Turley/Wilson Family Wanted Down Under

You have a pleasant home in the city, a loving partner

and a comfortable lifestyle,

but a nagging sense there's got to be more to life.

Could you risk everything you had at home to follow a gut feeling

and move to the other side of the world?

Emma Turley is chasing her dream lifestyle

and believes the answer lies in New Zealand.

I'm expecting lots of gorgeous beaches, lots of wildlife,

-lots of nature.

-Emma gets a bit tied up in the dream.

I think, you know, she can run with it a little bit.

But when a trial week down under fails to match expectations...

Not stolen your heart yet?

No, I just think it feels a bit like a cell.

Money doesn't make you happy

but it makes you more comfortable whilst you're trying to be happy.

Will she and partner Ceri be forced to admit her new life

is little more than a pipedream?

I think I was more certain of what I wanted

when I stepped off the plane than I do now.

I thought I might have a bit more clarity now, but I don't.

No.

Boasting spectacular scenery that includes

over 9,000 miles of beaches,

New Zealand has a rich history

reflecting a unique mix of Maori and European culture.

Recognised as one of the most desirable places

in the world to live, the country gains one new resident

every 14 minutes and is currently home to

over 200,000 British citizens.

Teenage sweethearts Emma and Ceri have overcome tough times

to achieve the life they have in the UK.

But Emma's convinced their life could be better in New Zealand,

even though she's never been.

Having persuaded partner Ceri to share her vision of their future,

the couple now have just one week to discover

if the country can live up to Emma's high expectations

or if sticking with life in the UK could be a better bet.

Emma and Ceri's trial week takes off with 25 hours in the air,

flying from London to New Zealand and for Ceri,

finally touching down in Auckland is a huge relief.

Not a great flyer, so, yeah, glad to have my feet on the ground.

Some tears on the way but, yeah, glad to be here now.

Yeah, taking off and landing we get tears and panics, don't we?

Yeah, so three takeoffs and landings wasn't good.

With their journey behind them, the anticipation's building

as the couple have their feet on New Zealand soil for the first time.

-I feel excited...

-Yeah.

..apprehensive,

a bit scared that we've come all this way

and what if it's not what we hope it's going to be?

Emma's slightly more relaxed.

Now I'm here, it feels ace.

So, that's a really good sign.

But she's aware the week ahead is no holiday.

Our whole future kind of hangs on what's going to happen

and whether or not we decide to make that final move.

It really all does hang on how this week goes.

As they head out into Auckland, both girls are anxious to

discover if New Zealand really will live up to Emma's expectations.

Back in the UK, Emma Turley and Ceri Wilson live

in a modern apartment in Manchester city centre.

We've worked hard and we've got a really nice lifestyle now,

haven't we? Of course, everything here is on our doorstep, literally.

The couple are inseparable.

We've got a relationship where we're not just partners, we're soulmates.

-Yeah.

-We're really close, we're best friends.

Emma and Ceri met at high school at the Welsh town where,

from a young age, Emma was raised by her nan.

I'm very, very close to my nan.

I lived with her from the age of about four.

My mum worked silly shifts, so it was much less disruptive for me

to have somebody there who could take me to school

and I wouldn't have to get up too early and that sort of thing.

Emma's nan was to become a lifeline to Ceri, too,

when hard times at home forced her to move out when she was just 13.

Ceri had a...quite a rough childhood.

Things were quite difficult for her.

Emma's grandmother took me in, cared for me,

she became like my mum, she did everything for me.

She was really nice, took me under her wing.

Welcoming Ceri into her home, Emma's nan showed her what it

was like to be part of a loving family,

and that support literally changed Ceri's life.

I went to high school and I had dyslexia.

-My reading was terrible, I couldn't read or anything.

-Very well.

She basically taught me how to read and, when I moved in,

I didn't have manners, and things like that.

She taught me simple things like manners.

She took me in and did everything, didn't she?

So, she was very, very good.

I mean, so encouraging, so supportive.

The girls went on to study at university

and made their own home in Manchester.

But despite having good jobs and enjoying city living,

over the last three years Emma's developed an all-encompassing

belief a better life could lie somewhere else.

I just feel like I'm at a bit of a crossroads in my life.

I feel like something needs to change,

I don't want to carry on like this for the next 35 years.

I've always had a desire to travel,

a desire to live somewhere else,

to experience new cultures.

She's never been, but Emma thinks New Zealand can offer

the couple that little bit more.

And, slowly but surely, she's convinced Ceri.

I think she has sold me the dream.

