0:00:03 > 0:00:06Fond memories of holidays abroad can often give rise to
0:00:06 > 0:00:10dreams of what life might be like if we lived in some far-flung
0:00:10 > 0:00:14corner of the world. But are they just fantasies,
0:00:14 > 0:00:17or could the grass really be greener in another country?
0:00:17 > 0:00:18For one UK family,
0:00:18 > 0:00:23the next seven days will answer the biggest question of their lives.
0:00:23 > 0:00:28Sophie Devey has long dreamt of starting a new life down under.
0:00:28 > 0:00:29If we don't get to go and see it,
0:00:29 > 0:00:32it will always be there - it will always be "what if"?
0:00:32 > 0:00:36But it's a dream her husband Steven struggles to share.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39I just said, "No, I'm not moving.
0:00:39 > 0:00:43"Sophe, leave it alone. I'm not moving. I'm not emigrating."
0:00:43 > 0:00:46And after a week experiencing the ups...
0:00:46 > 0:00:47No!
0:00:47 > 0:00:48Never!
0:00:48 > 0:00:50No!
0:00:50 > 0:00:52..and downs of emigrating...
0:00:52 > 0:00:55Sophie's always had that niggle in her mind that it's just...
0:00:55 > 0:00:57for something better.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00I've always said, "You've just got to be happy with what you've got."
0:01:00 > 0:01:04They'll have to choose a future that's right for everyone.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07I might have to just accept that it's not for him, really.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34For Brits seeking to emigrate,
0:01:34 > 0:01:37New Zealand offers the promise of a better home from home.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42With its mild climate, it's big on outdoor living,
0:01:42 > 0:01:44and very big on scenery,
0:01:44 > 0:01:48whilst its ties to the UK give it the familiar feel of home.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53However, for many new arrivals, the dream simply doesn't live up
0:01:53 > 0:01:56to their hopes, and they end up returning to the UK.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04Over the next week, the Devey family will experience
0:02:04 > 0:02:07the reality of everyday life in New Zealand.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09At the end of it,
0:02:09 > 0:02:11they'll face a critical choice -
0:02:11 > 0:02:15whether to stay in the UK, or to make the move for good.
0:02:16 > 0:02:21The Devey family's adventure begins with a 21-hour flight to Auckland.
0:02:21 > 0:02:27However, almost a full day in the air seems to have done nothing to dampen their enthusiasm.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30It was long, but not as bad as I thought it was going to be.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33Because they always say "gruelling" - a "gruelling" 21-hour flight.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37But it wasn't as bad, as gruelling - it was just long.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41And as you land, it looks kind of like England, the trees and things.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45It's quite similar. So I'm sure...
0:02:45 > 0:02:48- It doesn't feel like we're halfway around the world from England.- No.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50It looks like the family are raring to go,
0:02:50 > 0:02:53but this week is the first time any of them
0:02:53 > 0:02:56have visited New Zealand, and worries aren't far from the surface.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00- We're excited about what we're going to see and everything, but... - And what we're going to do.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03..apprehensive about what we're going to find out.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06Ahead of them is a vital week...
0:03:06 > 0:03:09far away from the home and lives they know.
0:03:14 > 0:03:18Back in the UK, Sophie, her husband Steven,
0:03:18 > 0:03:20and their children - Eloise, aged six,
0:03:20 > 0:03:24and Ruben, aged five, live in the town of Paddock Wood in Kent.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30They enjoyed their home and lifestyle,
0:03:30 > 0:03:35but for Sophie the idea of emigrating has long been on her mind.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39Originally, my brother moved out to Australia over ten years ago.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43A couple of years after he'd been out there in Melbourne,
0:03:43 > 0:03:44we went out there as a family.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47We went out there for a couple of weeks and had a great time,
0:03:47 > 0:03:52and then we came back, and I had the idea of actually going out there,
0:03:52 > 0:03:55maybe spending a year out there, just working.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58And then I met Steve, got married and had children,
0:03:58 > 0:04:04but I've always had that travel bug and that never left me, really.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08Sophie's dream of life down under is still as strong as ever,
0:04:08 > 0:04:11but for years she's faced a huge challenge -
0:04:11 > 0:04:13persuading Steven to share it.
0:04:14 > 0:04:19She told me about the need to perhaps emigrate
0:04:19 > 0:04:22probably about the time we moved here.
0:04:22 > 0:04:26I can't recall having any conversations before we moved here.
0:04:26 > 0:04:31We moved here 2007 in the January, and I just said,
0:04:31 > 0:04:34"No, I'm not moving." I just kept saying no.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37I said, "Sophe, leave it alone. I'm not moving.
0:04:37 > 0:04:38"I'm not emigrating."
0:04:38 > 0:04:41Faced with their partner's worries, many might have given up hope,
0:04:41 > 0:04:44but Sophie kept on pushing to emigrate.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48And after the recession brought Steven close to redundancy,
0:04:48 > 0:04:52he, too, started to wonder if the time was right for a move down under.
0:04:52 > 0:04:53That was the turning point.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57But I'd never got the same bug that Sophie had.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59I never got the same intensity at any time.
0:04:59 > 0:05:04It was always Sophe with the drive, and I was going along.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06However, even with Steven on board,
0:05:06 > 0:05:11Sophie knew the risks of moving to a country they had never set foot in.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14We'd never really had time to sit back and think, "Hang on a minute, is there...
0:05:14 > 0:05:16"are there career opportunities out here,
0:05:16 > 0:05:19and are the schools right for the kids?"
0:05:19 > 0:05:22and all those sorts of questions, and we thought, "How can we
0:05:22 > 0:05:27"make that leap, without not visiting the country first."
0:05:27 > 0:05:29But just as their hopes began to grow,
0:05:29 > 0:05:33tragic events put the Deveys' plans on hold.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37And the earthquakes happened as well, didn't they, which set us back a bit as well?
0:05:37 > 0:05:42Christchurch was on our sort of list of places we wanted to go to.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46So that happened, and that just... Things going on here,
0:05:46 > 0:05:50the earthquake there, the speed of the visa happening -
0:05:50 > 0:05:53all just shook our resolve a little bit,
0:05:53 > 0:05:56and it didn't take much for mine to drop right back down.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59After another two years of soul-searching,
0:05:59 > 0:06:02Steven is once again ready to give New Zealand a try,
0:06:02 > 0:06:04and it's now or never for the Deveys,
0:06:04 > 0:06:10but while time has passed, leaving their loved ones won't be any easier to face.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12Our families play a big part in our lives.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15Steve's got a really big family, the children have got loads
0:06:15 > 0:06:19of cousins who they love. And for the children,
0:06:19 > 0:06:23losing their close friends, really, and them starting afresh at school.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26So that's a big concern as well.
