Daughtery/Cowan Wanted Down Under

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Building a future together can be the greatest challenge for any young couple.

But when you don't agree which side of the world it should be on,

it can test even the strongest relationships.

If your dream of emigrating depended on your partner...

If Charlie doesn't like New Zealand, I think I'll be absolutely gutted.

..but he was reluctant to make the move...

Going to New Zealand might seem like a step back.

..and there were a few nasty surprises in store...

-I wouldn't say I hate the house.

-I hate the house.

-Do you?

From what he said, it's a massive cut.

We would have absolutely no disposable income whatsoever.

..would you be able to agree to start a new life on the other side of the world?

Every year, thousands of us are drawn to New Zealand to start a new life.

It's a country renowned for its beautiful scenery and relaxed lifestyle.

It's the same size as the British Isles but with a population of only 4.7 million.

However, leaving behind everything you know can be a lot harder than people expect.

Imogen Daughtery and Charlie Cowan have one week

to see if they want to swap their lives in Kingston upon Thames

for a new start Down Under.

It will be a huge decision,

probably the biggest they've ever had to make.

After 11,000 miles and over a day in the air,

they eventually touch down in New Zealand.

The sheer distance they've travelled has become very apparent.

A really, really long journey.

I think you forget how far New Zealand is from the UK

and how long it actually takes to get here.

And how tired you are when you do get here.

For me it's definitely brought home just how far away it is.

I think if we did move here, I don't think I'd go home very often.

I don't think I could do that journey once a year, to be honest.

It's definitely not something you would want to do with children.

No. Definitely not.

They still have a testing time ahead with a week that's going

to decide where their future lies.

Home for Imogen Daughtery and her partner, Charlie Cowan,

is Kingston upon Thames, just outside London.

Imogen is a language teacher at a secondary school

and Charlie works as a recruitment consultant in the City.

They met just two years ago

and their relationship has quickly blossomed.

We actually met over the internet.

Had a few drinks, a few dates,

and we moved in together about a year ago.

Things are going well, I think.

But faced with high living costs,

any plans for a family could mean moving or even emigrating.

Charlie and I started speaking about it last year when we moved in together

and thought about, where are we going to go with our relationship

and what do we want from the future?

We really want to have children.

We want to be able to afford a bigger house.

In the south-east and in London, that's not possible, regardless of how successful you are.

So we started thinking, "Where is it we want to go?"

And that's when New Zealand came into the question.

For Imogen, New Zealand has another major draw.

It would mean being reunited with her family,

who emigrated there eight years ago.

Dad was offered a job quickly so they moved quickly

and I was about to start my degree course.

I really regret not going when my parents emigrated because

if I look at the lifestyle they've now got in their teaching jobs,

they come home at four o'clock and they can enjoy their evenings,

their weekends aren't spent doing marking and planning

and when I look at how my brothers' lives have developed,

they absolutely love it there.

However, for Charlie, having only recently made the move to London,

he's not keen to give up the excitement

of life in one of the world's biggest cities.

I think going to New Zealand might seem like a step back in my mind,

going back to Scotland having come from a small town

in a small country to one of the biggest cities in the world,

to then go into one of the newest and smallest

countries in the world in terms of size and population,

I'm just worried that it will be too reminiscent of Scotland

rather than London.

With Charlie's reservations,

Imogen's dream of New Zealand is far from certain.

If we arrive in New Zealand and I, after seeing it,

I decide it's not what I'm looking for,

I am not sure how Imogen will react.

If Charlie doesn't like New Zealand, I'll be absolutely gutted, if I'm honest.

New Zealand will have to do a lot of persuading,

Imogen will have to do have a lot of persuading.

If he doesn't like it, if there's anything wrong, in terms of jobs,

in terms of lifestyle, we won't go and that will be it.

We'll probably come back to the UK

but I don't know how happy Imogen will be with that in the long term.