The longer we've been together,

the more we kind of realised that it is something we

would love to do together.

But while Ceri's expectations from New Zealand are grounded...

It's not so much that we don't like Manchester.

We're looking for Manchester with added bonuses,

so we can have so much more outdoor life

as opposed to spending so much time indoors.

Emma believes what lies down under is utopia.

I'm expecting a cool, vibrant city,

a very diverse culture,

lots of gorgeous beaches,

lots of wildlife, lots of nature.

So, I've got quite high expectations.

The more practical of the pair, Ceri's worried the reality

of life in New Zealand may not match the perfect picture Emma's built up.

Emma gets a bit tied up in the dream.

I think, she can run with it a little but, so I do think

I have to pull her back in a bit and say, "Can we afford the house?

"Can we afford to buy the food?

"Is it a realistic dream?"

While Emma's biggest concern is the thought of leaving her beloved nan.

Cos she's done so much for us,

I just think it would be...

I think you'd carry a guilt, wouldn't you?

I'd feel very guilty, yeah,

that I wasn't there for her if she needed something.

I'd find that really hard.

-And don't you let anything stop you going.

-Oh...

-If you like it, you go.

-Yes!

-Yes.

-Yeah.

If New Zealand lives up to Emma's expectations,

it'll mean breaking the close bond with her nan

that's existed since childhood.

Even thinking about having that feeling of...

that gut wrenchingly difficult choice,

even just thinking about that's horrible,

so I don't even know how it would actually feel.

Whether or not the grass will be greener on the other side

of the world for the pair is unknown,

but they've both decided now is the time to find out.

I don't want to get to, like, 40 or 50 and be saying,

-"I wish we'd gone, I wish we'd have tried".

-Yeah, definitely.

I'd rather be at 50 and say, "Well, we tried it. It didn't work out..."

-Or, "We tried it and it did work out and it's amazing!"

-Yeah.

To see if New Zealand really can offer the couple

the lifestyle they believe, Emma and Ceri are

visiting Auckland, home to over half of all UK emigrants in the country.

Their base for the week is a two-bedroom apartment

slap bang in the city centre.

Very, erm...centrally located, isn't it?

Emma and Ceri are both keen to remain city-dwellers

so this should be the perfect base.

Oh, it's not what you expect, is it?

-Wow.

-Big window.

-It's like a New York loft, isn't it?

-Wow.

Then we've got...kitchen.

-That's nice, isn't it?

-Nice red theme.

Emma's excited by the cityscape outside.

Oh, you can see the harbour. Gorgeous, isn't it?

But inside goes down well, too.

-It's quite a nice size.

-It's big enough for us though, isn't it?

I think so, yeah.

But as the couple settle in, the differences over what

they'll need to have addressed in the coming week become clear.

I think my main worries are that we've come all this way

and it might not be

what we expect it to be.

I mean, what I've seen so far, it looks amazing,

but we've not been out there and spent a day living it yet.

For Ceri, it's all about facts and figures

and making 100% certain that things can work out for us.

Whereas, for me,

it's definitely more the emotional ties that I've got

to the UK and the thought of leaving everybody

there is quite difficult.

Ceri senses Emma's already wavering at the thought

of being separated from her nan.

It's taken a lot out of us, the long journey,

so it's whether it, you know, she's...it's sunk in that

probably her grandmother couldn't make the long journey.

So, I think that's...

that's weighing on her mind at the moment.

The week ahead will prove or destroy the couple's hopes

that New Zealand's where the future lies.

It is do or die, you know.

Do we come out and move to Auckland?

It's all nice sitting at home in rainy Manchester thinking,

"Oh, wouldn't it be nice to go and live somewhere else?"

But, actually, it has to work for us both.

Home for Emma and Ceri in the UK is a modern two-bedroom apartment

by the canal in Manchester city centre.

We really like our house, we like what it looks like,

we like where it is. So, actually, it's the perfect house for us.

So, happy with their current home,

what's on their wish list for a property down under?

In New Zealand we'd be looking for a flat of a similar sort of size...

-Yeah, city centre location...

-City centre.

We'd want something of an equal standard, I think.

That's really important, I wouldn't want to move somewhere

that wasn't as nice as what we've already got.

Emma and Ceri's property search is concentrated in central Auckland.

They've a maximum budget of £165,000 to spend,

and with the city recently ranked seventh in a global survey

of the most expensive places to live,

they could need every penny.

To find out what their money could buy,

we'll show them three properties - two on budget and a third

that could be their dream home.

Only after they've seen each one will they find out what it's worth.

