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39The hardest person for me to leave behind would probably be...
0:07:39 > 0:07:41Sorry.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43It's probably...
0:07:43 > 0:07:47It's probably going to be my mum.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50I didn't talk to my mum for a number of years,
0:07:50 > 0:07:53and since meeting Jen we've kind of got our relationship back,
0:07:53 > 0:07:56so I'm kind of nervous about chucking that away again.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00That's tough for me.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02For four years, Greg's been desperate
0:08:02 > 0:08:04to make a permanent return to New Zealand.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08Now he has a week to see if the country he fell for as a backpacker
0:08:08 > 0:08:10is as good as he remembers,
0:08:10 > 0:08:13and convince his wife to start again on the other side of the world.
0:08:15 > 0:08:19To move to New Zealand is a risk, it's a massive risk, it's a gamble.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21I'm not going to lie about it.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24This will definitely prove to us whether I was kind of looking at it
0:08:24 > 0:08:28from 12,000 miles away through rose-tinted spectacles.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32For me and Greg, it's about whether or not we put our roots down
0:08:32 > 0:08:34and really commit to our life here,
0:08:34 > 0:08:37or whether we commit to a life in New Zealand.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41So the rest of our life feels on hold until we've made that decision.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53Greg, Jenni and Evie are spending their trial week in Auckland,
0:08:53 > 0:08:56home to a third of all New Zealanders.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59Their base for the week is situated in Milford,
0:08:59 > 0:09:00on the city's north shore.
0:09:00 > 0:09:04Will her first taste of Kiwi living work its charms on Jenni?
0:09:07 > 0:09:09Wow. It looks lovely.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11Upstairs, the open-plan kitchen
0:09:11 > 0:09:14and living area make a good first impression.
0:09:14 > 0:09:15Wow, that's amazing.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17Look at the view from here, Jen.
0:09:17 > 0:09:21As they settle in, Greg's overjoyed to have finally got Jenni to New Zealand.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24It's took four years to get Jen to this point.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27I can't believe it's all boiled down to this.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30But she's anxious about the week ahead.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33Deciding on the rest of my life at the end of this week
0:09:33 > 0:09:35is quite a scary prospect.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37It's scary.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41Greg feels he's in prime position to convince her to make the move.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45I think this is the best chance of persuading Jen to move out here
0:09:45 > 0:09:47because, for me, walking upstairs here
0:09:47 > 0:09:50and looking at this view of the city from, you know,
0:09:50 > 0:09:53the most beautiful country in the world, it sold me.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56I've just got to try and get Jen over the line.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59But while Jenni accepts how much this all means to her husband...
0:09:59 > 0:10:02It's always been his dream, it's been what he wants to do,
0:10:02 > 0:10:05and he put all of that on hold for me, so I owe it to him to try.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08She's in no mood to bow to pressure.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11He's going to have to allow me time to think,
0:10:11 > 0:10:14and not just keep saying to me, "Look at this, isn't this great?
0:10:14 > 0:10:16"Look at this, isn't that great?"
0:10:16 > 0:10:20He needs to not try and force his viewpoint on to me.
0:10:21 > 0:10:26Greg's got an uphill struggle on his hands if he is to finally make his dream come true.
0:10:26 > 0:10:30This is it. This is, like, you know, make or break for me.
0:10:30 > 0:10:34The next week will decide where the family will spend the rest of their lives.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44Back in the UK, the Wallens live in a two-bedroom house in Sheffield.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47We do like living here, and we do like the area,
0:10:47 > 0:10:49but it's just not big enough for our needs any more.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51- We've outgrown it, haven't we?- Yeah.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54Jenni's fond of an aspect of their current home
0:10:54 > 0:10:56that Greg feels could help his cause.
0:10:56 > 0:11:00I like the open-plan living, I like the fact we've got two toilets.
0:11:01 > 0:11:05- You'd like New Zealand, then, that's very open-plan living. - Yeah, that's good.
0:11:05 > 0:11:10But there might be a difference of opinion in what a Kiwi home has to have.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13At least three bedrooms, two bathrooms,
0:11:13 > 0:11:15preferably one of those is en-suite.
0:11:15 > 0:11:20- A wood burner. We can put the wood burner in!- It's a must for me.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25- You say it's not a deal-breaker, but it could be.- We can put one in!
0:11:25 > 0:11:27We can't change sizes of rooms!
0:11:29 > 0:11:33The Wallens have £250,000 to spend on a Kiwi house.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36Today we'll show them three properties -
0:11:36 > 0:11:39two on budget and a third which could be their dream home.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43Only after they've seen each one will they find out its value.
0:11:47 > 0:11:51For the first viewing, the family drive about an hour south of Auckland to Waiuku.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54Close to a park and the local primary school,
0:11:54 > 0:11:58will this four-bedroom property be a good fit for the Wallens?
0:12:00 > 0:12:04The house's kerb appeal gets the viewing off on the right foot.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06What do you reckon, love?
0:12:06 > 0:12:07That looks very nice.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09And Evie quickly makes a friend.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12- Good girl.- Oh-h-h.- Cat!
0:12:12 > 0:12:15- A cat, is that a winner for you now, then, Evie?- Yes!- Yes!
0:12:15 > 0:12:19Everything is going swimmingly until they step into the first bedroom.
0:12:19 > 0:12:23- I don't like it.- Why?- It's hideous. - What don't you like about it?
0:12:23 > 0:12:25Right. It's cold, the floor feels damp,
0:12:25 > 0:12:28I reckon the place has got rising damp, it needs a rewire.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31And I don't know... I just don't like it, full stop.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33Straight away, this house is falling
0:12:33 > 0:12:36far short of what Greg had been hoping for.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Wow, that's... Oh-h-h!
0:12:39 > 0:12:42And the next bedroom doesn't help.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44I don't like the feel of it, Jen.
0:12:44 > 0:12:46We've got to come 12,000 miles,
0:12:46 > 0:12:48both our new jobs, with two children,
0:12:48 > 0:12:51integrate into life and then we've got to sort the house out as well.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54Do you know what I mean? I just think it's a bit of a tall order.
0:12:54 > 0:12:55Oh, dear. It's not looking good.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57So you don't want a renovation project?
0:12:57 > 0:12:59- It's going to be too much for me, Jen.- OK.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02Let's go to see what else this place has got to offer,
0:13:02 > 0:13:03because I'm not really happy at the minute.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06The next two bedrooms are downstairs.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08Oh, this is nice!
0:13:08 > 0:13:11This is lovely. I like this exposed brick.
0:13:11 > 0:13:15- Do you prefer this bedroom to the ones upstairs?- Yeah.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19It's an improvement, but Greg's expectations just aren't being met.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23It's just it's not the image I had in my head of moving to New Zealand.
0:13:23 > 0:13:24It's far from it.
0:13:24 > 0:13:29I can't, I'm not going to raise my kids in a place like this. I just...
0:13:29 > 0:13:32I'm shellshocked, to say the least, to be honest with you.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35And disappointment quickly turns to despair.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38I'm worried, Jen. Really, really worried.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44This is... I've got...
0:13:44 > 0:13:48I'm actually really scared this is not going to work.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50Really scared it's not going to work.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56I don't know. Where are we going, left?