Both Imogen and Charlie want the best future possible,

but deciding where to spend it is a massive decision.

With so much at stake, one of them could face the choice

of giving up on the life they want.

Imogen and Charlie want to find out if New Zealand's capital,

Wellington, could be the perfect place

to start the next chapter of their lives.

It's one of the top destinations for Brits moving to New Zealand,

but that popularity comes at a price.

Wellington is one of the country's most expensive cities for housing.

Could it spell problems for Charlie and Imogen?

They'll be spending their week in the quiet Titahi Bay area, north of central Wellington.

It's popular with families and should give them a good idea

of what their future could hold.

But it's a world away from London.

I think the decor needs redoing.

I think we'd have to gut it and start again.

A bit like a holiday caravan type.

-A bit 1960s.

-This is exactly what I expected.

But the view's nice.

You would never, ever get that in London.

Yeah, that's quite an impressive view, actually.

I think this room's really nice. It's massive, absolutely huge.

I think the size is all right, I'm just wondering about cupboard space and storage space.

That looks about the same as what we've got at home.

It's smaller than what we've got at home.

Yeah, I don't even think my shoes would fit in there.

But again, look, nice views.

I couldn't see us living in this house.

Well, in this house, but definitely this location.

I don't think this is the ideal start Imogen would have wanted.

And is there a danger

that it's reminding Charlie of his Scottish home?

I'm surprised it doesn't blow down, with all the wind.

Yeah, it's...

-Shall we go back inside?

-Yeah. Let's go in.

Charlie and Imogen might both be seeing the funny side

but their thoughts are on the week ahead.

My first impressions are that it's beautiful,

it's absolutely stunning, especially where we're staying.

I think Imogen's more excited about being here than I am

because she obviously is the one driving this potential move.

She's got her family here, she's been a few times and really likes it

so I think it's really up to me

to find or see something that I really like.

The last thing I would want him to do would be to say

that he wants to move here when that's absolutely not what he wants to do.

Living so close to London, Imogen and Charlie are used

to paying a premium price for their accommodation.

So they are hoping property in Wellington will offer them

a chance to get more for their money.

Back in the UK, Charlie and Imogen rent a flat in Kingston upon Thames, just outside London.

In terms of where we live, I suppose we could say we're quite spoilt here.

We have a really nice apartment

in a really nice location

which has numerous amenities around us.

We literally, we don't need to go into central London.

Most of the amenities, I would say, are open almost 24 hours a day.

And he has strong ideas about what he'd like in New Zealand.

In order for New Zealand to persuade me,

it would have to show me a fantastic house

that is well within our budget,

I suppose, fitted out with all the mod cons of today

with nice furnishings and finished to a high standard.

I think the garden and a bit of outdoor space and a bit more indoor space would be top priority.

Charlie and Imogen may want to upgrade to a larger home Down Under

but will their budget of £300,000 be enough to give them their ideal house in Wellington?

Falling exchange rates mean the pound

doesn't go as far as it used to.

Today, we are giving them the chance to find out.

We've lined up three properties for them to view,

based on their ideal home and what they can afford.

This should give them an idea of the cost of houses around Wellington.

After seeing what's available,

we'll reveal to the couple how much each one costs.

The first stop is in the Upper Hutt area,

25 minutes' drive from central Wellington.

Being popular with families and not too far from the city,

it could suit Charlie and Imogen's plans for the future.

It's a three-bedroom house that has plenty of space outside,

but will it be to their taste?

Living room. Oh my goodness, this is huge.

Yeah, this is a good size living room.

Leads into the dining room and kitchen.

That's a nice size, that's a very nice size.

It's a nice kitchen. Not sure about the colour.

It's not very high quality in the materials but I think it's liveable.

Oh yeah, it's liveable. But I don't want to live here.

-OK, not for us.

-Sorry!

I thought Imogen was the one supposed to be persuading Charlie towards New Zealand.