The first property of the day

is close to the couple's accommodation in the city centre.

With museums, shopping and nightlife all on the doorstep,

it should give them the city living they love.

But will this two-bedroom apartment come up to scratch?

-It's open to the elements, that's a bit strange.

-Oh, this bit's outside?

Yeah, it's outside. It's quite nice though, isn't it?

-I like the fact it's high, it's a high floor.

-It is a high floor.

Six floors up might not suit everyone,

but Emma and Ceri seem happy.

A bit like a prison?

No.

OK, then.

-Nice long corridor.

-Yeah.

So, this is the main room.

-Well, it's nice and bright, isn't it?

-It may be bright, but...

-It's a bit small.

-It is a bit smaller than what we've got.

-Do you think?

The actual living space.

At best, it's bijou, though this apartment does come with a view.

Wow, it is amazing.

It's nice to have some outside space, isn't it?

-It is, it's nice looking out over the water, isn't it?

-Yeah.

And out over the hills.

But Emma's more concerned with how things sound.

I guess it's quite noisy, as well, out here.

Yeah, there is a bit of road noise. You are overlooking the road.

-A bit?! There's quite a lot of road noise.

-There is a bit, yeah.

Noisy and tiny.

This apartment's not a patch on the girls' house back home.

-Kitchen...

-It is a bit small.

-It's very small.

You'd struggle to cook on that, you would.

I mean, there'd be a way round,

but you'd have to think about it, wouldn't we, and plan?

But no matter what furniture you put in,

-you can't make the room bigger.

-No, no.

I think that's the problem I've got with it, it's too small.

A look round the master bedroom proves size isn't the only issue.

-That's quite strange with the glass...

-It is.

..through to the living room.

You'd need some sort of a blind or something on there, wouldn't you?

-If you had friends staying.

-Yeah.

Or like the light in the morning would wake you up as well,

-wouldn't it?

-I just think it feels a bit like a cell.

You're overlooked and...

Just enclosed, it feels,

-and like, perhaps the colour doesn't help, actually.

-No.

And discovering a bathroom barely big enough for a bar of soap

-is the final straw.

-Right.

-Small.

-Yeah.

-Where would you put anything?

-That's it.

-You just wouldn't, would you?

-There's just no room.

-It feels a bit like student accommodation,

-doesn't it?

-Yeah.

It's far from the apartment of Emma and Ceri's dreams,

but even so, is it within reach of the couple's £165,000 budget?

How much do you think?

I don't know. I think it might be the top end of our budget.

I hope not, I don't think it's that much.

I'd say closer to

maybe £140,000?

Only one way to find out.

-Well, shall we have a look?

-Yeah, go on, then.

-OK.

BOTH: £149,000.

-So, kind of middle...

-So, you were closer.

-..middle of our budget.

-Hmm.

-I would not pay that amount of money for this.

-No.

The price does worry me a little bit,

if that's the price for something of this size...

Yeah, it's the size issue, isn't it?

It's under budget but this apartment's cost has shocked

both Emma and Ceri.

Will the next apartment offer a bigger bang for their buck?

With plenty of supermarkets, restaurants

and entertainment options,

Auckland's city centre is a popular base for young professionals.

Emma and Ceri could fit right in,

but only if they can foot the bill.

-It's this one, then.

-Looks nice, doesn't it?

-Yeah, quite interesting shape.

-It is.

Appearances from street level are good,

but will this apartment have more space than the last?

This is nice.

Yeah, this is more like what we'd want, isn't it?

It's bigger, but not by much.

But I just think that the living space is still small...

-It is small...

-..compared to what we've got.

..but it's a bit more doable.

And there's a distinct shortage of storage.

I still think the kitchen space is quite small, there's no worktop,

-really, is there?

-No, that's the problem.

It's just literally a sink and your cooker, there's no...

You've got a dishwasher, which is good.

Yeah, there is space for a dishwasher which is good. But...

But it's things like kitchen cupboards, isn't it?

Yeah, it's really lacking cupboards.

-Where would you keep your food?

-Yeah.

On the plus side, the balcony is a decent size.

-This is better, isn't it? This balcony.

-Yeah, it's much nicer.

I mean, it's quite private.

Yeah, it's a much more usable space, isn't it?

Yeah, you're not overlooked.

No, I don't mind this one, I think it's quite nice.

-It's much, much quieter.

-It is a lot quieter.

-It's nice, isn't it?

-Yeah.

For a while, the enthusiasm continues indoors.

-OK.

-Now we've got a bedroom.