0:13:56 > 0:13:59Upstairs, the living room does show more promise.
0:14:01 > 0:14:02Boy, this is much better.
0:14:04 > 0:14:09Yeah. I didn't expect this! It's got the log burner.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11That's one of your requirements, a log burner.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13I don't think we're going to need a log burner.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16- Was it a long burner you wanted? - Yes, it was, dear.- Was it? Oh.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18Wasn't quite sure. You'd not said it enough.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20And the kitchen comes up trumps.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22- Nice big kitchen.- Nice, isn't it?
0:14:22 > 0:14:26Until electrical engineer Greg spots some dubious wiring.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29Oh, my God!
0:14:29 > 0:14:31Look at it. Look at that!
0:14:31 > 0:14:33Back home, that would be uninsurable.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36This house clearly isn't the one for the Wallens,
0:14:36 > 0:14:41so just how close does it come to the family's £250,000 budget?
0:14:41 > 0:14:42Right, the moment of truth.
0:14:43 > 0:14:44How much do you think?
0:14:46 > 0:14:49160? I'll go a bit higher, £170,000.
0:14:49 > 0:14:53- Probably be on for about 200,000 in Sheffield.- Come on, think positive.
0:14:53 > 0:14:55£165,000.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01Go on, do it.
0:15:01 > 0:15:02£261,000.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06That's £11,000 over budget.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09It's like a bleeding lease, isn't it?
0:15:09 > 0:15:12- Looking like we're not moving for the house!- 261 grand for this.
0:15:12 > 0:15:16This has made me feel sick with worry about the rest of this week, to be honest.
0:15:16 > 0:15:18I knew we were going to be in for an emotional few days.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22The price of Auckland property is hitting home for Greg.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25Will property two be more up his street?
0:15:28 > 0:15:31Just a 20-minute drive to the east is Pukekohe,
0:15:31 > 0:15:33a town offering a relaxed way of life,
0:15:33 > 0:15:36yet within an hour's commute of Auckland's city centre.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40Wow, look at this front garden.
0:15:40 > 0:15:45From the outside, this three-bedroom home makes a much better impression.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47I definitely like this area more.
0:15:47 > 0:15:49It's got a much better view, much better feel about it.
0:15:49 > 0:15:50Yeah, this is good.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52Inside...
0:15:52 > 0:15:55Oh, this is a nice little hall, this feels more modern.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57..Greg's mood continues to lift.
0:15:58 > 0:16:02Oh, this is a nice bedroom, isn't it? Yeah, this is nice.
0:16:02 > 0:16:06Positive first sign. Doesn't feel damp, doesn't feel cold.
0:16:06 > 0:16:07Yeah, it's quite a good start.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09And Evie's happy too.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12- Really, really, really good!- Yay!
0:16:12 > 0:16:14Next door, bedroom two also pleases.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19Oh, another bedroom. This is a nice-sized child's room, isn't it?
0:16:19 > 0:16:22Yeah, it's good. I'm happy.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24This house is winning Greg's approval,
0:16:24 > 0:16:27but the floor plan could be a stumbling block for Jenni.
0:16:27 > 0:16:29I'm glad there is a third bedroom,
0:16:29 > 0:16:32but I'm not sure how I feel about it being off the dining room.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34And she's no happier in the kitchen.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38I'd redo it.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40- The lot?- Yeah.- Really?- Yeah.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44Outside, the garden doesn't impress either.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47It's a bit pokey, isn't it?
0:16:47 > 0:16:50So, basically, then, the garden for kids is at the front.
0:16:51 > 0:16:52- It's not enough, is it?- No.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56This house has won praise and criticism in equal measure,
0:16:56 > 0:17:01but could Greg and Jenni afford it with their budget of £250,000?
0:17:01 > 0:17:05For us to flip that card over and keep the dream alive,
0:17:05 > 0:17:09it's got to be under 200, I'm thinking 180-ish.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11So, what do you think it's worth?
0:17:11 > 0:17:14Based on the last property, I'm going to say about 250.
0:17:18 > 0:17:19Go for it.
0:17:22 > 0:17:23251,000.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26That's £1,000 over budget.
0:17:27 > 0:17:29No, absolutely not.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31Maybe I was looking at it with rose-tinted spectacles.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35Maybe I was thinking the grass was definitely greener on the other side.
0:17:35 > 0:17:40Now I'm kind of like, to be brutally honest, "Oh, my God, what have I done?"
0:17:40 > 0:17:43The possibility his dream could be slipping away
0:17:43 > 0:17:45proves too much for an emotional Greg.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53So far the property hunt has brought doubt and disappointment,
0:17:53 > 0:17:55but there is still one more property to view.
0:17:57 > 0:18:01Also in Pukekohe, we found what could be Greg and Jenni's dream home.
0:18:01 > 0:18:05Will it be the one to turn around their property fortunes,
0:18:05 > 0:18:07and get Greg's dream back on track?
0:18:08 > 0:18:11- Wow.- OK. - This is much better, isn't it?
0:18:11 > 0:18:14This much more like what I would like.
0:18:14 > 0:18:18Inside, Greg's expectations are at last being met.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21This is the image I had in my head. This is what I wanted you to see.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23- Spot on.- Lovely.- Perfect.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27The spacious kitchen with its granite worktops
0:18:27 > 0:18:29has both Greg and Jenni excited.
0:18:29 > 0:18:30Oh, this is amazing, isn't it?
0:18:30 > 0:18:35- This is such a nice finish. - Nicely laid out.- Nicely laid out.
0:18:35 > 0:18:36Large enough.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40And a second living room hits the spot.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44- This is a lovely family lounge. This is huge.- Wow.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47I have noticed the one thing it doesn't have that you wanted.
0:18:49 > 0:18:53- Log burner.- Yeah.- I'm willing to sack the log burner off.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55That's a fair compromise, Greg!
0:18:55 > 0:18:59This is the New Zealand house that I had in my head.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01- It's revived the dream, hasn't it?- Yeah.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05The first three bedrooms continue to impress.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07- It's a nice...- This is nice. - I would say I'm sold on it.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10Well, yeah, it's a lovely sized room.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12Nice window looking out over the back garden.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14It ticks every box and more.
0:19:14 > 0:19:16- Look at this for Evie. - This is perfect for Evie.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20- She'd absolutely love it. - The dream could be alive.
0:19:20 > 0:19:24But Greg's beginning to worry if they could afford to call this house home.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28I've got a feeling we're going to get absolutely smashed on price.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31Money worries seem a distant memory, though,
0:19:31 > 0:19:33as the master bedroom seals the deal.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35Oh, this is perfect.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37You can't tell me this does not beat hands down every house
0:19:37 > 0:19:40- we looked at in Sheffield over the last two years.- Yeah, it does.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44It's a room that just keeps on giving.
0:19:44 > 0:19:45- Oh!- A walk-in wardrobe.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49- A walk-in, not just a built-in! Oh, wow!- Mind-blowing.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55Oh, en-suite! Oh, this is nice.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57I'm still speechless!
0:19:57 > 0:19:59It's perfect.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02And outside, the garden's picture-perfect.