The bathroom. It's quite a nice size, like what we've got at home.

First bedroom. I think it's a bit old fashioned.

Shall I see the cupboard?

-That's quite nice storage space, I think.

-That's enough for a kid.

This seems to be the master bedroom. It's a good size.

This is a nice size, actually.

-A very nice size.

-I think it depends how much storage space we have here.

Storage seems important to Charlie. Will he be happy?

-That's quite a lot.

-More than we've got at the moment.

And you've got enough room to fit in wardrobes and things.

What I would say is it's still quite cold, even with the heaters.

I think it's probably because the walls are quite thin.

-And it's not double-glazed either.

-Not double-glazed either.

Charlie and Imogen don't sound at all enthused.

Can the garden change their minds?

This is definitely my favourite bit

of the entire house, but still.

-Yeah, I think any garden is a bonus for us.

-Yeah, definitely.

I don't think this is enough to make me feel differently about the house.

-I still hate the house.

-I wouldn't say I hate the house.

-No, I hate the house.

-Do you? OK.

I think it's safe to say Imogen does not like this house.

However, it is big enough for their needs.

Will the price change their minds?

OK, shall we see how much it costs? Ready?

-Oh!

-Yeah. So it's £180,000, which is about 350,000.

It's an all right price for this place.

I mean, it's not a place that I want or I would put an offer in for

but that is a good price.

Yes. Especially if you compare it to what you get in the UK for that.

Our one-bedroom flat is way more than that.

So that's, you know, bottom end of our budget.

Under the bottom end of our budget.

Which means we can, which means we can do better. A lot better. Whoo!

They don't like this house but the first viewing ends on a high

as their ideal home may still be within their reach.

The second house is in the desirable harbourside location of Porirua.

This scenic area is popular with families

and being a 20 minute drive from central Wellington,

means Charlie and Imogen get more from their money.

This four-bedroomed house should be big enough for raising a family

if Charlie can deal with living in the suburbs.

It's like something out of Neighbours. You wanted to live on the Neighbours set.

It's a nice area but I'm not sure if there's much else about here, other than houses.

-We'd have to research the area a bit.

-I think so.

It looks like they've just built lots of houses together with no other amenities.

-Oh, wow. This is lovely.

-Yeah.

This is stunning.

This is a really nice sized room. For a living room.

-Yeah, this is very nice.

-It's not too small.

This is actually a perfect size.

-Oh, I love this. It's all open-plan.

-Yeah, this is really nice.

This is stunning.

This is absolutely... This! I want this!

I want this house. Can we buy this house, please?

Sounds like it's hit the spot were both of them but Imogen is being cautious.

We can't afford first. We surely can't afford this.

-Oh, this is lovely. Quite big.

-This is a lovely bedroom.

Look at the storage.

Wow! The wardrobe has got Charlie's approval.

Very nice.

So I think there's three bedrooms here.

That just leaves the back garden.

Have they found the ideal house already?

This is a brilliant sized garden.

It's manageable as well.

I don't know, the fence is quite low which means everyone can see in.

It's very overlooked but I don't think that's such a big deal.

I think it's nice that you've got neighbours.

I don't know, I'd actually prefer it to be a bit more on its own, away from...

Maybe not in the middle of nowhere but not having neighbours right next to us.

But it is a good-sized garden.

Definitely.

Positive! Feel positive!

Like the property!

Charlie has got his reservations despite the ample storage,

but will the price win him over?

They really like this house's style and size

but can they afford to call it home on their £300,000 budget?

I absolutely love this house.

But it's a question of whether or not we can afford it

and I get the feeling this might be slightly over our budget.

I'd be surprised if we could afford it.

I'd be over the moon if we could afford it.

Let's find out how much it costs. Ready?

£296,000, so 575,000,

which is actually, sort of, almost coming to the top end of our budget but still affordable.

And it's what we were expecting. Would you pay that for the house?