-OK.

-Well, this isn't too bad.

It's nicer with the window in the corner, and fitted wardrobes,

that's more like what we've got at home, isn't it?

Oh, yeah, fitted wardrobes. That's much better, isn't it?

-But...

-It's not stolen your heart yet?

-No, it hasn't.

I think it's more liveable, we could live here.

You know, it's more likely we could live here, isn't it?

Hmm, I don't know if I could.

A bathroom with standing room only is far from a perfect

-fit for the pair.

-Right.

-It's a shower, no bath, very small...

-Right.

-..sort of cubicle, isn't it?

-So, again, where would we put

everything? I mean, think of all the hair products you've got,

-where would they all go? Simple things like that.

-Hmm.

-It's a bit worrying.

-Hmm.

And subjecting the decor to scrutiny means more disappointment.

The finish isn't as good here, is it?

It's not as high spec as what we've got.

-Considering our budget...

-It's quite worrying, isn't it?

-Mm.

This apartment's been another letdown.

Are Emma and Ceri expecting too much for their money?

Their budget is £165,000.

So, what do you think the price will be? It's going to be more expensive.

I think it's probably about

£155,000?

-I think about 160, 165.

-Really?

-So, top end?

-Top end, that price.

-Hmm.

-166...

-Thousand pounds. I think that seems very expensive.

-It's really disappointing.

-It is a bit disappointing.

Really disappointing.

I really thought we'd get more.

With properties proving unappealing,

the girls are beginning to realise the picture perfect

homes Emma's dreamt of may be out of their reach.

But they're not defeated yet.

We found what could be the girls' dream home in the inner-city

suburb of Ponsonby.

Previously rundown, it's now up and coming with fashionable

restaurants, funky shops and apartments with plenty of character.

Property here could bring better value for money.

-It's nice, isn't it?

-It's very nice, yeah.

-The postboxes are good, it's nice and stylish.

-Yeah.

Hopefully the two-bedroom apartment will be desirable, too.

-That's very fancy.

-Very cool, yeah. It's lovely.

-Oh, it's nice in here, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-It's nice.

-This is more like it.

It's bigger than the last two

and the modern furnishings are more to their taste.

-Good finish.

-It is.

-It's much nicer, isn't it?

-It is, really nice actually.

I think it's... Yeah, and there's workspace,

-you know, to cook and make things.

-Yeah.

-Nice dining table.

-Yeah, there's plenty of room, isn't there?

-Yeah.

I mean, we probably wouldn't even want a table that big.

There's also a small balcony but, overlooking a motorway,

-it's probably not a major selling point.

-Oh, it is...

-It is quite noisy, isn't it?

-Yeah, very loud, yeah.

And not a particularly usable space, is it?

-You couldn't really do anything on here.

-No, no.

-But it is loud.

If you wanted the doors open, if you were sat in here, like we have at

home, our doors open when it's warm,

-it would be very loud, wouldn't it?

-Very loud.

Unlike their previous viewings,

this apartment's a duplex which definitely means more space.

Like a little mezzanine level.

That's quite nice.

So, this you could use like a little living room, couldn't you?

You could and just have downstairs as a dining room.

This apartment is more what I was expecting, really.

-About time.

-The finish is a lot better here,

it's much more high spec,

it's generally just a lot nicer.

And sweeping views of the city don't go unnoticed either.

I mean, you have got, like, panoramic city views, haven't you?

-It's like a photograph.

-Yeah.

-It's really pretty.

Finally, Emma and Ceri have found a place they can call home.

But with a maximum budget of £165,000 to spend,

will this spacious apartment be out of reach?

I think it's going to be somewhere around, probably, £200,000.

-I think it's going to be over 200,000, 210 maybe, even.

-OK.

Time to look and see.

-Hmm.

-Shall we have a look?

-No, I don't want to!

-I don't want to find out.

-It's quite scary.

Oh... You were closer, £217,000.

Really disappointed because it's so much money,

it's a massive amount of money.

I thought 210,000 was pushing it,

so £217,000 is a lot over our budget.

Either the wages have to be a lot more to compensate,

or we would have to take a big step down in what we'd expect...

-I'm not... I don't think I'm prepared to do that.

-No.

Ceri and Emma's day has seen the reality of property prices

in Auckland hit home.

Property one was way too small for Emma and the girls were shocked to

discover that, despite being tiny, it carried a sizeable price tag.

Property two held more appeal for Ceri,

but still wasn't spacious enough for Emma.

And again, the price was more of a shock than a pleasant surprise.