0:06:26 > 0:06:32I won't miss nothing, really. Except for Isabella, my best friend.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36I mean, we talk about visiting, family coming over to see us,
0:06:36 > 0:06:39and it all sounds good when you talk about it now, but the truth is it's so far
0:06:39 > 0:06:42and so expensive to do. Realistically - our family and friends,
0:06:42 > 0:06:45we wouldn't see them very much again. And that's the reality.
0:06:45 > 0:06:49With so much to lose, the family's future hangs in the balance.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53And both Sophie and Steven know how big a risk they could be taking.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56We're fairly content here as a family, generally.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59Steve enjoys his job, I've got a good job,
0:06:59 > 0:07:02the children have lovely friends, and that's probably one of the things
0:07:02 > 0:07:08that makes you question whether going to New Zealand is the right thing to do.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11I'm quite happy with how things are right now.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15But there's something missing for her, and I don't know how to help her find it.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17If we don't get to go and see it, it will always be there,
0:07:17 > 0:07:21it will always be "what if?" You know, why didn't we just visit,
0:07:21 > 0:07:24have we missed the chance of a lifetime?
0:07:24 > 0:07:28The grass will be cleaner for Sophie to go somewhere else.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32With me, it's never like that. But I think it's a good thing in a way,
0:07:32 > 0:07:36because it makes her ambitious, so it pushes us forwards to do things,
0:07:36 > 0:07:39but at the end of it, you've still got to be practical and decide if
0:07:39 > 0:07:42that's the right thing, and if it's not, then you have to let it go.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53Giving up all they have would be a huge gamble for the Deveys,
0:07:53 > 0:07:56but Sophie's long dreamt that her family would share the life
0:07:56 > 0:08:00she fell in love with down under, and after years of doubts,
0:08:00 > 0:08:03Steven's ready to give New Zealand a try.
0:08:03 > 0:08:08Ahead of them is a decision that could change their lives for ever.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10For their week down under,
0:08:10 > 0:08:12the family are staying in the city of Auckland.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15almost a third of the Kiwi population live here,
0:08:15 > 0:08:19attracted by a quality of life rated as the third best in the world.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22But that popularity doesn't come cheap,
0:08:22 > 0:08:25with property prices being the highest in the country.
0:08:27 > 0:08:31The Deveys' temporary home is a modern apartment located
0:08:31 > 0:08:36right in the heart of the city. As their first taste of Kiwi living,
0:08:36 > 0:08:39hopefully it'll get the week off to a good start.
0:08:43 > 0:08:44It's very sleek, isn't it?
0:08:44 > 0:08:46It's functional, really, isn't it?
0:08:46 > 0:08:50Not sure about the kitchen being in the dining room and lounge. It reminds me of going caravanning.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54- This is the sort of size, the kitchen you get.- It's very basic, isn't it?- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56It's not the best beginning,
0:08:56 > 0:09:00but perhaps the city views can make up for the lack of space.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03Let's have a look on the balcony. Be careful.
0:09:03 > 0:09:04It's noisy!
0:09:05 > 0:09:08- Yeah, we're right in the centre, aren't we?- Yeah.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10It is a good base, but realistically,
0:09:10 > 0:09:14about living somewhere like this - not with the family.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18As first impressions go, Steven and Sophie haven't exactly been
0:09:18 > 0:09:23wowed by Auckland, and their thoughts soon turn to the week ahead.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27I still think there are going to be things that I'm really going
0:09:27 > 0:09:30to love, and there may be bits that I perhaps thought I would,
0:09:30 > 0:09:32but find out that I don't like so much.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34Since getting off the plane,
0:09:34 > 0:09:37I don't think I've changed whether I would come and stay here.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40I'm still around about 30%.
0:09:40 > 0:09:41I haven't changed my mind as yet,
0:09:41 > 0:09:46so we'll see as the week progresses, how that changes.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50You know, I'd like to think that at the end of it, we come to
0:09:50 > 0:09:52a mutual decision,
0:09:52 > 0:09:55but I might have to accept that it's not for him, really.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06In the UK, the Deveys live in this three-bedroom
0:10:06 > 0:10:08family home in Paddock Wood.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10Sophie has a passion for interior design
0:10:10 > 0:10:14and has spent years transforming the house room by room.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19They have a budget of £250,000 to spend on a Kiwi property -
0:10:19 > 0:10:23that's if they can find something that will live up to their hopes.
0:10:23 > 0:10:25In terms of properties,
0:10:25 > 0:10:27we'd like somewhere that's big enough to put people up,
0:10:27 > 0:10:32so that we can have friends and family stay, so sort of
0:10:32 > 0:10:36four-bedroomed house, quite open-plan, and somewhere with a nice, big garden.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39It would be nice live near the coast,
0:10:39 > 0:10:42and it would be nice to live near shops and schools and...
0:10:42 > 0:10:46I'm not one of these people that thinks you've got to have a swimming pool and acres of land.
0:10:46 > 0:10:51Today, we're giving the Deveys a taste of Auckland's property market.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54We'll show them three typical options based on what
0:10:54 > 0:10:58they want from their ideal Kiwi home, to what they can afford.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00After seeing for themselves what's on offer,
0:11:00 > 0:11:03they'll find out how much each house costs.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07The first house is in Orewa,
0:11:07 > 0:11:11a small town on the Hibiscus Coast, 25 miles north of central Auckland.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15It's a popular location for young families, with schools
0:11:15 > 0:11:19and facilities close by - so it should appeal to the Deveys.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24But is this one they could like and afford?
0:11:24 > 0:11:27Oh, this is nice.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30- Wow! This is really open-plan as well.- Yeah, I was going to say that.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32Look at the view. It's nice.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36See, you've got a dining room and lounge here. You could have people round, couldn't you?
0:11:36 > 0:11:39- Quite nice to have the kitchen separate.- Separate, yeah. Definitely.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43There's a bit of mix 'n' match on the old units, isn't there?
0:11:44 > 0:11:47It's a cautious start from Steven and Sophie.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50But with four bedrooms and a popular location,
0:11:50 > 0:11:53they should be close to what they're looking for.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55Perhaps the bedrooms can impress.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58OK. A little bedroom.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02So it could be a spare room, it could be an office.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05Yes. Nice little room.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09That doesn't sound too convincing either.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12So can the landscaped garden make a difference?