0:20:02 > 0:20:04That view is stunning.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08- Couldn't ask for more, really, could you?- No.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10This really could be Greg and Jenni's dream home.
0:20:10 > 0:20:16Time to find out if it's within reach of their £250,000 budget.
0:20:16 > 0:20:17This is my dream New Zealand house.
0:20:17 > 0:20:22If we flip this card over now, it comes in 350, 400,000...
0:20:22 > 0:20:24Basically, if it works out financially,
0:20:24 > 0:20:26- and the lifestyle is good... - We're on.
0:20:26 > 0:20:31Even if, even if this costs us so much that we couldn't really afford,
0:20:31 > 0:20:36at least in the short term, to be saving up to go home,
0:20:36 > 0:20:37I like this house so much
0:20:37 > 0:20:41that I'm thinking we'll deal with it for the time being.
0:20:41 > 0:20:42Right. This is it, darling.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44£400,000.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55- I think someone should look at this card.- OK.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59Oh, my God!
0:21:00 > 0:21:06- What?- 331,000!- Really? - That is cheap, really!
0:21:06 > 0:21:09That's £81,000 over budget.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11It's looking positive at that, isn't it?
0:21:11 > 0:21:15If we can get a decent wage, that is all my dreams and more,
0:21:15 > 0:21:17and anything I could have hoped for, come true.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19That's how much it means to me.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25Greg's delighted. if he can secure the job to pay for this property,
0:21:25 > 0:21:27his dream really could be back on track.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32It's been a day that taken Greg on a journey from desperation to hope.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37Property one caused concern with potential damp issues
0:21:37 > 0:21:39and outdated wiring.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42Property two failed to impress, with the garden deemed far too small.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47But property three raised the bar with wow factor living areas
0:21:47 > 0:21:49and scenic views.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52So when it comes to property, will the family vote home or away?
0:21:54 > 0:21:58Based on all the properties we've seen today, our vote goes to...
0:22:01 > 0:22:04Three, two, one.
0:22:04 > 0:22:05- UK.- Undecided.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08Where do you want to go?
0:22:10 > 0:22:11My house!
0:22:12 > 0:22:15Why were you undecided?
0:22:15 > 0:22:19That last house we saw was just ideal, and in England,
0:22:19 > 0:22:24we would never be able to afford that, but if the finances
0:22:24 > 0:22:28over here mean that we could afford that, then I would be New Zealand.
0:22:28 > 0:22:32We'll find out tomorrow whether we can afford it or not.
0:22:32 > 0:22:36And if we can, it'll flip straight to New Zealand, but at the moment,
0:22:36 > 0:22:38I need to put my thinking, logical head on,
0:22:38 > 0:22:42and my logical head at the moment says to stay in the UK.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52Greg may have found the perfect pad,
0:22:52 > 0:22:56but if the couple are to afford it, finding well-paid jobs will be vital.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04Back in the UK, Greg's an electrical engineer
0:23:04 > 0:23:08and runs his own business fitting and testing electrical safety equipment.
0:23:08 > 0:23:09Absolutely love it.
0:23:09 > 0:23:13Used to work for a company, which I enjoyed, but I thought I could
0:23:13 > 0:23:17do better on my own, and business at the moment's really, really busy.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20Currently booked out for the next sort of three months solid.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23In New Zealand, he'd be keen to become an employee again,
0:23:23 > 0:23:26hoping that would improve his work-life balance.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29I hope kind of to work around the 40 to 50 hours a week
0:23:29 > 0:23:32in New Zealand for a company.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35Weekends and evenings off, ideally, so I can get some more time
0:23:35 > 0:23:38with my family, which I currently don't have always.
0:23:38 > 0:23:42Jenni, meanwhile, is a social worker dealing with child protection.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45I love, in my job, the thought of helping people.
0:23:45 > 0:23:51I'm helping children to make sure that they have the greatest start in life they can.
0:23:51 > 0:23:57To sign off on a move, she'd need to be sure her career prospects weren't hindered.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00The next step forward, if I was to remain in the UK, would be
0:24:00 > 0:24:01looking at a management role,
0:24:01 > 0:24:05and that's what I would be looking for maybe in New Zealand.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10Hard on the heels of discovering how expensive property can be
0:24:10 > 0:24:14in Auckland, today's job search comes with added pressure.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17- Don't come back with less than 100,000.- OK.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19While Evie's looked after by a childminder,
0:24:19 > 0:24:22the couple set off to investigate their work prospects.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26It's a big day for Greg's dream, and he is feeling the strain.
0:24:26 > 0:24:27The paramount thing is money.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30If we've got enough money to look at buying something like
0:24:30 > 0:24:32house three that we saw yesterday,
0:24:32 > 0:24:36I'm pretty sure we'd all vote yes at the end of the week.
0:24:36 > 0:24:41Greg's meeting Dave Bird who runs an electrical company currently fitting out a new housing complex.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45This here is a block of probably the first 15 apartments
0:24:45 > 0:24:46that we've just started pre-wiring.
0:24:46 > 0:24:51Straight away, he's keen to hear if his qualifications would be recognised in New Zealand.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54When you come out here, you're going to have to
0:24:54 > 0:24:57- submit all your qualifications to the Electrical Wiring Regulation Board.- Yeah.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01Which they'll probably accept if you've done your City & Guilds, I assume you have.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03Yeah. Is that transferable out here or...?
0:25:03 > 0:25:07It is, but then you still have to sit your regulations exam.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10But how likely would Greg be to find work?
0:25:10 > 0:25:14I would say that a qualified electrician is normally never
0:25:14 > 0:25:16- out of work, a good one is never out of work.- OK.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18That sounds encouraging.
0:25:18 > 0:25:19Meanwhile across town,
0:25:19 > 0:25:23Jenni is visiting a charity which provides social work services.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25She is met by practice leader Sinnett,
0:25:25 > 0:25:28a South African who recently migrated from the UK.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33How easy did you find it to find a social worker job?
0:25:33 > 0:25:36It depends on what you want to do.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39What I found is, you have much more choice here
0:25:39 > 0:25:42around the kind of social worker you want to be.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46In the UK, it's a lot of child-protection focus.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49Here, it's a lot more focus on early intervention.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53Sinnett tells Jenni settling into Kiwi life isn't difficult.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56Yeah, it's been a good experience.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00I think people in New Zealand are very welcoming.
0:26:00 > 0:26:04My husband had some friends here and they were just very welcoming
0:26:04 > 0:26:07and I've made some really great friends at work.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09That should be reassuring.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12Back at the building site, Greg is getting down to the nitty-gritty
0:26:12 > 0:26:15and asks about Dave's employees' working week.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19- Generally, it's a 40-hour week. - Yeah.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22But because most of the guys work a nine to ten hour day,
0:26:22 > 0:26:26you can easily knock in 50 hours a week.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29The hours are what he hoped for but what about the bottom line,
0:26:29 > 0:26:32Greg's potential earnings?
0:26:32 > 0:26:35Between the 60s and you could easily go up to the 80 plus.
0:26:35 > 0:26:39That's around £35,000, significantly more than the £25,000
0:26:39 > 0:26:43- he currently earns at home. - That's good.