And although property three held much more appeal,

discovering it was more than £50,000 over budget brought

the couple back to earth with a bump.

After a disappointing day, has the dream already been dented?

Will the girls choose property at home or away?

Based on the properties we've seen, our vote goes to...

BOTH: UK.

-Yeah, I thought so.

-I'm not surprised.

-Nothing we've seen compares to what we've got at home.

-No.

So, a bit heartbreaking. Yeah, it's been an eye-opening day, hasn't it?

But for all the wrong reasons.

Emma holds a firm belief she and Ceri could get more

out of life in New Zealand, but uncovering the astronomical

cost of Auckland city-centre living has left the couple reeling.

The ideal apartment would come with a sizeable

increase in mortgage payments, but if the couple can find

the right jobs and salaries, the dream may not be over just yet.

Back in the UK, Emma's a senior psychology lecturer

at a university in Manchester.

I really like engaging with the students.

I really like teaching them, passing that knowledge on.

You know, trying to instil some sort of passion, I guess,

that I have for my subject.

Another bonus with her current job is being

contracted for a four-day week.

I get a Tuesday off, which is really nice,

because I get to do other things outside of work.

So I think I'm very, very fortunate to be in that situation.

Ceri works full-time as a university administrator,

looking after students' welfare.

I'd quite like to find a similar role to what I'm doing now,

with a university setting,

but within a department that has opportunities to progress,

because I really do love working in the university environment.

Moving would mean leaving jobs they love.

I'm not the most motivated person.

I find myself settling in the job and I'm quite happy to stay there.

So it is quite a scary idea, to move and start a new job.

But that's a gamble Emma's willing to take.

There is a lot at stake. However, I think the risk's worth it.

I really do.

After discovering how expensive properties are, Ceri's hoping

what happens over the next few hours will bring about a better outcome.

I'm trying to stay positive today.

I do feel like we've had a big knock yesterday

and I think we're feeling very downhearted.

Starting to feel that maybe we've come this way just to go back home.

And Emma knows exactly what's at stake.

I think today is make or break. I think even more so after yesterday.

Because we really need to be able to earn enough to have

a comfortable lifestyle here.

Emma believes her PhD will improve her chances of employment.

To see if she's right, she's visiting the School of Psychology

at the University of Auckland, where she meets Professor Jenny Dixon.

In terms of teaching and research,

how does the work over here compare to the work that I do in the UK?

We expect staff to be spending about 40% of their time on research,

40% of time on teaching.

And the 20% is on administration, service and leadership.

That sounds really great, because I certainly don't

spend 40% of my work time, currently, on research.

So that's really promising.

A role here could be perfect for Emma,

but actually securing one could be a different matter.

I guess the job market here is pretty...

It's pretty intensive and competitive.

When I was talking to the staff in the school, they said to me

there'd only been a handful of vacancies over the last few years.

So I don't think the prospects are particularly strong.

Well, that's less encouraging.

The good news is that, if you are interested in coming to Auckland,

is that there are other universities in Auckland which also have

-psychology programmes.

-Right.

Emma's chances of finding work look far from certain.

Will Ceri's prospects hold more promise?

She's visiting Auckland's University Of Technology

to meet expat and

Deputy Vice Chancellor, Rob Allen.

I think the first thing to say is New Zealand isn't in

recession and the job market, generally, is better than the UK's.

But certainly at AUT there are always opportunities for people,

as I found out myself when I got here.

Thankfully, things do look more encouraging.

What opportunities are there for career progression

-within the university?

-Well, we actually encourage people

to progress. So any administrative staff gets five days'

professional development leave.

They get 900 for that professional development as an entitlement

and, in fact, we actually see that almost as part of your job.

So, fantastic opportunities.

Back at the University of Auckland, Emma's keen to hear how

flexible her hours would be if she were successful in finding work.

My current contract in the UK is 0.8 full-time equivalent,

which means I work four days each week.

Are those types of opportunities available here?

They are. Most people here work full-time.

But people can reduce the time they work in negotiation

with their line manager.

Forgoing her four-day week could improve Emma's employment prospects.

But would the salary come up to scratch?

Well, at this university, senior lecturers start on 97,000

and the range goes up to 122,000.

That's a few thousand pounds more than she'd earn full-time in the UK,

but it wouldn't stretch to affording the apartment of the couple's

dreams. Could an increase in Ceri's earnings make up the shortfall?

Well, looking at the experience you've had over the last six years,

I think you would be sitting in a band somewhere

between around 45,000-57,000.