0:12:13 > 0:12:15There's a little garden-type area there, Sophe,
0:12:15 > 0:12:18- that you can do something with. - Oh, right.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21- One of our things was a garden, wasn't it?- Yeah.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25And it has got a garden, but it's just...
0:12:25 > 0:12:28- a lot of garden, but not as much as you can use.- No.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32This house may look good on paper, but the reality simply isn't
0:12:32 > 0:12:36getting Steven or Sophie excited about living in New Zealand.
0:12:36 > 0:12:41- That's another bathroom to clean. - Yeah, true.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43There's no wow factor for us, with this one. It's just nice.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45To me, it doesn't seem as family...
0:12:45 > 0:12:51to me, it's almost like going into a bungalow that's for older people.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55- Just a nice...- Just OK.- ..clean, well-kept property.- It's liveable, definitely.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58I don't think it would suit us, particularly.
0:12:58 > 0:13:04I mean, if it was on the market for, I don't know, 300,000, it might be.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07After failing to win them over, it looks like the only thing
0:13:07 > 0:13:10this house can tempt the Deveys with is a good price tag.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12But does it come with one?
0:13:13 > 0:13:16Yes, it's half an hour from Auckland, so the commute's good.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20So I think it's going to be above £250,000.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25Turn it over.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27Ah! Oh, my word!
0:13:27 > 0:13:29No! No way!
0:13:29 > 0:13:30£329,000!
0:13:31 > 0:13:35Any other property in this area that would suit us
0:13:35 > 0:13:38is going to be out of our price range, definitely.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42- I think it's a "no" for this one, then.- Yes.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45At almost £80,000 over budget, that's a big setback
0:13:45 > 0:13:49for Sophie's hopes of convincing Steven to emigrate.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51And finding a home that fits their wallet
0:13:51 > 0:13:54and needs is looking like a real challenge.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57So can the second house offer an improvement?
0:13:59 > 0:14:02It's located in the rural suburb of Stillwater.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05Although closer to the city, it's an up-and-coming area,
0:14:05 > 0:14:08which should help stretch the Deveys' budget.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11Nice and quiet, isn't it? What do you think so far, Sophe?
0:14:11 > 0:14:12Yeah, it's got a good outlook.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14I like it. Yes, it has.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18This four-bedroom property has the room they need,
0:14:18 > 0:14:20but after a tough start, can it lift the mood?
0:14:22 > 0:14:23This is nice.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27Yeah. This is the lounge and diner, and the kitchen.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29It's nicely decorated.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33I think it could probably do with an update on the kitchen.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35That sounds much better.
0:14:35 > 0:14:39And outdoors there's a relaxing sight - in more ways than one.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41Could you see yourself sitting in the hot tub, Sophe?
0:14:41 > 0:14:43- Yeah, I could. - And a glass of wine?
0:14:43 > 0:14:47Yeah, be lovely. Would you like that hot tub at home? Outside?
0:14:47 > 0:14:51Would you have hot tub parties with your friends?
0:14:51 > 0:14:56We've got a paddling pool at home. A blow-up one. It's not quite the same.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59A hot tub might be a welcome bonus, but can the basics
0:14:59 > 0:15:02in this house do a better job of impressing Steven and Sophie?
0:15:05 > 0:15:10- That's the bedroom. - That's a nice size, isn't it? - Yeah. Is that the en suite?
0:15:10 > 0:15:13En suite - nice. Yes?
0:15:13 > 0:15:17It's not a huge room, but it's sufficient, isn't it?
0:15:17 > 0:15:22- Yeah, if you got the wardrobe space in here, then it's OK, isn't it? - If there's wardrobe space.
0:15:22 > 0:15:24That sounds just about OK.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28But it's not long before Steven spots a problem.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31You could fit a double bed in here if you needed to.
0:15:31 > 0:15:35Yeah. I've just had a look at these windows - I think they're single glazed.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38And you've got that dirty great road there.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40Double glazing would be good, wouldn't it?
0:15:40 > 0:15:42Noise might be an issue for Steven,
0:15:42 > 0:15:45but can the large rear garden make up for it?
0:15:46 > 0:15:48That greenery is lovely.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51I mean, apart from the cars going by, it's really quiet,
0:15:51 > 0:15:53and you can just hear the birds and that.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56Yeah, I really like it. It's quite quirky and different, isn't it?
0:15:56 > 0:15:58I'm glad we've seen it in the sunshine.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01It's got the views, it's got space.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03It's got quite a lot of potential.
0:16:03 > 0:16:04It has, definitely.
0:16:04 > 0:16:06It just looks a little bit, I don't know,
0:16:06 > 0:16:09a little bit unfinished, you know, it's not done by a craftsman.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12No. Yeah, like you say, it's a bit rustic
0:16:12 > 0:16:16and it's a bit... It needs a bit of work.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18This house might not be perfect,
0:16:18 > 0:16:21but it's definitely captured Steven and Sophie's imagination.
0:16:21 > 0:16:25However, will its price shatter the illusion?
0:16:25 > 0:16:28OK, back into the main living room.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31- OK, shall we have a look? - I can't look!
0:16:34 > 0:16:36254,000.
0:16:36 > 0:16:41- 254,000.- That's roughly what we'd expect for ours.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43So...? Yes?
0:16:43 > 0:16:46That's what we'd be thinking, yes, so it would be...
0:16:46 > 0:16:47It's not unreasonable.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50The only improvement you could make on this is if you found
0:16:50 > 0:16:52a similar property, with a similar outlook and area
0:16:52 > 0:16:56- but it was just a higher spec finish. - And didn't have to do the work.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59Despite being a little rough around the edges,
0:16:59 > 0:17:04this house was almost bang-on their £250,000 budget,
0:17:04 > 0:17:06and with Steven sounding cautiously optimistic,
0:17:06 > 0:17:09it's a much better result for Sophie.
0:17:09 > 0:17:13However, finding that elusive wow factor could well be key.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16And with just one stop left, the pressure is on for the last
0:17:16 > 0:17:19house to deliver it - without breaking the bank.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22It's in the coastal resort of Gulf Harbour.
0:17:22 > 0:17:26It's a popular area, but at 45 minutes outside the city,
0:17:26 > 0:17:30it should still offer value for money.
0:17:30 > 0:17:31It can't be. It can't be all of it.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34- Wow! That's a really good size.- That must be next door!- Look at that.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37There's a tennis court there and a children's play area.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39Did you see all the shops as we drove in, and all the stores?