0:26:43 > 0:26:45That's a bit more like what I was hoping for.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48Greg is delighted with what he has discovered today,
0:26:48 > 0:26:51but he knows everything now rests on how Jenni fares.
0:26:52 > 0:26:57We need her to be up around the 100,000 mark to make it work for us.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00With the overtime here, we're nestled nicely for myself,
0:27:00 > 0:27:03so if Jen gets what we think she's going to get
0:27:03 > 0:27:07in a managerial position, I think we're on to a winner.
0:27:07 > 0:27:12It's crunch time for Jenni as she meet senior manager Elizabeth Walker.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15So you would come in at a senior practitioner level.
0:27:15 > 0:27:20- Are you interested in the salary range?- Yes, definitely.
0:27:20 > 0:27:22It's quite a broad range.
0:27:22 > 0:27:26It starts at 53 and moves up to around 63, the mid-60s.
0:27:26 > 0:27:28- Is that New Zealand dollars?- Yes.
0:27:31 > 0:27:32Even at the top of the bracket,
0:27:32 > 0:27:38Jenni would see her income fall from around £31,000 to £27,000.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42How sought-after are social work roles?
0:27:42 > 0:27:44It has become extremely competitive.
0:27:44 > 0:27:48My last recruitment effort, we had one social work vacancy.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51We had 72 applicants, so it wouldn't be easy,
0:27:51 > 0:27:55but you could secure employment.
0:27:55 > 0:27:59Jenni breaks the bad news when she catches up with Greg later on.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02I wouldn't be earning as much as we thought, basically,
0:28:02 > 0:28:05so that was the kick in the teeth.
0:28:05 > 0:28:07If you came...
0:28:09 > 0:28:11Greg shares what he learned.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14I'd be looking at about 60, 65,000.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17If I did overtime, I'd be looking at around 80,000.
0:28:17 > 0:28:21So actually, in one respect, it's not as good news for me
0:28:21 > 0:28:23but it's much better news for you in terms of finances?
0:28:23 > 0:28:25Yes.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28So, after a day of mixed fortunes, how will the couple vote
0:28:28 > 0:28:33when it comes to work in New Zealand versus the UK?
0:28:33 > 0:28:37So, based on the jobs we've seen today, our vote is...
0:28:42 > 0:28:46- New Zealand.- New Zealand. Why did you do that?
0:28:46 > 0:28:48Well, I know why you've done it,
0:28:48 > 0:28:50because it was really good news for you.
0:28:50 > 0:28:54Your news actually makes me think, maybe I can be the one
0:28:54 > 0:28:58who works part-time and you can be the one to work full-time.
0:28:58 > 0:29:00I'd have to do a few more hours than I was hoping to
0:29:00 > 0:29:03but we've always done what we have to do to make it work.
0:29:12 > 0:29:14After a shaky start to the week,
0:29:14 > 0:29:17a vote for New Zealand from Jenni, despite a drop in salary,
0:29:17 > 0:29:21meant Greg's dream could have been back on track.
0:29:21 > 0:29:24New Zealand's famed for its family-friendly lifestyle
0:29:24 > 0:29:28so would a day sampling some Auckland activities
0:29:28 > 0:29:30land another vote in his favour?
0:29:31 > 0:29:33The family kick off the day with a visit to a French market
0:29:33 > 0:29:36in Parnell, just east of the city centre.
0:29:36 > 0:29:39It has been voted one of Auckland's best food markets
0:29:39 > 0:29:41and they're soon tucking in.
0:29:43 > 0:29:45Mozzarella? That's nice.
0:29:49 > 0:29:50It's the kind of family day out
0:29:50 > 0:29:53Greg's hoping will be a regular occurrence.
0:29:53 > 0:29:55Today is going absolutely swimmingly.
0:29:55 > 0:29:57Seeing Evie here in New Zealand
0:29:57 > 0:30:00and how she's been the last couple of days, wow!
0:30:00 > 0:30:04It's just... It's tears of happiness, not sadness,
0:30:04 > 0:30:08but seeing your children happy makes me happy.
0:30:09 > 0:30:12The market is a place Jenni can imagine making a regular haunt.
0:30:14 > 0:30:17Come here, have breakfast, get some fresh produce,
0:30:17 > 0:30:20some wine and champagne to go in our hot tub
0:30:20 > 0:30:24that we're going to have out the back of our house.
0:30:24 > 0:30:26Why am I trying to convince you?
0:30:26 > 0:30:29Are you beginning to change your mind a little bit?
0:30:29 > 0:30:30This is good, it's progress.
0:30:30 > 0:30:32I got my pain au chocolat!
0:30:32 > 0:30:34Next, a trip to Auckland Zoo...
0:30:34 > 0:30:37# We're going to the zoo, zoo, zoo, how about you, you, you? #
0:30:37 > 0:30:41where Evie soon displays her wildlife knowledge.
0:30:41 > 0:30:43Ostrich!
0:30:43 > 0:30:44Penguin!
0:30:44 > 0:30:46Look, zebra!
0:30:46 > 0:30:48Oh, dear me.
0:30:48 > 0:30:51- Giraffe!- Oh, look!
0:30:51 > 0:30:53Thinking of Evie's future, Jenni's view
0:30:53 > 0:30:56on moving to New Zealand could be softening.
0:30:57 > 0:31:01Evie is loving New Zealand and I think I am starting
0:31:01 > 0:31:04to feel very much that this would be ideal
0:31:04 > 0:31:07for her and for our other child.
0:31:07 > 0:31:11And Greg's beginning to feel confident his wife's coming around.
0:31:11 > 0:31:14As the week's gone on, she's become more and more
0:31:14 > 0:31:16and more sort of towards New Zealand.
0:31:16 > 0:31:18I reckon the dream's still alive.
0:31:18 > 0:31:21I kind of feel it's job almost done, but not quite there.
0:31:21 > 0:31:24I've still got a little bit of apprehension.
0:31:24 > 0:31:28Leaving loved ones, though, could still be an issue for both Jenni and Greg.
0:31:28 > 0:31:31Mum's kind of been really, really supportive about the whole thing.
0:31:31 > 0:31:33She keeps saying, you know,
0:31:33 > 0:31:36"We're only a day away, worst-case scenario." Wow...
0:31:36 > 0:31:39Um, you know, I need to do what's best for my family
0:31:39 > 0:31:41and ultimately, that's what I need to do.
0:31:41 > 0:31:44It's very easy to get caught up in the whole lifestyle and,
0:31:44 > 0:31:47"Wouldn't this be great, wouldn't this be brilliant for us
0:31:47 > 0:31:49"and for Evie," and, um...
0:31:49 > 0:31:53But I've not yet really started to think about the impact
0:31:53 > 0:31:55of leaving family and friends.
0:31:57 > 0:32:02Thoughts of friends and family aside, it has been a fun day out.
0:32:02 > 0:32:07So has the lifestyle in New Zealand proved a winner for Greg and Jenni?
0:32:07 > 0:32:08Cast your vote!
0:32:17 > 0:32:18- New Zealand!- New Zealand!
0:32:18 > 0:32:21- New Zealand!- Good girl!- Yay!