-Maybe with a bit of haggling.

-Haggling.

I've got a few reservations in terms of the area but, you know,

I'm definitely more positive.

That's a great result for Imogen's hopes of swaying Charlie towards New Zealand.

However, is he ready to swap his London life for the suburbs?

I think now that we've seen two houses,

I would be very much hoping to see a third house

or even a large flat or apartment,

but one that's closer to Wellington central business district,

you know, around the harbour area,

yeah, just somewhere a bit more lively.

If Charlie wants something more central,

the third property might give him a taste of city living.

It's in Evans Bay, a fashionable area overlooking Wellington harbour

and close to the city's bars and cafes.

This time they're viewing a luxury three-bed apartment on the harbour.

Will it appeal more than the family homes they've seen?

Woah, very nice.

-Different.

-Very different.

Wow, this is bigger than I was expecting.

A lot bigger.

-This is very chic.

-Very chic. Yeah.

The modern styling seems to be a hit but what about the real highlight of this apartment?

-Look at the view!

-Yeah, the view is, I think, the selling-point of the apartment.

That's just amazing.

This place is what we'd have now if we could afford this place now, we would have this.

But in four or five years' time, with kids, this wouldn't be suitable for kids.

-Shall we have a look at the bedroom?

-Yeah, we should.

-This is also very nice in here.

-This is lovely.

And that is stunning. Could you imagine this in London?

This would sort of be something that would be overlooking...

The Thames or something.

And this would never, ever be within our price range in the UK. Ever.

And Charlie, take a look at this wardrobe.

Walk in wardrobe.

That would suit you quite well, Imogen.

That will be lovely, yes. All mine.

-That's lovely.

-Oh, this is very nice.

-Yeah.

This is a couple of upgrades from our one.

This place has certainly impressed Charlie and Imogen,

but does it actually suit their needs?

It's, you know, sort of central Wellington,

where everything is, but...

..looking to the future, is it something I'd look to buy just now?

Probably not.

I think the second house with its sort of family feel around it

and the number of bedrooms and the garden, I think,

is actually, surprisingly,

a bit more appealing than a luxury apartment.

Charlie may have his reservations about this property

but could he really give up the city for the suburbs?

Will finding out its price help him make up his mind?

I think this is going to be expensive.

I think this is going to be very expensive.

I don't think we can afford this.

-£447,000.

-Yeah, we can't afford this.

-No.

-But it was nice to see.

I think we could probably just about get a deposit for this

but then, actually living here with the expenses

and the mortgage, would be...

Coming out here to work, for example, with me as a teacher,

potentially not being able to find full-time work,

there's no way we could afford this.

Yeah, I think this is lovely but as we thought, out of our budget.

Based on the fact that we don't know what our job options are going to be

out here, whether we could actually get work,

we'd be very stupid to go for something at this price anyway.

If we bought this, we wouldn't eat, ever. Basically.

That's clear, then.

But have Charlie and Imogen been won over by Wellington properties?

Despite its large garden, the first house didn't impress.

The second house was more to their liking

and they thought they might be able to afford it.

And though they were impressed by the modern apartment,

they realised a family home might be more up their street.

So are they any clearer on what they want

and are they any closer to a move?

It's time to find out.

Based on the properties we've seen today...

We are going to vote for...

BOTH: New Zealand.

Yey!

-Why New Zealand?

-The houses here are just much, much better value for money.

Like, they're very nice and we can afford them.

Yep!

Good!

Charlie's vote for New Zealand is music to Imogen's ears,

even if property in Wellington doesn't come cheap.

The couple have worked hard to build up their careers

so it's just as important

New Zealand can offer good work prospects and decent salaries.

Back in the UK,

Charlie works as a recruitment consultant in central London.

It's a high pressure job but can mean good bonuses.

Imogen is a language teacher at a secondary school.

It is a job she loves

and has already become the head of modern foreign languages.