0:17:39 > 0:17:42Yeah, looks like a really good... Loads of amenities.
0:17:42 > 0:17:46The house comes with shared tennis courts and swimming pool,
0:17:46 > 0:17:48which would be ideal for the children.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54First impressions - really nice with the area and the house.
0:17:54 > 0:17:55Very nice.
0:17:55 > 0:17:57And the double garage.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59While mum and dad look round the ground floor,
0:17:59 > 0:18:03Eloise and Ruben carry out a thorough survey upstairs.
0:18:03 > 0:18:04Bathroom - very big.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14I like this bed.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16The children seem taken with their rooms,
0:18:16 > 0:18:18but how have mum and dad been getting on?
0:18:18 > 0:18:21It's nice. Nice outlook from your kitchen.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24Yeah, I do like this kitchen/diner.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28There's much more worktop than we've got at home, the amount of preparation you've got...
0:18:28 > 0:18:32Because you've got this space here, and these two smaller spaces.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37- Through to the lounge. - That's a good-sized lounge, isn't?
0:18:37 > 0:18:40Oh, yeah - that's nice, isn't it? I like this.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44- We've got a good-sized lounge, at home.- Plenty of seating. - That's what we want.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46That's another positive response from Steven.
0:18:46 > 0:18:50So is he coming around to New Zealand houses?
0:18:50 > 0:18:52Master bedroom. Oh yes. Big, isn't it?
0:18:52 > 0:18:53Ah, this is great.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58Look at all the seating in here. You could have an office down there.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02- You could either have an office... - Or you could have a walk-in wardrobe there, couldn't you?
0:19:02 > 0:19:05- I wonder if we've got any... - Might be in there, though.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08- Ah, there you go. - Oh, no! I'm going to have to move in now. That's it.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14I think this property is really exciting.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17We haven't really seen anything yet that we'd have to do a lot to.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19It's just cosmetic, isn't it?
0:19:20 > 0:19:24I think that's Sophie well and truly won over.
0:19:24 > 0:19:25But there's still the garden to see.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30- A bit of outdoor area.- Yes.
0:19:30 > 0:19:35It's not a lot of room for, you know, a table and chairs.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37It would just be there, really, would it?
0:19:37 > 0:19:41Nice house. Could do with a bigger garden, but... I don't think it's...
0:19:41 > 0:19:45You've got so many things going on, and you've got the front, so...
0:19:45 > 0:19:48Both Sophie and Steven have been impressed by the final house.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51Even a small garden hasn't put them off.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55But with so much riding on this week, the big question is...
0:19:55 > 0:19:56OK, let's have a look, then.
0:19:56 > 0:19:57..can they afford it?
0:19:59 > 0:20:01No!
0:20:01 > 0:20:02Never!
0:20:02 > 0:20:03No!
0:20:03 > 0:20:05That's quite amazing!
0:20:05 > 0:20:09It can't be typical, there must be... They must want a quick sale.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11- I'm amazed.- Hmm.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13I'm amazed.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17At £30,000 under budget, that's quite a price tag,
0:20:17 > 0:20:21and it could be vital in winning Steven over to Kiwi property.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24I guess, the closer you get to Auckland, the more expensive it is,
0:20:24 > 0:20:30- so it may be just that bit further out that it drops in price.- Yeah. - Yeah.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33It's been a day of highs and lows.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35Despite having a great location
0:20:35 > 0:20:39and plenty of space, the first house left the Deveys cold.
0:20:39 > 0:20:44And at £80,000 over budget, its price froze them in their tracks.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47Thankfully, some amazing views,
0:20:47 > 0:20:51and a hot tub helped warm things up in property two.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54And it was affordable, despite needing some TLC.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58But the final house impressed everyone,
0:20:58 > 0:21:01and, costing far less than they thought,
0:21:01 > 0:21:04it showed a real upside to property down under.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08So, have the Deveys seen enough to convince them
0:21:08 > 0:21:11that Auckland property could be for them?
0:21:11 > 0:21:13It's time to vote.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17Based on the properties we have seen today, our vote goes to...
0:21:23 > 0:21:24New Zealand!
0:21:24 > 0:21:26- CHILDREN:- New Zealand! - New Zealand.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28You've chosen New Zealand?
0:21:28 > 0:21:33Certainly. I felt the house was spot-on, in a lovely area.
0:21:33 > 0:21:37Based on the properties we've seen, and the spaciousness of them
0:21:37 > 0:21:39and the size of the rooms,
0:21:39 > 0:21:43and the outlook, the views, definitely.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46Why didn't you like the houses we've seen today?
0:21:51 > 0:21:53You didn't think there was much of a garden?
0:21:53 > 0:21:55Why's he saying that? He didn't like the first one!
0:21:55 > 0:21:57The first one was nice, wasn't it?
0:21:57 > 0:22:01Ruben might be a tough customer but, after years of dreaming,
0:22:01 > 0:22:04that's a great start for Sophie.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06I kind of thought, that I was more likely to be negative,
0:22:06 > 0:22:10in a way, when I came out here, because I've kind of seen it through rose-tinted
0:22:10 > 0:22:13glasses before - just things I had read, and spoken to people,
0:22:13 > 0:22:19but now I have experienced it for myself, it's better than I envisaged.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22I think anyone who has seen what we have seen so far,
0:22:22 > 0:22:25putting aside family and work commitments at home, if you
0:22:25 > 0:22:30put all that to one side, I think you'd be crazy not to want to live here.
0:22:42 > 0:22:44After years of dreaming,
0:22:44 > 0:22:48the Deveys' first taste of real life down under ended on a high note.
0:22:48 > 0:22:52And Steven's positive tune is music to Sophie's ears.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55But are his job prospects in Auckland worth giving up
0:22:55 > 0:22:56a career he loves?
0:22:57 > 0:23:00Back in the UK, Steven works as a health and safety
0:23:00 > 0:23:05adviser for a construction company, earning around £40,000 a year.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08It's his sought-after qualifications that hold the key to
0:23:08 > 0:23:12moving down under, but he knows that giving up a job he loves
0:23:12 > 0:23:17and which provides security for his family won't be an easy decision.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19Before moving to New Zealand, I think
0:23:19 > 0:23:23we'd look at the financial differences, definitely,
0:23:23 > 0:23:28because, although we don't mind having to take a step
0:23:28 > 0:23:30back on the wage structure,
0:23:30 > 0:23:34I'd certainly like to make sure that I had something to go to...