0:32:21 > 0:32:23I voted New Zealand cos look at the day we've had.
0:32:23 > 0:32:25It's been relaxing and peaceful.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28We've not been constantly worrying about the weather,
0:32:28 > 0:32:31even though we're in autumn, nearly winter over here.
0:32:31 > 0:32:34- And it's not been too costly. - It's a good feeling
0:32:34 > 0:32:38but I was kind of 99.99% sure we were all going to...
0:32:38 > 0:32:41- Enjoy the lifestyle.- We can't fault this, can we?- Can't fault it.
0:32:41 > 0:32:43It's beautiful.
0:32:47 > 0:32:50With two votes from Jenni for New Zealand, Greg's dream could be
0:32:50 > 0:32:52within his reach.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55But if it's to stand any chance of becoming a reality,
0:32:55 > 0:32:57it's vital the finances stack up.
0:32:59 > 0:33:03The couple feel their house in the UK is worth around £110,000.
0:33:03 > 0:33:07To find out if they're right, we've sent round two estate agents.
0:33:07 > 0:33:11Nice open plan living space. Neutrally decorated.
0:33:11 > 0:33:14And nice windows that overlook the garden.
0:33:14 > 0:33:16So, the kitchen looks well looked after
0:33:16 > 0:33:19and also nice and modern as well.
0:33:19 > 0:33:21So, it's a nice low-maintenance garden
0:33:21 > 0:33:24with the access out to rear parking.
0:33:24 > 0:33:27Good-size bathroom and again, another contemporary look.
0:33:27 > 0:33:29I've fixed the bath now!
0:33:29 > 0:33:32And this is a great-size second bedroom.
0:33:32 > 0:33:35- My bedroom! - That's your bedroom, isn't it?
0:33:35 > 0:33:40- Another good-size double bedroom. - That's yours and Daddy's!
0:33:40 > 0:33:43And a cat. Hello!
0:33:43 > 0:33:44THEY LAUGH
0:33:44 > 0:33:46In today's market,
0:33:46 > 0:33:50I would value this property at a guide price of 110-120,000.
0:33:50 > 0:33:53For a quick sale, I'd value the property at 105,000.
0:33:55 > 0:33:59In today's market, I would value this house at around about 110,000.
0:33:59 > 0:34:00If the owners wanted a quick sale,
0:34:00 > 0:34:03then I would suggest a price between 100 and 105.
0:34:03 > 0:34:06- That's exactly what I kind of anticipated.- Yeah.
0:34:06 > 0:34:09- I'm not shocked at all.- No shock. - I'm quite happy with that.
0:34:09 > 0:34:11I'm quite happy with that as well.
0:34:11 > 0:34:14With their valuations on target, the couple to move on to examine
0:34:14 > 0:34:16how their finances would fare in New Zealand.
0:34:16 > 0:34:19Do you want to do the honours, or shall I?
0:34:19 > 0:34:24We've provided a comparison of costs, starting with the weekly food shop.
0:34:24 > 0:34:26- Ketchup, 1.23. - We knew that was dear the other day.
0:34:26 > 0:34:30- I nearly fell over in the supermarket.- Meatballs, £2.
0:34:30 > 0:34:33She's not going to be having them any more.
0:34:33 > 0:34:37Which means it's £57.27 dearer.
0:34:37 > 0:34:41£250 more per month would double what the family currently spend on food.
0:34:41 > 0:34:44But Greg's not daunted.
0:34:44 > 0:34:48It's more, but it's not terrible, is it?
0:34:48 > 0:34:51Well, we need to put it into context with wages.
0:34:51 > 0:34:53So, what about the bigger bills?
0:34:53 > 0:34:57Greg and Jenni based their sums on the dream house they saw.
0:34:57 > 0:34:59That's just jumped straight out at me,
0:34:59 > 0:35:02the cost of the mortgage, compared to at home.
0:35:02 > 0:35:04- Yeah.- That's...
0:35:04 > 0:35:08- That's a biggie. - Phone/internet, £20 at home...- Yeah.
0:35:08 > 0:35:11£40 here, so that's minus 20.
0:35:14 > 0:35:17- What's the difference? £1,796.- Yeah.
0:35:19 > 0:35:21In total, the couple discover they'd be spending
0:35:21 > 0:35:24around £1,800 per month more in New Zealand.
0:35:24 > 0:35:27It's going to go down to wage, because if that was our UK wage,
0:35:27 > 0:35:30we couldn't afford to live here, could we?
0:35:30 > 0:35:33- We've not got £1,796 a month spare. - No.
0:35:33 > 0:35:35The figures don't look good,
0:35:35 > 0:35:40and taking their potential wages into account only improves them slightly.
0:35:40 > 0:35:43- So we're £654...- Worse off.
0:35:45 > 0:35:50The couple would be almost £8,000 a year worse off if they made the move.
0:35:50 > 0:35:54But whilst Jenni isn't impressed, Greg's not giving up.
0:35:54 > 0:35:56I don't think that's bad.
0:35:56 > 0:36:00- That's on what we call our dream home mortgage.- So basically,
0:36:00 > 0:36:04we would have to go for a house which was like property one or two.
0:36:04 > 0:36:08Yeah, but it wouldn't be forever, would it?
0:36:08 > 0:36:12Making sacrifices on a home in the short term would undoubtedly help.
0:36:12 > 0:36:16But as the couple take their vote on finances in New Zealand versus
0:36:16 > 0:36:20the UK, is the compromise one they'd both be happy to make?
0:36:20 > 0:36:24Based on today's reality check, our vote goes to...
0:36:29 > 0:36:32- UK.- UK.
0:36:32 > 0:36:36- Are you a bit gutted about that? - Massively.
0:36:36 > 0:36:39We probably could still make it work financially,
0:36:39 > 0:36:42but I think it would be more of a struggle.
0:36:42 > 0:36:46I'm not going to lie, after seeing that, I am questioning myself.
0:36:46 > 0:36:48That's massive for me.
0:36:51 > 0:36:55While New Zealand's lifestyle has been everything Greg remembered,
0:36:55 > 0:36:59achieving the life he dreams of would require significant compromises.
0:36:59 > 0:37:02But it's perhaps the emotional cost of emigrating
0:37:02 > 0:37:05which could prove the biggest barrier to a move.
0:37:05 > 0:37:07As Evie is looked after by a childminder,
0:37:07 > 0:37:10the couple sit down to watch messages from home.
0:37:12 > 0:37:14Hi, Jenni, hi, Greg.
0:37:14 > 0:37:17I hope you're having a wonderful time in New Zealand.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20- Hi, Jenni, Greg. - Hello, Auntie Jenni and Uncle Greg.
0:37:20 > 0:37:23Hiya, guys. I hope you've had a good week.
0:37:23 > 0:37:27On the whole, they seem to be a match made in heaven.
0:37:27 > 0:37:30Hilarious is the word to me that sums Jenni up.
0:37:30 > 0:37:34She's got a lot of friends, she's sociable, she's popular.
0:37:34 > 0:37:36Independent, principled, loyal.
0:37:41 > 0:37:45He is very much a family man.
0:37:47 > 0:37:49Family is really important.