Today, she's off to Paraparaumu College, which is north of Wellington.

Imogen knows there is a lot riding on what she learns there.

Teaching is my passion, it's what I love doing. If I couldn't teach in New Zealand,

I think I would have to go back home and think long and hard about

whether or not a move here would be the right decision for me.

Meanwhile, Charlie is in the city for an interview

at a multinational recruitment company.

I'm generally feeling quite positive about seeing my potential

work prospects so I'm quite keen to get on and see

what it is like working in New Zealand, and how that

would translate to what I do and what I earn in the UK.

As the main breadwinner, there's a lot riding

on Charlie's prospects, if they want to start a family in New Zealand.

While he gathers his thoughts for the interview,

Imogen is being met by the school principal, Richard Campbell.

We've got a few classes for you to have a look at and look around the school.

-Would you like to follow me and we will have a look?

-Thank you.

Back in the city, it's straight down to business for Charlie,

who is meeting managers Kate Larkindale and Vic Robertson,

both of whom have worked in the UK.

Charlie, thank you for coming in today.

You do have the background that we would look for in our professional

technical team which is largely IT in Wellington.

Our economy is probably quite similar to yours in London

at the moment, expect except for the fact that IT

is still booming, as it is globally.

That sounds like good news for Charlie's prospects.

At the school, Imogen has been gives a chance to do what she loves - teach.

What do you think this says at the top?

Qu'est-ce que tu aimes? What do you think that might mean?

-What do you like?

-"What do you like", OK.

Ecoutez et repetez - que'est-ce que tu aimes?

The children seem very engaged by Imogen's teaching.

In the UK you can teach a class up to 32 pupils,

so having such a small group is absolutely fantastic.

The kids all seem really motivated and very, very similar to the UK

in terms of what they teach and the behaviour as well.

I could definitely see myself working here and I'd be interested

to see if they have any opportunities for me.

Meanwhile, Charlie is getting to the main question.

I was looking for some advice on what recruiters earn in Wellington.

I would be looking to come as a senior consultant.

-I certainly wouldn't come as a consultant.

-A salary for this type of role, again,

it would depend on experience and there is a range

but it would be somewhere in the region of 60 to 70,000 New Zealand dollars,

which if you converted it currency wise, be around £35,000.

Plus commission on top, which is a bonus scheme

based on quality, service, candidate and client management

as well as the placements.

So, the earnings could quite easily be in excess of 100,000.

It's up to you.

Earning of such levels in New Zealand would buy you a very

good quality of life here.

To be honest, I was unsure what I was expecting coming over

because I was looking for you to guide me,

so I'd need to think about that. From what you have said, it is a massive cut.

You were successful in London, you will be just as successful here.

But it will come at a different cost

and a different lifestyle and opportunities. It may be a timing thing for you.

It may be that it's two years, three years, five years

before you decide to take that. Or even a bit later.

That's only half of what Charlie earns in the UK.

Could Imogen's wages possibly make up the difference?

So, if I came over here to New Zealand,

what could I sort of be looking at in terms of salaries?

If you started today,

having been teaching for three years in the UK, you would start on

59,500, which equates to approximately £28-30,000 sterling.

On top of that, if you were to gain

further promotion and responsibility,

then there would be additional salary units there.

Your salary would rise with progression to 70,000.

Right, OK, that is pretty much what I was expecting.

It is about the same as a third or fourth year teacher would get

in the UK outside of London, so that is good.

That is about right.

That is the same as Imogen's UK salary

so it would mean they would be worse off in New Zealand.

But can she get a job she wants?

Imogen, what are your main languages that you can teach?

German is my main one

and then French I can teach up to English GCSE standard.

The question will be, the number of schools offering German is lower.

And therefore, the range that you will have opportunity to

apply to will be reduced.

Some schools don't teach any international language or any

European language any more.

That is not good news for Imogen

and it seems the day has raised concerns for both of them.