0:23:34 > 0:23:37Yeah, definitely, that there was a job waiting for me there.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40Meanwhile, Sophie is hoping that a move to New Zealand could
0:23:40 > 0:23:44offer her a chance to follow up on another long-held dream.
0:23:44 > 0:23:48At the moment, she works part-time as an administrator
0:23:48 > 0:23:52in a local school, but her real passion lies elsewhere.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55Interior design has always been a big thing for me, and it was
0:23:55 > 0:23:58when I was at art college, although I didn't study it, it wasn't an option
0:23:58 > 0:24:02at that time, but it has always been there, and it is part of me.
0:24:02 > 0:24:08I'm quite a creative person, but because of having the children
0:24:08 > 0:24:12and working, as well, it is not something I have been able to really pick up.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15It would be nice to get to New Zealand, looking into something
0:24:15 > 0:24:17I really wanted to do.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22To see what opportunities Steven could have in Auckland,
0:24:22 > 0:24:26he's meeting Sam Roth, who works for a large construction firm.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29With the move resting squarely on his shoulders,
0:24:29 > 0:24:33it's vital that he finds out if his skills are in demand.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35Our health and safety story is "zero harm".
0:24:35 > 0:24:39It's an impossible task, there is no such thing as zero harm,
0:24:39 > 0:24:42but I think it's the attitude in and around it.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45I think it is part and parcel of the project manager role,
0:24:45 > 0:24:49and that's probably where I see you, in our company, anyway.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51That's not an ideal start,
0:24:51 > 0:24:54as project managing would mean a change in roles from the one
0:24:54 > 0:24:57Steven currently has in the UK.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00So, is Sophie having more luck, finding out
0:25:00 > 0:25:03whether retraining as a designer could be a realistic option?
0:25:03 > 0:25:06She's visiting a local school of interior design,
0:25:06 > 0:25:11to meet Elaine Ingle, who manages their adult education courses.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14I've got two small children at home, at primary school age,
0:25:14 > 0:25:17could I do this course part-time?
0:25:17 > 0:25:21The course is over three years, this is a part-time course,
0:25:21 > 0:25:25and it requires two-and-a-half hours of classroom time,
0:25:25 > 0:25:29and you can do a class either in the morning or in the evening.
0:25:29 > 0:25:30That's really good, yeah.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33And what would the job prospects be for someone like me?
0:25:33 > 0:25:34With further training,
0:25:34 > 0:25:37you could become a professional interior designer,
0:25:37 > 0:25:43or you could work as an assistant to an interior design firm.
0:25:43 > 0:25:45Fitting her studies around part-time work
0:25:45 > 0:25:48and looking after the children would be a big plus for Sophie,
0:25:48 > 0:25:52but there is no guarantee of a job at the end of the course.
0:25:52 > 0:25:56College fees would put more pressure on the family finances,
0:25:56 > 0:25:58so everything could well ride on Steven's earning
0:25:58 > 0:26:00potential in New Zealand.
0:26:00 > 0:26:04What is the level of salary that I could expect to receive
0:26:04 > 0:26:06working in New Zealand for Cook Brothers?
0:26:06 > 0:26:09I think, for a project manager, depending on where you were
0:26:09 > 0:26:14living, anywhere between 80 and about NZ 150,000.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16Are you doing a lot of recruiting at the moment, Sam?
0:26:16 > 0:26:19We are recruiting for project managers,
0:26:19 > 0:26:22and quantity surveyors, also, in Queenstown, and in Dunedin and in Auckland.
0:26:22 > 0:26:27So a person with your skills is of definite interest to our company.
0:26:27 > 0:26:28That's quite a result.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31It looks like Steven could double his UK salary
0:26:31 > 0:26:34if he was prepared to change roles down under.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37So, is that potential enough to convince him
0:26:37 > 0:26:40to leave a career he knows and loves back home?
0:26:42 > 0:26:48Based on the work activities in New Zealand, my vote goes to...
0:26:52 > 0:26:53..New Zealand.
0:26:55 > 0:26:59I do love my job at home, but I have to weigh up everything and
0:26:59 > 0:27:04consider my work/life balance, and is this somewhere I'd prefer to be.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07That vote is great news for Sophie, and after
0:27:07 > 0:27:12their day of fact-finding, she meets up with Steven to compare notes.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14So, how does that make you feel now,
0:27:14 > 0:27:18does it all seem more promising after finding out what you found out?
0:27:18 > 0:27:21Yes, it's definitely more promising,
0:27:21 > 0:27:24I think it helps me crank it up a notch again.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27So, after two days and two votes, things are looking
0:27:27 > 0:27:31good for Sophie's dream, but can the good news continue?
0:27:31 > 0:27:35There's still a long way to go before they face their final decision.
0:27:40 > 0:27:44That's more optimism from Steven, who seems to be well
0:27:44 > 0:27:47and truly buying into life down under, but it's the chance
0:27:47 > 0:27:51to enjoy New Zealand together as a family that excites Sophie the most
0:27:51 > 0:27:56about emigrating. So, will the Kiwi lifestyle live up to all her hopes?
0:27:57 > 0:28:01The Deveys would love to spend more time outdoors as a family,
0:28:01 > 0:28:04and living in a warmer climate would be a real plus.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07Today, they are visiting the Kiwi Valley Farm Park,
0:28:07 > 0:28:11and for two animal-loving children it's a real treat.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13Look a chicken just came in! A chicken!
0:28:13 > 0:28:16Look, it's a chicken. A chicken!
0:28:16 > 0:28:19It's more about them today, and not so much... You know,
0:28:19 > 0:28:22the property and jobs has been about us,
0:28:22 > 0:28:25but now I think they finally feel, "This is great,"
0:28:25 > 0:28:29you can really see what suits them and what they like to do.
0:28:29 > 0:28:32Both Ellie and Ruben prefer to be outdoors.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35When we are at home, the weather is not right.
0:28:35 > 0:28:37Here, there are lots of parks, there are lots of families
0:28:37 > 0:28:41in the parks, so it's very family-orientated, which is great,
0:28:41 > 0:28:44you know, and at weekends, spending more time together.
0:28:44 > 0:28:46That's what it's all about.
0:28:48 > 0:28:50Do you do horse-riding here?
0:28:50 > 0:28:52- Oh, yes.- OK.
0:28:52 > 0:28:53Can we go horse-riding?
0:28:53 > 0:28:55Someone wants to do that.
0:28:55 > 0:28:59Seeing the children happy is a reminder of what first
0:28:59 > 0:29:03inspired Sophie's dream, and what it could mean for her family's future.