0:37:49 > 0:37:52Evie's a really bubbly little girl.
0:37:52 > 0:37:55Um... She's really good friends with my daughter.
0:37:55 > 0:37:59- And they work together well. - Evie is my granddaughter.
0:37:59 > 0:38:02I do spoil her.
0:38:02 > 0:38:05But if they go, I'll miss her.
0:38:08 > 0:38:10If they left, I think it would leave
0:38:10 > 0:38:14a big hole in everybody's life, not just in mine.
0:38:14 > 0:38:16Obviously, yeah, it would be a massive wrench,
0:38:16 > 0:38:19because you've got my mum and dad, then you've got me and Jenni.
0:38:19 > 0:38:21The family, essentially, would be halved,
0:38:21 > 0:38:25because my sister's gone, so it would just be me and my kids.
0:38:25 > 0:38:27You make a decision based on
0:38:27 > 0:38:30what you think is best for you and your family.
0:38:30 > 0:38:34We'll always love you and we will always be here for you.
0:38:34 > 0:38:36We'll all really miss you
0:38:36 > 0:38:38and we'll miss the times that we spend together,
0:38:38 > 0:38:40we'll miss seeing Evie grow up
0:38:40 > 0:38:44and we know that all your other friends will feel the same.
0:38:44 > 0:38:46But you've got to do what's right for you.
0:38:46 > 0:38:51I hope that you make the right decisions that suit you
0:38:51 > 0:38:54and don't worry too much about us here,
0:38:54 > 0:38:58because we'll be on the next plane if there's anything wrong.
0:38:58 > 0:39:01You know that I love you, you know that I support you.
0:39:01 > 0:39:05I'll come visit!
0:39:05 > 0:39:07But please, make the decision which is right for you.
0:39:15 > 0:39:21It's really making me question whether I've got the guts to, er,
0:39:21 > 0:39:23to go through with it.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26We have to make what decision we think's best for our family,
0:39:26 > 0:39:29and that means that we are going to have to be very selfish
0:39:29 > 0:39:32when we make that decision and not think about others,
0:39:32 > 0:39:34because I think if we thought about others,
0:39:34 > 0:39:38the answer would very clearly be, no, we're not going.
0:39:43 > 0:39:46Greg's long-held dream is hanging in the balance,
0:39:46 > 0:39:49as the couple face the biggest decision of their lives.
0:39:49 > 0:39:53Touching down again in New Zealand, Greg was hoping the country
0:39:53 > 0:39:57would live up to his bachelor-day memories, and it hasn't let him down.
0:39:57 > 0:40:00I knew it was going to be good, but I think it's far better,
0:40:00 > 0:40:01from a lifestyle and living perspective.
0:40:01 > 0:40:03It's infinitely better,
0:40:03 > 0:40:05in my opinion, than what we would have back in the UK.
0:40:05 > 0:40:07And despite her initial reluctance,
0:40:07 > 0:40:12a taste of what New Zealand could offer has also appealed to Jenni.
0:40:12 > 0:40:17The experience I've had this week that has won me over the most is...
0:40:17 > 0:40:19is the lifestyle.
0:40:19 > 0:40:23But the couple's week has also shown the reality of life
0:40:23 > 0:40:26in New Zealand wasn't everything Greg had envisaged.
0:40:26 > 0:40:30I'm not going to lie, I thought we would fare a lot better than we did.
0:40:30 > 0:40:33Then you get here on the first day and obviously, hence why
0:40:33 > 0:40:36I got a bit upset, you're looking at your first house and thinking...
0:40:36 > 0:40:39it's going to come in over your budget,
0:40:39 > 0:40:44and it's not at all what you want or would expect from our house.
0:40:44 > 0:40:47He is having to come to terms with the fact that things
0:40:47 > 0:40:51aren't as picture-perfect as he initially thought out here.
0:40:51 > 0:40:55And he's struggling to come to terms with leaving family behind.
0:40:55 > 0:40:59The most emotional part of the week, for me, was seeing my family.
0:40:59 > 0:41:01I know that...
0:41:02 > 0:41:04HE SIGHS
0:41:04 > 0:41:07I know that I need to make the decision for my family.
0:41:07 > 0:41:09But, you know...
0:41:11 > 0:41:14..I kind of care about everyone else as well.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16Um...
0:41:16 > 0:41:18With their final vote inching closer,
0:41:18 > 0:41:21the couple are wrestling with conflicting emotions.
0:41:23 > 0:41:26It has been difficult, because I'm arguing with myself,
0:41:26 > 0:41:31I can feel an internal conflict of arguing with myself over it.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34I'm playing with the rest of my family's life, you know,
0:41:34 > 0:41:36I'm not going to dance around it, it's...
0:41:39 > 0:41:42..harder than the decision I took to ask Jen to marry me.
0:41:42 > 0:41:47It's harder than the decision I took to take on Evie as my own child.
0:41:47 > 0:41:51It's time to decide where the family's future lies.
0:41:51 > 0:41:53Will Jenni greenlight Greg's dream?
0:41:53 > 0:41:56And will he decide breaking bonds at home is a price worth paying
0:41:56 > 0:41:59to achieve the lifestyle he wants?
0:41:59 > 0:42:03We've had a fabulous week here in New Zealand and our vote goes to...
0:42:15 > 0:42:17- ..New Zealand.- New Zealand.
0:42:17 > 0:42:19No!
0:42:20 > 0:42:22What made you do that?
0:42:22 > 0:42:25There's some negatives, but there's also a lot of positives.
0:42:25 > 0:42:27I think that we've got to give it a try,
0:42:27 > 0:42:31because I think otherwise, we'll always be wondering, what if?
0:42:31 > 0:42:33So, I think we need to come and give it a try.
0:42:33 > 0:42:37This is all my birthdays, all my Christmases,
0:42:37 > 0:42:40everything I've wanted, since I came back.
0:42:50 > 0:42:54The week had given Greg the result he was hoping for,
0:42:54 > 0:42:56and with Jenni signed up to the move,
0:42:56 > 0:43:00it looked like he could be on his way back to New Zealand soon.
0:43:00 > 0:43:02We visited them one year later,
0:43:02 > 0:43:06to find out where in the world they are now.
0:43:06 > 0:43:08It's September, 2016,
0:43:08 > 0:43:11and the Wallen family are living in...
0:43:11 > 0:43:13Sheffield in the UK,
0:43:13 > 0:43:16and after Jenni's terrible sickness en route to New Zealand
0:43:16 > 0:43:20for the trial week, the latest addition to their family has happily arrived.
0:43:20 > 0:43:25Ethan was born on the 15th of September, 2015.
0:43:29 > 0:43:31Aww, cuddles!
0:43:31 > 0:43:33It was a very quick birth.
0:43:33 > 0:43:35Which I was very pleased about!
0:43:35 > 0:43:37Fortunately, for everyone,
0:43:37 > 0:43:41the baby slotted into family life pretty swiftly, too.
0:43:41 > 0:43:44He's such an easy-going child, he's so happy.
0:43:44 > 0:43:46Clap-clap!
0:43:46 > 0:43:48Clap-clap!
0:43:48 > 0:43:50He's an absolute joy.
0:43:50 > 0:43:53What would you like, baby? Do you want chocolate spread on bread?
0:43:53 > 0:43:55Yes, please!
0:43:55 > 0:43:58Big sister Evie couldn't agree more.
0:43:58 > 0:44:01I love my baby brother, cos he's cuddly,
0:44:01 > 0:44:03and very funny.
0:44:03 > 0:44:05He really has completed our family, hasn't he?
0:44:05 > 0:44:10Yeah, yeah. He was definitely the missing...missing piece.
0:44:10 > 0:44:14With the new addition, it's been a busy few months.
0:44:14 > 0:44:16In a lot of respects, life's gone on as normal.
0:44:16 > 0:44:19But in other respects, it's completely changed.
0:44:19 > 0:44:22Obviously, the birth of Ethan's kind of...
0:44:22 > 0:44:25You know, that's a massive change for anyone.
0:44:25 > 0:44:27Be my baby.
0:44:27 > 0:44:29What are you going to do your baby for breakfast?
0:44:29 > 0:44:32Now I'm going to feed you some food while I change your nappy.
0:44:32 > 0:44:34But the subject of emigrating
0:44:34 > 0:44:37to New Zealand has been an ongoing conversation.
0:44:37 > 0:44:41And the pair can still vividly recall their trial week down under.
0:44:41 > 0:44:43Definitely lived up to my expectations, in the fact of
0:44:43 > 0:44:47how clean it was, how nice the people were, and...
0:44:47 > 0:44:51You know, what a genuinely great place it was to live.
0:44:51 > 0:44:53Despite its ups and downs,
0:44:53 > 0:44:57the week had opened Jenni's eyes to the possibilities of a move.
0:44:57 > 0:45:00It really did help me to
0:45:00 > 0:45:03envisage whether we could actually live out there,
0:45:03 > 0:45:05and have a good life.
0:45:05 > 0:45:07Her vote for New Zealand, in the end,
0:45:07 > 0:45:10felt like a dream come true for Greg.
0:45:10 > 0:45:13All my Christmases come at once, all my birthdays come at once.
0:45:13 > 0:45:15I was like, "Right, we've cracked it."
0:45:15 > 0:45:17After a brief stay with some friends,
0:45:17 > 0:45:20Greg and Jenni left New Zealand convinced
0:45:20 > 0:45:24it was only a matter of time before they returned to make it their home.
0:45:24 > 0:45:27We got back, told all our friends we all voted yes,
0:45:27 > 0:45:31we're going to do it, we're going to start getting plans in place.
0:45:31 > 0:45:33The couple agreed they would stay in the UK
0:45:33 > 0:45:35until after the baby was born,
0:45:35 > 0:45:37which turned out to be the right move,
0:45:37 > 0:45:41as Jenni's pregnancy wasn't all plain sailing.
0:45:41 > 0:45:45I started to feel increasingly unwell.
0:45:45 > 0:45:47She had the most terrible morning sick...
0:45:47 > 0:45:49Well, I say morning sickness,
0:45:49 > 0:45:51it was just all-day-all-night sickness,
0:45:51 > 0:45:53she really, really struggled.
0:45:53 > 0:45:55You slept a little bit?
0:45:55 > 0:45:57- Great. What time?- About 20 minutes.
0:45:57 > 0:46:01'Fortunately, friends and family rallied round.'
0:46:01 > 0:46:05With childcare, coming to see me,
0:46:05 > 0:46:09keeping things stable and secure for Evie.
0:46:09 > 0:46:11Greg was grateful for the support,
0:46:11 > 0:46:13and the experience left him contemplating
0:46:13 > 0:46:15the reality of leaving loved ones
0:46:15 > 0:46:18if they moved to the other side of the world.
0:46:19 > 0:46:22He whole thing was made massively easier
0:46:22 > 0:46:26with the support that we had from friends and family at that point.
0:46:26 > 0:46:27You're going to mess up the carpet.
0:46:28 > 0:46:31'And without having that,
0:46:31 > 0:46:33'we would have struggled a lot more.'
0:46:34 > 0:46:35As the weeks went by,
0:46:35 > 0:46:38Greg also began to have more practical doubts
0:46:38 > 0:46:40about the cost of making his dream move.
0:46:42 > 0:46:44When you started working out the finances of moving
0:46:44 > 0:46:46and the money you'd be earning out there,
0:46:46 > 0:46:48it just wasn't really a viable option.
0:46:48 > 0:46:53We started talking about pushing it back further and further,
0:46:53 > 0:46:56until finally Greg kind of admitted
0:46:56 > 0:47:01that actually he wasn't so committed
0:47:01 > 0:47:03to the idea of going any more.
0:47:03 > 0:47:06After all his efforts to get Jenni on board,
0:47:06 > 0:47:09Greg had lost faith in his own dream.
0:47:09 > 0:47:12My heart was saying this is a perfect place to raise my family,
0:47:12 > 0:47:16and then my head's kind of pulling me in the other direction, saying,
0:47:16 > 0:47:18well, is it really going to work?
0:47:18 > 0:47:21No, you need at least one of you
0:47:21 > 0:47:25to be really positive and focused and want to do it.
0:47:26 > 0:47:30But if you're both sat there, saying, "Oh, I'm not sure,"
0:47:30 > 0:47:32then it's probably not the best decision.
0:47:34 > 0:47:36Letting go of the dream wasn't easy.
0:47:39 > 0:47:40It was quite a heart-wrench.
0:47:40 > 0:47:43It was tough, it was actually really tough to sort of...
0:47:44 > 0:47:46Sort of digest that.
0:47:46 > 0:47:48From a quality-of-life perspective,
0:47:48 > 0:47:51New Zealand would be infinitely better than we have here in the UK.
0:47:51 > 0:47:56However, unfortunately, as with life, you need money to back this.
0:47:56 > 0:47:58Despite their plans not working out as hoped,
0:47:58 > 0:48:01it's fair to say the Wallens' time down under
0:48:01 > 0:48:04has inspired Greg and Jenni to make some really positive changes
0:48:04 > 0:48:06to their lives in the UK.
0:48:09 > 0:48:13The trial week has really, really helped us
0:48:13 > 0:48:15to adjust and to start focusing
0:48:15 > 0:48:17on what's important in life.
0:48:17 > 0:48:20Greg has started to realise
0:48:20 > 0:48:23that he doesn't need to work all the hours,
0:48:23 > 0:48:26that it is just as important to have family time.
0:48:26 > 0:48:28What colour would you like to be, Daddy?
0:48:28 > 0:48:31- Yellow, please.- I go first.
0:48:32 > 0:48:34- One, two.- Thank you.
0:48:34 > 0:48:35Evie's go.
0:48:35 > 0:48:39It's made me think the grass isn't always greener on the other side.
0:48:39 > 0:48:42There's things here that I think, as a family,
0:48:42 > 0:48:45we can adapt to make things better here
0:48:45 > 0:48:48to what I thought it would have been like in New Zealand.
0:48:48 > 0:48:51- Three.- That's rubbish again.
0:48:51 > 0:48:53I'm back on it.
0:48:53 > 0:48:55- One, two, three. - Oh, Daddy got a ladder.
0:48:55 > 0:48:57I'm not playing!
0:49:00 > 0:49:03Since spending more time together in New Zealand,
0:49:03 > 0:49:05and then since we've got back,
0:49:05 > 0:49:08we've started to set up a few routines for ourselves.
0:49:08 > 0:49:13So, we'll have Evie and Greg will go out for an afternoon once a month,
0:49:13 > 0:49:16myself and Evie will go out for an afternoon once a month,
0:49:16 > 0:49:19and then once a month we'll all go out together as a family.
0:49:19 > 0:49:23I feel better in myself as a father, as a husband, than I did before,
0:49:23 > 0:49:24and I think that was also maybe
0:49:24 > 0:49:27another missing piece to the family puzzle.
0:49:31 > 0:49:33Having moved from Devon to be with Jenni,
0:49:33 > 0:49:37Greg had found himself often feeling lonely and isolated in Sheffield.
0:49:37 > 0:49:39But taking up a new hobby
0:49:39 > 0:49:42has proven a positive step in the right direction.
0:49:44 > 0:49:46I've taken up boxing now,
0:49:46 > 0:49:50so that plays quite a large role in my life and I really enjoy it.
0:49:50 > 0:49:52All the guys at the gym that I've met have been so welcoming
0:49:52 > 0:49:55and I've made some really good friends.
0:49:55 > 0:49:56Great.
0:49:58 > 0:50:00Keep it nice and long.
0:50:02 > 0:50:05Greg's feeling a lot more settled.
0:50:05 > 0:50:09He's really started to forge some links and relationships here.
0:50:09 > 0:50:13He looked almost gaunt, like his cheeks were, like, dead.
0:50:13 > 0:50:17- Yeah, you could see it, couldn't you? Now...- Looks natural, yeah.
0:50:17 > 0:50:20I kind of feel more cemented here in the UK.
0:50:20 > 0:50:22Having my outlet in boxing,
0:50:22 > 0:50:24I have my life as me
0:50:24 > 0:50:27as well as my life as a husband,
0:50:27 > 0:50:29my life as a business owner and my life as a father.
0:50:33 > 0:50:35You're a scaredy cat. Alfie!
0:50:35 > 0:50:38And there are some more changes on the horizon.
0:50:38 > 0:50:40Now a family of four,
0:50:40 > 0:50:43life's proving a bit of a squeeze in their two-bedroom home.
0:50:43 > 0:50:45When it was just me, Jen and Evie,
0:50:45 > 0:50:47it was kind of just-about-doable,
0:50:47 > 0:50:51but kind of my work, office space, is now kind of in our bedroom,
0:50:51 > 0:50:54so it's all a little bit cramped and I get annoyed at Jen
0:50:54 > 0:50:57cos she chucks clothes on my desk when I'm trying to work
0:50:57 > 0:50:58and stuff like that.
0:50:58 > 0:51:00So it's a bit tight, so we decided we need to move.
0:51:00 > 0:51:05We are now just about in a position
0:51:05 > 0:51:07in the next few months or so
0:51:07 > 0:51:10to be moving, buying a house together,
0:51:10 > 0:51:12our family home.
0:51:13 > 0:51:16As far as the right house in the UK goes,
0:51:16 > 0:51:18Jen would be able to list a million and one things
0:51:18 > 0:51:19in what she wants from a house.
0:51:19 > 0:51:21More space, more rooms,
0:51:21 > 0:51:24children can have a room that we can shut the door on them,
0:51:24 > 0:51:26adults can have a lovely lounge
0:51:26 > 0:51:29which isn't constantly full of toys.
0:51:29 > 0:51:31I don't really get a lot of choice in the matter, to be honest,
0:51:31 > 0:51:34I'll just be the one that's probably paying for it.
0:51:34 > 0:51:37But I'm sure it's going to be a hell of a lot easier
0:51:37 > 0:51:39to make that move as a family in the UK
0:51:39 > 0:51:42than it is, to a certain extent, go it alone in New Zealand.
0:51:42 > 0:51:45So, I think, once again, 100% right decision.
0:51:48 > 0:51:49Deciding to stay in the UK
0:51:49 > 0:51:52has been welcome news for loved ones.
0:51:54 > 0:51:57We're very happy to see them stay.
0:51:57 > 0:52:00I mean, we've got a beautiful new grandson
0:52:00 > 0:52:02who we're just getting to know.
0:52:02 > 0:52:04Say, "Hi, Grandad." Hi, Grandad.
0:52:04 > 0:52:10I welcome it, and it gives us extra time with the two children.
0:52:13 > 0:52:15Peepo! Peepo!
0:52:17 > 0:52:18'They are very happy,
0:52:18 > 0:52:21and they will say, "Oh, well, you know, we're really glad.'
0:52:21 > 0:52:23You know, "We wouldn't have wanted you to go -
0:52:23 > 0:52:27"we would have supported it, but we wouldn't wanted you to have."
0:52:27 > 0:52:31And now they just ignore it like it's never actually happened.
0:52:33 > 0:52:35Cartwheels!
0:52:35 > 0:52:39However, the door's not completely shut on the down under dream.
0:52:39 > 0:52:43Having had a taste of what New Zealand can offer,
0:52:43 > 0:52:46Jenni's keen to keep the option open for the future.
0:52:48 > 0:52:52In my head, it is only a postponement.
0:52:52 > 0:52:56If I think about us never going to New Zealand...
0:52:56 > 0:52:59I do get quite sad.
0:53:02 > 0:53:06Jenni's hoping they might revisit the idea in five years' time,
0:53:06 > 0:53:08but with their full and busy life in the UK,
0:53:08 > 0:53:11Greg's more than happy to stay settled in Sheffield
0:53:11 > 0:53:13for the foreseeable future.
0:53:13 > 0:53:14Going to get her shoes.
0:53:21 > 0:53:24I get the occasional moment where I think,
0:53:24 > 0:53:26"Oh, have I made the right decision, have I not?"
0:53:28 > 0:53:31And then I quite often sort of set my mind back
0:53:31 > 0:53:33to when we did the reality check out there in New Zealand
0:53:33 > 0:53:36and we had the prices of everything, what it would cost to eat,
0:53:36 > 0:53:37what it would cost to live,
0:53:37 > 0:53:40and my mind sort of skipped straight back to that
0:53:40 > 0:53:44and I think, yeah, I have made the right decision.
0:53:45 > 0:53:49I'm not convinced that we are on the same page.
0:53:49 > 0:53:51I do feel we might regret the decision in the future
0:53:51 > 0:53:53if we don't even give it a try.
0:53:59 > 0:54:04I think New Zealand would have been a good place,
0:54:04 > 0:54:08but I don't think the UK's a bad thing for us either.
0:54:09 > 0:54:11I'm happy with where we are,
0:54:11 > 0:54:14and I'm happy with where we're at as a family.
0:54:16 > 0:54:18It's been an eventful year for the Wallens,
0:54:18 > 0:54:21but it looks like it could be a while longer
0:54:21 > 0:54:23before Greg and Jenni are in total agreement.
0:54:38 > 0:54:41Wherever their final destination may be,
0:54:41 > 0:54:44we wish the whole family a very happy future.