I think today I've realised that I could teach here, I'd quite like to teach here.

I think so many British people have made that move

and are teaching here so I have seen that it is possible

and it is possible to sort of enjoy it as well.

I think my main concern still is the fact that

I don't think I'm going to be able to get a job

and from the conversations with staff and the principal,

I think as a language teacher I will really, really struggle.

I'd say I am probably a bit disappointed

in what I found out this afternoon.

After seeing the houses that we could effectively afford here

on UK salaries,

I was hoping that work would be the equivalent of a UK salary.

Maybe slightly less with better work life balance

but it has turned out that actually work is less salary

with a bit of a different culture, but I don't think that is

the culture that I am looking for.

When Charlie and Imogen meet up,

they are quick to reflect on what they found out.

-How was your day?

-Yeah, not bad.

-Yeah?

The principal did say I would really struggle with my job. How about you?

I won't struggle to find a job, they pretty much tried to employ me

there and then, which was quite nice,

but they did say salary expectations are roughly what we were saying,

around the 70k mark, but if you can't get a job, it's by the by.

So, after exploring what working in New Zealand could mean,

it's time to vote.

Based on our job prospects based here in New Zealand...

We are going to vote for...

BOTH: The UK.

-Are you surprised?

-Not really, no. I knew getting a job here would be...

Yeah.

If I am being honest, I think I was expecting to vote for the UK today.

I do have a very, very good job in London,

paid well and I'm good at my job.

And New Zealand would have had to do something really spectacular to

have made me think my job prospects were better here than in the UK.

Unfortunately, it didn't.

This week we have still got a lot of other things to see,

and maybe what we see will make us decide

actually, we can deal with the jobs over here.

At the end of the day, if we can't pay our bills,

then a move over here isn't what we should be doing.

A day with potential employers has raised big question marks

about Imogen and Charlie's work prospects.

And if smaller salaries means less chance to enjoy the Kiwi lifestyle,

the future in New Zealand could be on the rocks.

With its mountains, beaches and wide open countryside, New Zealand

is renowned for its extreme sports and spectacular outdoor pursuits.

And as marathon-running Imogen loves her sports,

today she is going to give Charlie a taste of Kiwi action.

OK, maybe it's not extreme sport, but Imogen has always been drawn

by the outdoor lifestyle that is available in New Zealand.

I'd much rather learn to sail than to kayak.

However, city-loving Charlie has his reservations.

It's not amazing. I wouldn't do this for hours.

It's a bit boring. It's nice to do maybe once a while.

Again, there's only so much you can do when you are kayaking

and you are quite limited to where you can go.

I don't think Imogen is overly impressed by Charlie's attitude.

Can always push him back in!

I'm sure I can do things like this in the UK, I just think it is

more beautiful to do it here.

The weather is fantastic today and it is the middle of winter.

For me, being able to do outdoor sports and things like this is a really big pull.

Imogen clearly loves the outdoor lifestyle.

-But Charlie has different ideas.

-I'm not into outdoor sports,

it has never been a big interest.

I quite like hill-walking and I quite like running

and I think I can maybe get into cycling but kayaking,

rollerblading, they just don't interest me.

I think in terms of the watersports, sailing is the closest thing

I quite enjoy and I would like to learn that.

I'm slightly frustrated that Charlie doesn't see

what I see in New Zealand.

I think he does need to open his mind a little bit

in terms of what New Zealand has to offer.

It's obviously not going to be the same as London, you won't be able to do the same things.

It is going to be different but that is the fantastic thing about this place.

It is just a lot more beautiful but then again,

he's not interested in the same kind of things that I'm interested in.

If Charlie is wedded to city living and not drawn by New Zealand's big selling point -

the active outdoor lifestyle - could it spell the end of Imogen's hope of emigrating?

At the moment, everything I've experienced is a bit of a jumble.

I am sort of torn one way and then straight back the other.