0:29:03 > 0:29:06I think we could definitely feel more content here.
0:29:06 > 0:29:08Since having the children, I have wanted them
0:29:08 > 0:29:09to enjoy more of an outdoor life,
0:29:09 > 0:29:14and, definitely, here, that seems to be the case with kids.
0:29:14 > 0:29:19So that would make me happy, to see them happy
0:29:19 > 0:29:21and for Steve to be in a good job.
0:29:22 > 0:29:24And just the environment generally,
0:29:24 > 0:29:27and for the beaches and parks and things.
0:29:27 > 0:29:30I think, generally, you just feel more content here,
0:29:30 > 0:29:32and the weather just picks you up.
0:29:32 > 0:29:36Sophie has always had that niggle in her mind that there is
0:29:36 > 0:29:39something better, and I have always said that you've just got to
0:29:39 > 0:29:41be happy with what you've got, but she's always pushed that
0:29:41 > 0:29:45little bit, and pushed us to be a little bit more ambitious.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48When we came out here, I was a little bit apprehensive about what
0:29:48 > 0:29:51I would find...
0:29:51 > 0:29:55but it's just been a real eye-opener.
0:29:55 > 0:30:00Auckland has surpassed my expectations, I think, quite a lot.
0:30:00 > 0:30:05After years of doubt, Steven seems to be moving ever closer to
0:30:05 > 0:30:09sharing Sophie's dream of a new life down under.
0:30:09 > 0:30:10And after an ideal day out,
0:30:10 > 0:30:14I think I can guess which way this vote will go.
0:30:14 > 0:30:17Based on the lifestyle activities we've seen today,
0:30:17 > 0:30:19our vote goes to...
0:30:25 > 0:30:28- ALL:- ..New Zealand.
0:30:29 > 0:30:31What made you plump for New Zealand?
0:30:31 > 0:30:36It's just that lifestyle they've got over here is much preferable.
0:30:36 > 0:30:41It's more outdoors and it just feels quite good.
0:30:41 > 0:30:43I think it's the same, really.
0:30:43 > 0:30:45It's the outdoor activities that they have got to choose from,
0:30:45 > 0:30:49and places like this, where they can come and see the animals,
0:30:49 > 0:30:52and the weather meant they were able to come and do it.
0:30:52 > 0:30:55Just generally, I think, they love the outdoor life,
0:30:55 > 0:30:57and I think we would as well.
0:31:06 > 0:31:09New Zealand's great outdoors were just as good as the Deveys
0:31:09 > 0:31:11were hoping for, and, even better news,
0:31:11 > 0:31:14Sophie's dream seems to have rubbed off on Steven.
0:31:14 > 0:31:18But could all this promise be hiding some painful realities?
0:31:18 > 0:31:21In particular, is this a dream they can afford?
0:31:22 > 0:31:25Funding a move could well hinge on what the Deveys can
0:31:25 > 0:31:28raise from the sale of their UK home.
0:31:28 > 0:31:31They believe it's worth £250,000,
0:31:31 > 0:31:34but will two local estate agents agree?
0:31:34 > 0:31:36Nice French door to a conservatory.
0:31:36 > 0:31:38He's going upstairs!
0:31:38 > 0:31:41This must be your master bedroom.
0:31:41 > 0:31:42'Large fitted wardrobe.'
0:31:42 > 0:31:44WHISPERS: He'll be looking for an en suite.
0:31:44 > 0:31:46Really well looked after.
0:31:46 > 0:31:47Woo!
0:31:49 > 0:31:51This is a nice room.
0:31:52 > 0:31:54What about mine?
0:31:56 > 0:31:58OK, this room's another great size.
0:31:58 > 0:31:59Third bedroom,
0:31:59 > 0:32:02'which estate agents call a little room,'
0:32:02 > 0:32:04but this one is not, again.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07Would definitely take a double bed. Good.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10'What we would do is value the property and put it on the market'
0:32:10 > 0:32:12for £275,000.
0:32:12 > 0:32:13Oh, my.
0:32:13 > 0:32:16- 'For quick sale, obviously...' - What is he doing?
0:32:16 > 0:32:17'..we've the issue of the stamp duty'
0:32:17 > 0:32:22at 250 and I think that's probably the figures we'd be looking at,
0:32:22 > 0:32:23around 250.
0:32:23 > 0:32:25- ESTATE AGENT:- 'If the property was
0:32:25 > 0:32:27'to come onto the market today, I'd recommend'
0:32:27 > 0:32:30a marketing price of 250,000
0:32:30 > 0:32:32and if they were looking to achieve
0:32:32 > 0:32:35'a quick sale, then possibly putting it on at a range,'
0:32:35 > 0:32:39235 to 255, to get more people through the door.
0:32:39 > 0:32:41That's what we paid for it, isn't it?
0:32:41 > 0:32:44- But, you know, the market's since... - It's gone back...
0:32:44 > 0:32:46It stabilised and dropped, didn't it?
0:32:46 > 0:32:48So that's probably about right, really.
0:32:48 > 0:32:50There's quite a big difference in figures,
0:32:50 > 0:32:53isn't it, between the two estate agents?
0:32:53 > 0:32:54Yeah, but I think you can be
0:32:54 > 0:32:57confident enough, now, that it's at 250.
0:32:57 > 0:32:59Yeah, it's the benchmark, really.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02But it's just good to think that we could sell it, if we wanted to,
0:33:02 > 0:33:04and not make any great loss.
0:33:04 > 0:33:07- Or we could rent it out.- Yep.
0:33:07 > 0:33:11Those valuations are reassuring news,
0:33:11 > 0:33:15but is the lifestyle that so impressed Steven and Sophie
0:33:15 > 0:33:16going to make financial sense?
0:33:16 > 0:33:19We've prepared a comparison of their expenses,
0:33:19 > 0:33:24so they can work out the real cost of living in New Zealand.
0:33:24 > 0:33:27So, so far, an avocado is cheaper
0:33:27 > 0:33:29and beans.
0:33:29 > 0:33:31Potatoes are nearly double.
0:33:31 > 0:33:33Eggs, crisps and avocados
0:33:33 > 0:33:36- is what we'll be living on. - Be our staple diet.
0:33:36 > 0:33:40The weekly shop looks to be more expensive than it is in the UK.
0:33:40 > 0:33:43£27.56.
0:33:44 > 0:33:47So it's an increase of, what? 24%?
0:33:47 > 0:33:51But Steven could earn up to double his UK salary in New Zealand
0:33:51 > 0:33:54and Sophie also has plans to work part-time.