At around £2,000 more than she earns back home,

that's only a modest increase.

When the girls are reunited, their disappointment is clear.

So, how did it go?

Not as well as I hoped, really.

Vacancies are very few and far between.

-OK, that's a bit disappointing.

-Though it's not really what

I was expecting to hear. And how did you get on?

-More opportunities for progression...

-Oh, that's good.

..salaries were very similar to home, which was disappointing.

-Well, it wouldn't stack up financially, would it?

-No.

Just two days in,

and already Emma and Ceri's dream could be on the verge of collapse.

Will there be any hint of optimism

when choosing between work in the UK or New Zealand?

We'll be voting for...

BOTH: UK.

-Obviously, yeah.

-I know.

-It's not going well.

-It's not what I wanted

-to be voting, really.

-No, I really wanted it

-to be really positive today.

-Especially after yesterday.

Yeah. I feel like the bubble's been popped.

With a double whammy of votes for the UK, Emma and Ceri's

first trip down under isn't going according to plan.

And the financial reality means their hopes for a new life could

slowly be retreating.

Emma's always believed New Zealand could offer a perfect

balance of city life and outdoor activities,

so will a day exploring the Kiwi lifestyle see both her and Ceri's

spark for the country reignited?

Yet again, they've been cruelly let down, and this time,

by the weather, as the tail end of a cyclone hits the city.

With the resulting showers more Mancunian than Kiwi,

the day starts indoors as Emma and Ceri set off to

explore Auckland's main art gallery.

-I like the wood.

-Yeah. All the glass as well.

-Looks very modern, doesn't it?

-Really nice, really pretty.

The gallery's the largest art institution in New Zealand,

with over 15,000 pieces.

-It's amazing, isn't it?

-It's very cool. Yeah.

The couple are culture buffs back in Manchester, so historic

works by Maori and Pacific Island artists catch their eye.

This one's very interesting.

This is the arrival of the Maoris in New Zealand.

-Quite a distressing image.

-It is, it's very dark.

Just like the sky outside, unfortunately.

Stunning New Zealand scenery.

The colour of the water's really nice as well, isn't it?

It's literally the colour of the water

that we saw down by the harbour.

The morning may have been spent indoors, but the gallery was a hit

and, venturing back outside,

the girls are thrilled to see an improvement in the weather.

Hurray, the sun's come out, which is always a bonus.

Another reason why this isn't like Manchester,

because the sun rarely comes out there.

Finally, could it be a sign not to give up on their dream?

Making the most of the sunshine, the couple meet some very tame

local wildlife in one of the city's parks.

It would be nice coming after work, wouldn't it?

If you had a hard day or something, or you just need to clear your mind.

I already feel a bit calmer.

If we fed them, they'd be really fat, wouldn't they?

We'd be here all the time.

Moving to the harbour, the afternoon's much more in line

with the glossy images Emma had conjured up.

It has reignited my dream, coming here.

The past couple of days have been quite disappointing

and quite difficult, and I was really hoping that today

would be fantastic, and it really has been.

But the trauma of the previous two days means Ceri's still cautious.

It's really scary to think that we've made this big commitment,

coming this week. We've come to the city and really loved the city.

And maybe now can't afford to live here, which is quite heartbreaking.

And it's not just financial concerns.

Ceri believes the reality of being

so far from home could be a real issue for Emma.

She's not spoke to her nan all week

and she normally wouldn't go this long without speaking to her.

She's already starting to find that a bit strange

and I think she's starting to feel she's quite far away.

So I think Emma's...

I don't know if she's struggling, but I think the realisation of

how far away from home we are is sinking in.

An enjoyable day out may have reassured Emma

a move will be right, but she's also beginning to wrestle

with the decisions she'll face at the end of the week.

I feel very, very conflicted about leaving everybody back home.

I do feel... I'm not sure how I'd do it, if I could do it.

I'm still not sure.

The day has shown the girls although they may struggle to

afford it, life in New Zealand could have its upsides.

But is that enough for them to choose the lifestyle over the one

they have at home?

We've had a lovely day today and based on lifestyle,

we're going to vote...

BOTH: New Zealand.

Yay! I didn't think you would.

I think it's kind of the reason we wanted to move, isn't it?

For the outdoor lifestyle. So I think that hasn't changed.

Yeah, it was just really nice to hang out up there,

once it had brightened up in the sunshine, feel the sun on my skin.

-It was nice and warm.

-Yeah.

After weathering a stormy property search

and unsettled local job market,

a touch of sunshine has finally landed a vote for New Zealand.

A move could still be on the cards for Emma and Ceri,

as long as the finances add up.

The first step is getting a good price for their home in the UK.

They believe it would fetch around £45,000,

so we've sent round two estate agents

to see if their valuation's correct.

-Oh, it's wet. Wet.

-It's weird seeing home.

Yeah, it's a nice, open-plan living room. Good size.

-Nice, light and airy.

-That's certainly a bright,

welcoming entrance.

Good appointed kitchen. Nice views of the city centre.

Good-sized bedroom.

Built-in wardrobes, which is good for storage.

Another good-sized bedroom.

Currently set up as an office, nice and bright.

Nice size paved balcony, with lovely city-centre views.

It's a lovely bathroom, very stylish.

Beautifully tiled, beautifully finished, can't fault it in any way.

-That's nice to hear.

-"Can't fault it."

I would advise marketing at £168,000.

If they were looking for a quick sale,

I would advise

marketing at 165,000 to get 160,000.

The current value would fall in the region of £145,000-£150,000.

If the clients were looking to achieve a quick sale, I would

probably put the value in the region of £135,000-£145,000.

That's very different valuations.

Yeah, that's kind of closer to what I thought.

Similar to what we paid, really. Hopefully it would be

somewhere in the middle.

-And that's not bad, is it, really?

-No.

The valuations are encouraging.

To work out exactly how much their dream lifestyle could cost,

we've compiled a cost of living comparison.

Let's have a look at the sums.

The couple start with the weekly grocery shop.

At first glance, everything's looking more expensive, isn't it?

The girls are both vegetarian, and that's not playing in their favour.

£4.18 more expensive just for some frozen broccoli.

We chuck that into loads of stuff, don't we? What's this?

Double Gloucester cheese. Crikey! We pay 1.77.

And it's £9.16.

The figures aren't looking good.

-So that gives us a difference of £74.88...

-A week, worse off.

Just under £300 a month more on food alone would mean a huge

hole in the couple's finances.

It's so expensive, the calculator's even given up.

-Shall we get the tablet and have a look on that?

-Yeah, OK.

It's not a good omen.

Basing their calculations on the dream property,

the girls move on to the bigger outgoings.

Mortgage in the UK is 450,

minus the New Zealand cost of a mortgage would be 1,150.49.

So that's £700.49 worse off.

Comparing their total spend in New Zealand with the UK,

-the result is disastrous.

-Which gives us a difference of...

We'd be £994.73 worse off.

-That's a lot, isn't it?

-Yeah.

I suppose we need to compare it now with incomings, don't we?

That's an additional £12,000 of spending every year.

Could the increased earnings make up the shortfall?

-So, we'd be £19.82 better off.

-In New Zealand.

-In New Zealand.

They'd be in the black every month, but only just.

And that's with Emma working an extra day every week.

You'd be doing 20% more work and that's not a 20%

increase in salary, is it?

But at least it's more positive than I expected.

Emma's refusing to lose heart in the dream she started,

but Ceri's simply not buying it.

You know, moving to the other side of the world just to

-be £237 better off a year...

-But that's in monetary terms,

isn't it? What about in experiential terms, in lifestyle terms,

in happiness terms?

Money doesn't make you happy,

but it makes you more comfortable whilst you're trying to be happy.

Finances were always practical Ceri's biggest concern.

Based on the day's figures, will they choose life

in the UK or New Zealand?

-UK.

-Undecided.

-Yeah, I thought you'd say that.

-I mean...

At least it's doable, it's possible still.

It's not something that is impossible.

We still can do it, but...

It means a lot of discussion and a lot of thought about...

-What's more important.

-Yeah. Exactly.

Moving to New Zealand may not make them rich, but Emma's

convinced the couple won't be out of pocket by enough to dent her dream.

However, she's about to be faced with a dilemma she's been dreading.

The couple sit down to watch messages from friends

and relatives at home in the UK.

I'm feeling quite apprehensive, actually, about seeing friends

and family and listening to the things that they might say.

And I'm not quite sure how I'll feel afterwards.

I think it's going to be quite strange.

I think it could remind us of what we've got at home,

what we'd be leaving behind.

I think it would be really close, with Emma's family.

And we have really good friends, haven't we?

So I think it would be really hard to leave them behind, wouldn't it?

-Hiya. Hiya, Ceri, hi, Emma.

-Hi, Ceri, hi, Emma.

Hi, Emma and Ceri.

Hi, Emma and Ceri.

Hope you're having a good time there in New Zealand.

They are like... They are soulmates.

I suppose that's what everybody looks for, you know, in a relationship.

-Emma's the bossy boots.

-Yes.

-Am I?

-Ceri's the cook.

I think Ceri's the homemaker. Definitely.

-Well, that would be the way to work.

-Emma's just great.

She's really unique and she's great. She's a great sister.

Ceri is like a sister.

I've always known her and, in a way, I have three sisters.

She's part of the family.

If she wasn't there, we'd be saying, "Where's Ceri?"

I, personally, think they should stay.

Because the lifestyle they've got

and the friends in Manchester...

Their life seems to be...

..good for them at the moment.

I would hate them to think, "I don't want to go in case it upsets Nan."

No. Don't think that way, I don't want you to think that way.

That opportunity is there. Take it.

Well, they will be greatly missed. But, you know, they're not that far.

I think it will be good for them,

but I know that I might be quite sad, I might miss them,

because we live so close, I get to see her a lot.

We'd miss them a tremendous amount, really.

We certainly won't hold them back in any way,

and so we support them wholeheartedly.

All right, you two. You know that you're going to be missed,

and I'm sure that you're going to miss people here.

But life isn't a rehearsal. Go for it.

Whilst I'd be incredibly, incredibly sad if you decided to move to

New Zealand, I know that you'll make the best decision for you

and that, you know, even if you do move, I can come and visit you.

-And I look forward to doing that.

-Don't worry about me.

Or anybody else here.

We'll be fine and we will come and see you

if you decide to go to New Zealand.

OK? Enjoy it.

-That sounds like a threat, "We WILL come and see you."

-Yeah.

Oh, that was really nice, wasn't it? You're worse than me.

I'm always more emotional than you, though, aren't I?

I knew everyone would be keen for us to go, except my dad.

Reinforces the fact that I am one of them

and I think I would be really, really sad to leave them.

It really would...

It would be heartbreaking to leave them, wouldn't it?

I'm feeling very conflicted still.

-I thought I might have a bit more clarity now, but I don't.

-No.

Hearing those words from home was a heartfelt

reminder of the emotional ties the girls have to the UK.

Combined with the bad news they've been dealt with this week, will it

mean Emma's dream for a new life down under

has finally gone up in smoke?

When Emma arrived in Auckland, it was with high hopes

the country would offer her and Ceri more than they had at home.

But just one week later, her confidence has taken a severe knock.

Obviously there's been a few ups and downs this week

and things haven't, perhaps, gone as I'd hoped or as I'd expected, really.

Particularly the cost of property, was absolutely astronomical

and really, really surprising.

Ceri's concerns were always about the practicalities of moving

and she's seen most of her fears confirmed.

I think I was more certain of what I wanted

when I stepped off the plane than I do now, so I don't know.

It's been a bit up and down, emotionally, this week.

But Emma has retained a glimmer of hope when it comes to what

New Zealand could offer her and Ceri as a couple.

The lifestyle here has definitely won me over.

It's nice to have the option to spend more time outdoors.

Not necessarily taking part in extreme sports or anything

like that, but just spending time in the sun.

Everything now rests on whether the lifestyle Emma and Ceri

have been seeking is worth gambling what they'd be leaving behind.

New Zealand is the lifestyle we are looking for and, you know, this

week has just made us realise it is somewhere we really want to live.

but...the dilemma also lies in the fact that...

..is it financially doable?

I'm finding it very difficult to weigh up the pros and cons

and be objective.

I also think that I know which way Ceri's going to vote,

which obviously makes it more difficult for me.

This is a massive decision for us, because it's our future,

it's where we are going to be, you know, maybe six months,

12 months' time.

Yeah, it is a really big decision

and it will be interesting to see what decision Emma makes.

So, will the girls risk everything or play safe

when it comes to deciding where to call home?

Based on everything we've seen and done during the trial week,

our final vote goes to...

-UK.

-Undecided.

-What?! What?!

-You're undecided?

-Yeah.

Because the lifestyle is still what we want,

but the money doesn't add up, so...

-Yeah.

-It was a hard decision. It was.

But in the end, for me, it was about...

We've already got a really, really great life at home.

We've got really good friends, we've got a lovely family.

We're really lucky to have what we've got at home

and I don't think we could have that here, or anything close, really.

Emma and Ceri's week in New Zealand has

well and truly removed any rose-tinted glasses

and has shown them that the grass isn't always greener elsewhere.

It looks like they won't be giving up on their life in the UK

any time soon, but we wish them a long and happy future together,

wherever they call home.