Wellington, New Zealand's absolutely great.

I think it's not quite as good as London.

I think this whole trip has been about trying to persuade Charlie New Zealand is a good idea.

If he doesn't think he could get something out of the lifestyle here,

it's not the right move for us.

I wouldn't ever want to move here just for me.

It's got to be a joint decision.

So, when it comes to lifestyle, will city living in London win out

over the outdoor life on offer in New Zealand?

Based on lifestyle opportunities in New Zealand, we are going to vote for...

-New Zealand.

-The United Kingdom.

-I knew you were going to do that.

-I knew you were going to do that!

Oh, well.

I'll just have to try and make you more sporty.

-I'll have to try and make you more young professional.

-Don't think so!

SHE LAUGHS

Charlie's vote for the UK is a huge setback for Imogen.

It seems he can't be persuaded to buy into Wellington's lifestyle.

So, could seeing the cost of living swing the balance back in Imogen's favour?

We've prepared a comparison of costs

so they can work out the difference between living in the UK and New Zealand.

Even if we were to buy the basics here, it would still be more expensive.

Their basic range is almost double the basic range you get in the UK.

Electricity...

-we pay about £40.

-Mm-hm.

OK, and currently in New Zealand,

we would pay...

£77, for electricity.

So, adding it all up, how do living costs at home

compare to those Down Under?

Our cost of living in New Zealand would be £2,730 per month.

Per month, OK.

So it's a difference of about £1,041.

So, I think it's quite a difference in the monthly outgoings.

Over £1,000 a month is quite a sizeable difference.

And that's before they've taken into account their lower total income.

-If we move to New Zealand...

-That's incredible.

..we would be £1,925 worse off than what we are in the UK.

Yeah.

Well, that says it all, really, doesn't it?

-Mm.

-Mm.

We would have absolutely no disposable income whatsoever.

That's another big setback for Imogen

and I think I can guess which way they might vote after those calculations.

Based on living costs here in New Zealand, we're going to vote for...

BOTH: The UK.

Well, there's no surprise there, is there?

Not really.

Not really a choice.

-Not unless we want to be very poor.

-No.

Seeing what it may cost has left Imogen and Charlie in no doubt

the risk they'll be taking to live in Wellington.

But, for Imogen, the rewards could be just as big,

with people she loves living nearby.

Today, the couple are meeting up with Imogen's mum and dad.

Along with her brothers, her parents emigrated to New Zealand eight years ago.

Imogen stayed in the UK to finish studying.

They're a big part of her reasons for wanting to move Down Under.

How are you enjoying New Zealand?

I'm enjoying it quite well.

It's a lot nicer now the weather's cleared up a bit

and it's nice to be in central Wellington,

as opposed to the suburbs.

That's nice about New Zealand. Sometimes the weather, even in winter, can be absolutely stunning.

-Blue sky.

-It's lovely here just now. The weather's really nice.

So, yeah, I'm feeling quite positive about New Zealand just now.

I think in terms of coming out, you've just got to keep your eyes open

and not be swayed by your heart too much.

It is a glorious place and we have no regrets at all.

We really do love it here and, of course, we would love you to come out and join us.

The whole family would be together again and that would be stunning.

Today has been a sobering reminder to Charlie of what emigrating means to Imogen.

Meeting up with Imogen's parents today has let me see how much Imogen really does miss them

and how much she does get on with them and, I suppose, how much she really wants to be here.

'One of the driving forces behind us moving to New Zealand would be

being able to spend this much time with my parents

and to drive up and see them or they drive down to see us.

So, this has been quite an important morning for us, I think.

And, for Imogen's mum and dad, it would mean having their family back together again.

It'd be wonderful if Imogen and Charlie do decide to shift over to New Zealand.

I'm sure they'd enjoy it. We would really love to have them here,

to spend weekends with them, to bring her brothers down to see her.

Yeah, it'd be fantastic.

If they are going to have a family, I think they'll miss their own family a lot more,

because we are not able to see the grandchildren

and they're not able to connect with us.

-Bye.

-Bye.

-See you next time.

I think seeing my parents today has been quite a big pull in terms of me wanting to move here.

But, at the same time, Charlie's parents are in Scotland,

so it's going to be quite a tough decision to make.

Imogen may have plenty to gain by reuniting with her family,

but, for both of them, emigrating will mean more difficult choices.

We've prepared some messages from loved ones, to remind them of what they'd be leaving behind.

Hi, Charlie and Imogen.

Hello, Imogen. How are you? My beautiful granddaughter, Imogen,

she's fun-loving,

she's bright

and generous.

Charlie's a very thoughtful boy.

Loving, quite generous,

but very, very impulsive.

Generous?

Charles has lived away from home for ten years.

But he was only really a train ride and a bus ride away.

But going to New Zealand's an entirely different matter.

I promised that I wouldn't...

break down, but...

..I'll miss her and so will the rest of the family.

A ride in a plane doesn't appeal to me,

but if he decides to emigrate and that's what it takes for me to go out and see him and Imogen -

and I might even have grandkids sometime -

I will be there.

-We will.

-We'll be there.

I just have her best interests at heart.

And I want everything good to happen to her.

So, I suppose I cannot stand in her way.

We're thinking of you. Just remember, it's a big decision,

but we'll support you, whatever you decide. Love Mum and Dad.

You know that we will all...miss you.

We want the best for you and, um...

we all love you, so...

I shall say bye for now and God bless you.

Either way, we're leaving one family behind.

If we decide to live in the UK, Imogen's family's in New Zealand,

and if we decide to come to New Zealand, my family's in the UK.

So, it's a 50/50 choice.

And we gain or lose out, regardless of the decision we make. So, for me, I don't see it as losing a family.

For me, it would be gaining a family over here.

-And I hope Imogen would feel the same.

-Yeah.

We have to think about our future.

And, you know, where's the best place for us to be.

Um...

Therefore, family and friends don't really come into that.

If we come over here and we're unhappy, we have to live with that.

It doesn't matter if my family are here. We've got to... Same as if we live in the UK.

-It's got to be our decision.

-Yeah.

After an eye-opening week, Imogen and Charlie face their final decision.

They know that choosing a life in Wellington would be a huge risk,

but a vote for home could mean walking away from their dream for ever.

Their week in New Zealand has given them a real taste of what life could offer,

but also thrown open questions about what they want from their future.

Wellington offered a house big enough for raising children

and a different balance between work prospects and lifestyle.

And seeing her parents has reminded Imogen and Charlie just how much being with family would mean.

Now, as they face the final vote, have they come to an agreement about where their future lies?

After our experiences in New Zealand, our final vote goes to...

BOTH: The UK.

I'm not surprised we both voted this way.

Me neither. I think, after the reality check, we couldn't have afforded it.

No, we'd be really poor if we came and lived here.

That's not what we want. We want a slightly better lifestyle.

But, UK's good!

UK's definitely good.

Does that mean I'm going to get a ring soon?

No.

'New Zealand is just not quite right for us right now.'

I think our living costs in the UK are so low

and we haven't realised that.

Maybe, in ten years' time, when we actually do need a car in the UK

and do have a mortgage to pay,

'maybe then we'll give New Zealand another go, but right now, it's not for us.'

I feel relieved that we no longer have to stress or worry

and the unknown part is now gone.

We know we're settling in the UK for the next however amount of time.

'And I think it gives us the chance to start building a life in the UK.'

'I think this week has probably brought Charlie and myself slightly closer together.

'When we go back to the UK, that's the start of the next chapter for us.'

Facing the reality of living Down Under has convinced Imogen and Charlie the future they want

lies in the UK.

And, by the sounds of it, that very future may well start on a bended knee.

We wish them all the best.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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