0:33:54 > 0:33:58And with their dream house in Gulf Harbour costing less than
0:33:58 > 0:34:01their UK property, their mortgage payments would be lower.
0:34:01 > 0:34:03- So, that's £80 less, isn't it?- It is.
0:34:03 > 0:34:06So, overall, have Steven and Sophie
0:34:06 > 0:34:08worked out a way to afford the dream?
0:34:08 > 0:34:10£967.
0:34:10 > 0:34:13Then we're better off in New Zealand
0:34:13 > 0:34:16by about £100, which is good.
0:34:17 > 0:34:19- Very promising...- It is, isn't it?
0:34:19 > 0:34:21..and quite surprising.
0:34:21 > 0:34:24The numbers look very encouraging for the Deveys,
0:34:24 > 0:34:27but are good prospects enough to convince them
0:34:27 > 0:34:30to leave the stability and security they already have at home?
0:34:31 > 0:34:35Based on the comparisons on the cost of living between
0:34:35 > 0:34:37the UK and New Zealand, our vote goes to...
0:34:44 > 0:34:46BOTH: ..New Zealand!
0:34:46 > 0:34:49And you chose New Zealand because?
0:34:49 > 0:34:53Because the comparisons with the cost of living,
0:34:53 > 0:34:57I was pleasantly surprised that that they were in the...
0:34:57 > 0:34:59We'd be better off in New Zealand,
0:34:59 > 0:35:01which I never expected, at all.
0:35:01 > 0:35:04I think if it worked out that we would be worse off here
0:35:04 > 0:35:08and there were other aspects of the lifestyle, et cetera,
0:35:08 > 0:35:11that weren't so good, it would be an obvious decision, wouldn't it?
0:35:11 > 0:35:17But it turns out that we'd actually be as well off, if not better.
0:35:17 > 0:35:21That's yet another win for New Zealand.
0:35:21 > 0:35:24But, after coming so close to being won over,
0:35:24 > 0:35:27it seems there's still something holding Steven back.
0:35:28 > 0:35:32I think that Sophie's still thinking very much with her heart
0:35:32 > 0:35:35and I think this has just reinforced it for her, this whole trip.
0:35:35 > 0:35:36I'm still using...
0:35:39 > 0:35:40..my head, rather than my heart.
0:35:40 > 0:35:44I was a little bit apprehensive when we came over.
0:35:44 > 0:35:46There's still a little bit to do.
0:35:46 > 0:35:49What's still holding me back a little is the fact that we're
0:35:49 > 0:35:52going to be halfway round the world.
0:35:52 > 0:35:55So there's the family connection,
0:35:55 > 0:35:58friends, that I'm thinking about,
0:35:58 > 0:36:01but I think that's one bridge and one hurdle
0:36:01 > 0:36:02I'm going to have to overcome.
0:36:02 > 0:36:06I still will take a logical thought process
0:36:06 > 0:36:08before I make a final decision.
0:36:20 > 0:36:22With the figures looking good,
0:36:22 > 0:36:25it could have been the final piece in the jigsaw for the Deveys,
0:36:25 > 0:36:28but Steven's worries about leaving loved ones have
0:36:28 > 0:36:29brought his doubts back.
0:36:29 > 0:36:33So, could seeing messages from them put all their plans on hold?
0:36:33 > 0:36:36Having encountered so many positives,
0:36:36 > 0:36:39there's one final obstacle facing the family -
0:36:39 > 0:36:42the pain of leaving loved ones behind.
0:36:42 > 0:36:44So, shall we let the kids watch this?
0:36:44 > 0:36:46Do you think they're all right to see it?
0:36:46 > 0:36:48Yeah, I think so.
0:36:48 > 0:36:50- Do you want to see it, kids? - RUBEN: Yeah.
0:36:50 > 0:36:51I'm going to see it a little bit,
0:36:51 > 0:36:54but if I don't like it, I'm going...
0:36:56 > 0:36:58- ..to play.- OK.
0:37:03 > 0:37:05- 'Hi!'- 'Hi, hope you're having a good time!'
0:37:05 > 0:37:08- Hi!- Hi!- Hi!- How are you doing?
0:37:09 > 0:37:10'So, hello, Steven.'
0:37:10 > 0:37:12- Hi, Steve, Sophie. - Sophie, Ellie, Ruben.
0:37:12 > 0:37:14We hope you're having a lovely time.
0:37:14 > 0:37:17'Sophie, she's a great, fantastic mum.'
0:37:17 > 0:37:20She's brilliant to Ellie and Ruben.
0:37:20 > 0:37:24'But, most of all, she's just a really, really good friend of mine.'
0:37:24 > 0:37:26Energetic, is our Steven.
0:37:26 > 0:37:29'He does everything full pelt.'
0:37:29 > 0:37:31- Eloise is crazy.- Crazy.- Bonkers.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34- 'Bonkers.'- Bonkers!
0:37:34 > 0:37:37'Ruben, you think he's ever so quiet and he is -
0:37:37 > 0:37:39'he is quiet - but when you do
0:37:39 > 0:37:42'one-to-one with him, talking to him,'
0:37:42 > 0:37:44he'll just come out with the funniest things.
0:37:44 > 0:37:49Sophie's always wanted to go and explore other places
0:37:49 > 0:37:51'and she's always had this bit of a dream to, you know,
0:37:51 > 0:37:53'go and live somewhere else.'
0:37:53 > 0:37:55'I think Sophie mentioned about'
0:37:55 > 0:37:59moving away at least last summer.
0:37:59 > 0:38:01- A bit of a shock to us, really.- A big shock.
0:38:01 > 0:38:03Cos he's quite family-orientated.
0:38:03 > 0:38:06'We was having breakfast, Christmas,'
0:38:06 > 0:38:08and Steven said, "We're thinking about..."
0:38:08 > 0:38:11- "Going." - "..emigrating to New Zealand."
0:38:11 > 0:38:14- 'I was really taken aback. - Everything stopped.'
0:38:14 > 0:38:17We didn't let him know.
0:38:17 > 0:38:18We didn't say anything. So I said,
0:38:18 > 0:38:21'"I'll put the kettle on. Anybody want another drink?"
0:38:21 > 0:38:23'Just while I could collect myself back together again.'
0:38:23 > 0:38:27Sophie's watched her brother go through that
0:38:27 > 0:38:29and seen how it's all worked out for him,
0:38:29 > 0:38:32'so that must be somewhere
0:38:32 > 0:38:35'in the back of their minds, an easier...'
0:38:35 > 0:38:37- ELOISE: Who's that man? SOPHIE: Grandpa.- '..transition.'
0:38:37 > 0:38:38'I think it'll be a fantastic'
0:38:38 > 0:38:41opportunity for them, but obviously we'll really miss
0:38:41 > 0:38:43Sophie and our chats together
0:38:43 > 0:38:46and I know Isabella will really miss
0:38:46 > 0:38:47'Eloise and Ruben a lot.'
0:38:47 > 0:38:50'You know, if the opportunities are there, yeah,
0:38:50 > 0:38:52'we wouldn't stand in his way.'
0:38:52 > 0:38:55We'd be disappointed that we couldn't see them as often...
0:38:55 > 0:38:58Bank holidays and Christmas and that, that would be sad.
0:38:58 > 0:39:01'We'd have to buy an aeroplane, wouldn't we?'
0:39:01 > 0:39:03'It would be very sad. I'd hate to think of them'
0:39:03 > 0:39:07- 'that far away, cos we wouldn't see them a lot.- No.
0:39:07 > 0:39:10'I'd hate to think that we wouldn't see them again.'
0:39:10 > 0:39:14'Make sure you are aware of the situation and,'
0:39:14 > 0:39:19if it's in the right place, the right location, the right...
0:39:19 > 0:39:21'I'm sure you'll make the right decision.'
0:39:21 > 0:39:23It's a big, big step you're taking
0:39:23 > 0:39:26and I can't pretend that we won't miss you,
0:39:26 > 0:39:29'but, on the other hand,
0:39:29 > 0:39:32'we hope that you follow your dream'
0:39:32 > 0:39:35and it would turn out right for you.
0:39:37 > 0:39:40Yeah, it was exactly what I thought they'd say.
0:39:40 > 0:39:42I thought they'd be positive and say,
0:39:42 > 0:39:44"We'll save up and come and see you."
0:39:44 > 0:39:45Yeah, it's good to know that they
0:39:45 > 0:39:48didn't outright say, "Well, we just couldn't come out."
0:39:48 > 0:39:53I think if we saw this and we were over here for real,
0:39:53 > 0:39:56- we'd be thinking, "Oh, blimey, I do miss everybody."- That would... Yeah.
0:39:56 > 0:39:58I wasn't sure how your mum and dad would be,
0:39:58 > 0:40:00because I know your mum's spoken to me before and said
0:40:00 > 0:40:03she was worried about they might not be able to come out here.
0:40:03 > 0:40:06They would miss us, but they also said, you know,
0:40:06 > 0:40:08"You've got to do what's right for you and the family."
0:40:08 > 0:40:11And that's my biggest worry, that we wouldn't see anyone again,
0:40:11 > 0:40:14cos we'd be living our life, they'd be living their lives
0:40:14 > 0:40:18and there's no reason for them to come unless it's a holiday.
0:40:19 > 0:40:20So...
0:40:25 > 0:40:28Seeing their friends and family brought the reality of emigrating
0:40:28 > 0:40:32into sharp focus for everyone and all the benefits they've seen
0:40:32 > 0:40:34this week will be for nothing
0:40:34 > 0:40:36if they can't face the pain of leaving home.
0:40:36 > 0:40:38After years of dreaming, "What if?"
0:40:38 > 0:40:42it's time for the Deveys to choose their future.
0:40:42 > 0:40:46It's been a huge week for the family, and for Sophie,
0:40:46 > 0:40:49a chance to see if her hopes could be made real.
0:40:51 > 0:40:55For years, Steven has worried about moving, fearing he may
0:40:55 > 0:40:57never see his loved ones again,
0:40:57 > 0:41:00but having seen the positive side of life down under,
0:41:00 > 0:41:04he now faces the biggest decision of his life.
0:41:04 > 0:41:06- STEVEN:- I think when Sophie came here,
0:41:06 > 0:41:07she was looking a few little things
0:41:07 > 0:41:11just to confirm what she thought and she found them straightaway.
0:41:11 > 0:41:15For me, each day has been just ticking off a big list of things,
0:41:15 > 0:41:18each day, and just done that.
0:41:18 > 0:41:21There's no negatives about coming out here,
0:41:21 > 0:41:25apart from the fact that we'd miss our family and friends,
0:41:25 > 0:41:27which I suppose everybody has to contend with.
0:41:27 > 0:41:30- STEVEN:- My life back home's good. I enjoy it.
0:41:30 > 0:41:33There's not a lot of change about it,
0:41:33 > 0:41:36but it was worth taking this opportunity
0:41:36 > 0:41:38to come and see something different.
0:41:38 > 0:41:43And I was quite surprised that, you know, things look
0:41:43 > 0:41:47and appear even better than the situation that I have back home.
0:41:47 > 0:41:51I don't think Steve will have taken the decision lightly.
0:41:51 > 0:41:53I think he's weighed up everything he's seen and heard
0:41:53 > 0:41:56and he's really put everything into it.
0:41:56 > 0:42:01So, after years of wondering, have the Deveys seen enough
0:42:01 > 0:42:03to convince everyone to emigrate?
0:42:05 > 0:42:08Based on our week spent here in New Zealand,
0:42:08 > 0:42:10our vote goes to...
0:42:17 > 0:42:20- New Zealand!- New Zealand!
0:42:20 > 0:42:23- England.- Oh!- England?
0:42:23 > 0:42:25Do you prefer it at home? Do you?
0:42:25 > 0:42:30I went for New Zealand because everything seems right for us here.
0:42:30 > 0:42:32Everything's turned out to be a positive.
0:42:32 > 0:42:36Everything we've looked at has seemed really promising.
0:42:36 > 0:42:40Being here just feels really good and the work situation,
0:42:40 > 0:42:44the leisure, the lifestyle is really good.
0:42:44 > 0:42:47I've just enjoyed my time here.
0:42:47 > 0:42:51I've tried to keep an open mind about it and I'm glad I did,
0:42:51 > 0:42:54because it allowed me to see it for what it really is.
0:42:54 > 0:42:57- Look at the statue. - Look at that, it's nice. Come on.
0:43:00 > 0:43:04After a week to remember, Steven's been won over by New Zealand
0:43:04 > 0:43:08and even though Ruben may take a little more convincing
0:43:08 > 0:43:11from Mum and Dad, for Sophie, it's time to put her dream to rest
0:43:11 > 0:43:14and start looking forward to the real thing.
0:43:32 > 0:43:35Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd