Spenceley Family Wanted Down Under

If you held a life long dream to return to the country where you were

born, how would you convince your husband to follow you, especially

if moving would mean breaking the close family bonds he has at home?

Gentle Spenceley is desperate to live in New Zealand...

I feel like it's more of a home to me than England.

..but husband Phil doesn't share the dream.

There's just something that's not quite

joining all the dots in my head.

So, when a week down under enables Phil to confront

practical concerns...

It's not really achievable, at the moment.

..and emotional fears...

You do feel a sense of responsibility towards

-your parents.

-..will Gentle's life long wish come true or fade forever?

I'm getting signals that maybe it might not work out for the best.

Boasting some of the most spectacular scenery on Earth

and a relaxed way of life, New Zealand has been popular with

British families seeking a new home since the 19th century.

Around 9,000 families emigrate their every year,

seeking their dream lifestyle in a country the same size as the UK

but with only a quarter of the population.

Gentle Spenceley left New Zealand with her parents

when she was only six months old,

and she's felt cheated out of a life down under ever since.

Now, she has just one week to persuade her husband Phil to

give up everything they know in the UK for a new life

on the other side of the world.

The family's journey begins with a marathon 24 hour

flight from London to Auckland via Singapore,

a trip that's often tricky with a young child in tow.

-It's long, obviously.

-Long, yeah.

-Erm, but...

Harrison did sleep a bit, so...

Our big concern was that distance with a 20-month-old

and he was really good.

With Harrison well behaved,

Phil had plenty of time in the air to do some serious thinking.

I'm trying to imagine parents and things doing that journey,

being in a confined space for 24 hours.

-You kind of think it is going to be quite hard for them.

-Yeah.

But, Gentle's delighted to be back in the country that holds her heart.

It feels a bit unreal to be here.

Yeah, very much so.

So, there's going to be a really big reality check over

the next few days.

At the moment, it feels, you know,

almost like a holiday that we've just arrived on, but it's

actually...we've got to get down to business and make some decisions.

The coming week will be crucial in helping Phil decide

if he can find the courage to make the move down under.

Back in the UK, the Spenceleys live in the pretty

village of Worminghall in Buckinghamshire.

They're Phil, Gentle and one-year-old Harrison.

The family have a comfortable life in the countryside

but Gentle's convinced things would be even better in New Zealand,

the country where she was born.

I feel like it would have been great to have grown up there and,

also, my brother and sister, they lived out there for a while.

But, when my parents, erm...

had me they came back to England and they

stopped travelling, so I feel like I missed out a bit of what they got.

Husband Phil's been aware of Gentle's dream

since they got together.

It's something that I've known right from when we first met.

When we first me, she was saving up to go travelling in New Zealand.

After meeting Phil, Gentle spent a gap year in New Zealand which

only fuelled her longing to return there for good.

It's very difficult to describe, but when I was out there I very much

felt like I belonged there

and that I could quite easily fit into that way of life.

She came back and I know she was beaming

and she'd loved her time out there, and she said that she really

wanted to, one day, live out there and make a go of it.

Harrison, dinner's ready.

With Phil in the middle of his studies, it wasn't

the right time to make Gentle's wish come true.

But, on tying the knot a few years later, she hoped a honeymoon in

the country would persuade her new husband it was where

they should set up home.

I was hoping to take him out there and show him how amazing it was

and that he'd fall in love with it and want to

move straight out there, but it didn't really work like that.

Three weeks down under failed to convince Phil.

I was really disappointed and I, you know,

came back from the holiday feeling...

..a bit deflated about it.

I just tried to focus on what we had in England and just think that,

"Right, OK, one day, maybe. One day..."

Gentle's dreams were crushed and rather than moving to the

other side of the world, the couple moved into the English countryside.

Harrison's birth in 2012 put thoughts of New Zealand

on the back burner for Gentle,

but a year later it's ironically Phil who doesn't feel quite at home.

Although we are happy, I don't ever feel like I fully

settled in this house and I don't know why.

There's just something that I've just never felt 100% settled.

Seizing the moment, Gentle believes now is the time for Phil to

reconsider New Zealand as somewhere they could all call home.

The main reason I want to go out to New Zealand is just to

experience that life out there and experience something different,

have an adventure

but also enjoy the Kiwi way of life

and for Harrison to experience that, as well.

I think he will really thrive out there.

But even though Phil's not fully sold on where the family live,

for him, moving to the other side of the world seems too big a leap.

Phil and I are a are a bit like chalk and cheese.

He's very sensible and thinks about things...

-Harrison.

-..and I'm less sensible and have got a gung-ho attitude.

If the decision was down to Gentle she'd say,

"Yeah, let's just sell up and go out there anyway...

-Yeah.

-"..and live life.

-"What's the worst that can happen?"

-Wahey.

I can't, in my head, imagine how we could just sell up

and move out there.

Come on, then. You're going to make a muddy mess.

Phil fears a move could rob his family of the financial

stability they have in the UK.

But he also worries about the affect emigrating would

have on his parents.

The idea of taking their only grandson away from them...

He loves spending time with his Nanny and his Gramps,

so, that's going to be really difficult, leaving them behind.

And as much as she's pushing to go, Gentle understands breaking

the bond Harrison has with her extended family could be hard.

My mum and dad are really close to Harrison.

He really enjoys spending time with them.

-Ba-ba.

-Hello.

And they love him very much and I think it would

break their hearts, I think, if we did take him so far away.

But, the emotional cost of moving is a price Gentle's prepared to

pay, and she fears the consequences if Phil can't be persuaded.

If Phil decides not to go

and I really want to go then I would worry that I'd feel resentful.

I feel like it's more of a home to me, necessarily, than England.

There is some pressure on me.

Erm...I don't want to be the person to say,

"No," to ruin her dream.

I don't want to be the person to take something that she's

felt for such a long time away from her.

-Swing!

-Whoo-hoo!

For as long as she can remember,

Gentle's been desperate to call New Zealand home.

Having already failed once, she now has one last chance to

persuade Phil to overcome his fears and make her dream come true.

For their trial week down under, the Spenceleys are staying

in a two bedroom house in Titirangi,

a small suburb west of Auckland,

and, straight away, Gentle feels right at home.

-Wow.

-Oh, wow.

-Wow.

-Look at this, Harrison.

-What a view.

Look at that view.

Can you see the sea?

Oh, this is beautiful. Oh, look at the fireplace.

Wow, real logs in there.

So far, so good.

Oh, look at the kitchen.

Wow.

You're not going to complain about doing washing up.

-There's a swimming pool.

-Wow.

-GENTLE LAUGHS

-Big puddle.

It's a big puddle, yeah.

Harrison's happy and he's not the only one.

-The house is amazing.

-It's beautiful.

-It's...

And the views are just something else, it's...

It's really, really stunning. The views are spectacular.

It's a promising start and Gentle's excited about the next few days.

It is a dream I've always had, from when I was younger, so, I think

it would be really amazing if we could come out here and give it a go.

But Phil's already feeling anxious.

I know there's definitely a big part of her that this

feels like she's coming home, so...

It kind of feels like, then, at the same time, there's a bit

of pressure on me and the decisions that...the way I feel about things.

I suppose what I'm most nervous about is the fact that this

next week could completely change our lives.

There's just so many questions unanswered,

so many unknowns, and...

..so much riding on it.

In the UK, the Spenceleys live in a modern,

three bedroom house in the village of Worminghall in Buckinghamshire.

Since buying it two years ago,

they've worked hard to put their stamp on it.

So, we put everything new in, floors, painted throughout,

-double glazing, erm...

-Kitchen, bathroom.

-New kitchen, bathroom.

It took a little while to get to get done but, yeah, we're happy with it.

So, what kind of property in New Zealand would make it worth

giving up the house they've worked so hard to make a home?

My dream home would be at least three bedrooms,

I'd really like to have a kitchen/diner.

To be able to cook and socialise would be lovely.

To have a garden that isn't, you know, too overlooked.

And I'd generally agree with Gentle on most of those things.

I'd probably like a separate living area as well as...

I wouldn't like everything open plan.

Phil and Gentle have around £300,000 to spend on a home in New Zealand.

To find out what their money could buy,

today we'll show them three properties.

Two based on budget and a third based on what they really want.

Only after they've seen each one will they find out its value.

While Harrison's looked after by a childminder,

the couple's search starts in the residential suburb of Titirangi.

With a thriving centre filled with cafes, markets and galleries,

this areas should offer Gentle the village life she's used to.

And being just 8 miles from Auckland city centre

would mean a convenient commute for Phil.

But will this modern three-bedroom house

be enough to persuade Phil to make the move?

Wow! Log burner, as well.

-Nice.

-Really nice. I like the open-plan kitchen.

I like the white units. Not sure about the blue...

SHE LAUGHS

..worktop. But it's only cosmetic.

Phil's not saying much.

This just feels like it's one big room.

Mm, Gentle could have a hard job getting her husband excited.

-OK.

-This is nice.

-Bedroom.

-Light, spacious.

-Big wardrobes.

Nice view out on to the deck. Wonder if this is the master bedroom?

Would our bed fit in here?

THEY LAUGH

Super King.

Might be a bit early to be thinking about that, Gentle.

This is the bathroom. Oh, it's a nice size.

-Oh, yeah.

-Got a walk-in shower and a bath.

-Nice.

-That's an interesting bath, isn't it?

-It is.

-Doesn't look very comfortable!

-It's a bit odd.

But it's nice and stylish.

Gentle's determined to see the positive in everything.

Oh, this is nice.

This must be the master bedroom. Or, I suppose, like a guest...

-It's probably the master bedroom.

-Yeah.

-En suite.

-Yeah, yeah.

But if you had guests it might be nice that they have their own suite.

-But, I suppose, they're not here very often.

-No.

THEY LAUGH

I really like the little seating area, as well.

Probably use it as storage with the amount of stuff we've got.

Is that a little dig at someone, Phil?

Oh, what's down here?

Hidden little room. Funny door.

-This is a nice little bonus space, with a massage table.

-Yeah.

-Massage table. Um...

-Don't even get any ideas!

If it keeps him onside, I wouldn't rule it out.

I wonder if you could put some plumbing in here,

whether you could make it into a little annexe for someone staying?

I don't think it's big enough for that.

The hidden room might not be large enough for guests,

but will the garden be a perfect fit for the family?

-There isn't a huge amount you could really do.

-No.

You'd maybe...put some vegetables out here, or something.

You could grow some

-food.

-If you want to.

SHE LAUGHS

Phil's not impressed.

-So, this is nice.

-Sit out.

It's nice to be able to eat your dinner outside.

It's quite private, really.

You've got the house up there but unless they're out on the balcony

they're not going to be looking at you.

Gentle's definitely more sold on this house than Phil.

But with £300,000 to spend, could the price change his mind?

So, how much do you think it's worth?

I reckon it's at the top end of our budget, so maybe £300,000?

It's the first house, I'm going to be a bit more conservative.

Maybe 275?

Time to find out who's right.

MUSIC: 12 Deaf by Ghostpoet

-I was pretty close.

-You were pretty close.

-So, 297,320.

Obviously, it would have been better if you were right!

I don't think it's bad value but I was probably looking

for a little bit more sparkle, or something, to pull me in.

The house may be on budget, but Phil's not budging.

If Gentle's to keep her dream on track,

the next property will need to deliver much more.

Next stop is the rural village of Swanson,

a small community just a ten minute drive from the beach.

With a wide range of outdoors activities nearby,

the area should appeal to Gentle's sense of adventure.

But will the house have the wow factor to win Phil over?

MUSIC: One Way Or Another by Blondie

-Oh!

-OK.

-It's like a bungalow.

-Yeah.

-All one level.

-Weatherboard again.

Hopefully, inside will prove more impressive.

-Ooh, this is nice and big!

-Yeah, that's a good size, isn't it?

Nice, um, log fire.

Yeah, you like your log burners but...at the moment

-I can't see that you're going to need one much.

-I know!

Can't imagine it being cold!

All good so far,

and with the separate living areas he prefers

hopefully the layout of this house

won't leave Phil hot and bothered.

-Oh, it's quite big actually.

-Yeah.

-Bigger than it looked like it was going to be.

-Wow.

Got plenty of space.

-There's a utility room. That's really handy.

-Keep that all separate.

-That's really good, yeah.

-They're in agreement now, but not for long.

I think it needs maybe a bit more work than the last one did.

Not much, it's just cosmetic.

Don't know whether I agree with that but I think the kitchen,

possibly, doesn't suit quite the way that you'd want it to work.

You haven't got so much of that open space.

That suits me slightly better.

It looks like Gentle might be willing

to compromise on open-plan living.

And four good-sized bedrooms means there's even more to smile about.

This place is like a little maze. Oh, my goodness!

It's like a whole other house!

-This is the guest suite.

-Oh, the guest bit, yeah.

Master bedroom?

This must be the master bedroom. It's got a massive en suite!

-But no storage.

-Whoa, it's got a walk-in wardrobe, as well.

-Ah!

-Wow.

-That's why there's no storage.

-And look...

SHE LAUGHS

Light bulb mirror.

It's like being in a theatre.

That may be, but hopefully there won't be any drama

when the couple check out the garden.

Will it have the space Phil's looking for?

This is really cute, isn't it? CICADAS CHIRP

-Bit of room for...

-It's a nice area for Harrison to play

and you've got a little picnic table you could eat at out here.

So, you've got all the trees and things.

And, obviously, the cicadas, really...

The beetles! They're making a lot of noise.

I really like that noise, though.

You would, Gentle!

But I'm not sure even a soundtrack from the beetles

will cut it with Phil.

And with £300,000 to spend, is this house even within reach?

-So, what do you think about the price?

-Oh, it's really hard.

I reckon about...

-..£285,000?

-I think you're probably right.

I think it's probably getting that...

-BOTH:

-..285.

-Yeah.

-About that.

Time to turn the card and find out.

-OK.

-OK.

-That's more...

-£310,000.

It's a bit more but, then, you are getting a lot more.

-That's really as much as we'd like to go to, isn't it?

-Yeah.

You'd probably have to spend a bit to get it the way that we'd want it.

Yeah.

If Phil can secure a well-paid job, £10,000 may not be a dealbreaker -

but this property is still far from the couple's perfect house.

Hopefully it's a case of saving the best for last.

Gentle and Phil head to what should be the couple's dream house

situated in the exclusive suburb of West Harbour.

This property's close to the marina and with good primary schools

and local amenities nearby,

this modern four bedroom family home should be a perfect fit.

-Nice little drive entrance.

-Yeah.

-OK.

Ah, OK. Yeah.

-Oh, wow. This is really nice, isn't it?

-Yeah.

That's a better reaction from Phil.

Straight through to outside.

-Nice entertaining area. Barbecue.

-Nice big barbie.

That's a really nice swimming pool, isn't it?

Could this be the house to encourage him to take the plunge?

This is the sort of thing that I was thinking of

when we were looking at properties.

Realistically, I know that it's probably going

to be out of our price range.

He's erring on the side of caution

but this house could be the one to win Phil over.

Think the kitchen's all right, it's not really what we'd want

but the space is nice, isn't it?

-And you've got enough storage, haven't you?

-Yep.

And, yeah, really like the way you can just watch the big TV.

-Massive TV.

-And I can watch Harrison. Yeah, great.

But now it's Gentle that starts spotting flaws.

Bathroom. Walk-in shower.

It's very angular again.

Could probably make slightly better use of the space,

-cos having the bath...

-Yeah, it seems a bit awkward.

..angular across the room means that you've lost

a lot of space behind it.

It's not quite to our taste but it's nice enough, isn't it?

Well, it's modern enough.

Hopefully the spacious master bedroom will be to both their taste.

Oh, wow.

HE LAUGHS

I like the fact that you've got the step down into it,

makes it feel more grand!

Oh! En suite.

-Walk-in wardrobe.

-Oh, walk-in wardrobe. Nice.

-Plenty of space.

This will be all mine.

THEY LAUGH

It's nice being able to come out of the bedroom onto this bit again.

You'd get up in the morning and you wouldn't want to go to work.

That's a bit reckless for Phil

but it's a step in the right direction for Gentle

if he can see himself living here.

But will that all change when he discovers how much this house costs?

It's got a lot of floor space. So, I think it's got to be...

-..£450,000, upwards.

-I think, um, probably about the same.

£440,000.

I think that's reasonable for the house. I think it's...

-Cos the area is really nice.

-Really nice area.

Really nice house, it's got the swimming pool, it's really big.

But it's not really achievable, at the moment.

Gentle and Phil's property search has been a real eye-opener.

Despite being affordable, property one lacked the wow factor for Phil.

Property number two was more in line with the layout Phil favours,

but not quite to Gentle's taste.

But the third property had plenty of appeal for both of them,

even if achieving it would mean adding £140,000 to their budget.

So, when it comes to property, have Phil and Gentle

seen enough to be sold on New Zealand?

So, based on the properties we've seen today, our vote goes for...

MUSIC: November by Gabrielle Aplin

-New Zealand.

-Undecided!

I didn't feel like I could make a decision.

I think that it's not that much different

from what you're going to get in England for the same money.

I was the same as that,

but that last house kind of swayed it for be a bit

because it shows the potential of what we could get in the future.

To get the sort of house that I'd really like is going to be

quite difficult back home.

Whereas over here it doesn't seem such a big step up.

Seeing the properties their money might buy in Auckland

may have dented Gentle's dream but it may persuade Phil

New Zealand could be an option for their family's future.

To afford that dream home, though,

the pressure's now on for the couple to find well-paid jobs.

In the UK, Phil earns around £80,000 as a senior software developer.

Finding a similar job in New Zealand

has been one of his biggest concerns.

The ideal role for me would be to get something

that I do that means I could incorporate one of my hobbies.

And I spend a bit of time with music technology.

Something that's got potential career path,

something that is challenging for me, as well,

I do like a bit of a technical challenge.

Gentle's a stay-at-home mum,

but she's now ready to return to her career as a veterinary nurse.

I wouldn't want to do full-time, necessarily,

because I think I would miss looking after Harrison,

but it would be good to get that sense of independence.

And also to get to know people out there.

MUSIC: Bullet by Franz Ferdinand

Today's going to be vital

if Gentle's to convince Phil life could be better in New Zealand.

The whole idea of moving to New Zealand is...about making

the right choices for the family.

And part of that, whether we like it or not, comes down to money.

We've got a good life back home so we don't want to impact that

and make ourselves worse off coming here.

-Hey, you must be Phil.

-Hi. Yeah, pleased to meet you.

Good to meet you. Come on, I'll show you around.

Phil would love to combine his work with his passion for music

so we've arranged for him to visit a music software company

where he meets senior developer Young Ly.

Based on my skills and experience, do you think I would be able to work

for a music software development company?

Music software development is very, very specific.

Um, and your professional experience doesn't really match what we do

but it sounds like you've got some good computer science fundamentals.

So, if you were willing to learn from the beginning

then you could look at one of the entry jobs.

Starting a new career in music software would mean a junior job

and a smaller salary.

In New Zealand graduates out of uni get about NZ50,000 to 60,000 .

Intermediate people get about 80,000.

And senior developers usually get between 90,000 and 110,000.

And that's about £30,000 if Phil started at the bottom.

Less than half what he earns in the UK,

meaning Gentle would definitely need to return

to veterinary nursing in New Zealand.

While Harrison's looked after by a childminder,

we've arranged for her to meet Dr Garry Cozens

at a small clinic in Henderson Valley.

-Hello!

-Hi. Gentle?

-I'm Gentle.

-Nice to meet you.

-Thank you, nice to meet you, too!

-So, you like our clinic?

Yeah, it looks really good.

Knowing Gentle's a bit out of practice,

Dr Cozen's keen to put her rapport with animals to the test.

Hello, you!

-It's a big puppy!

-He is!

-Hello, gorgeous!

-He's a bit excitable!

-Yeah, you look excited.

-This is Kelly.

-Hello Kelly.

-That's a good response, he liked you.

Passing with flying colours, Gentle's ready to talk business.

Is there a high demand for nurses over here

or is it quite difficult to get a job?

It's actually, um...quite a sought after job.

-Jobs come up and disappear very quickly.

-Right, OK.

Sometimes it's who you know, but putting your face

in front of people and dropping off CVs is well worthwhile.

Finding a job might take some work,

and even then the hours may not mean much time with Harrison.

We basically work 8.30 to 6.30 and 9 to 12 on Saturday.

Some of the clinics would be open over the weekends longer hours...

..and, obviously, out of town you've got rural practices

-which would have after hours components to them.

-OK.

Gentle sounds happy enough but will the salary be as pleasing?

How much would you be likely to earn part-time?

Well, it works on an hourly rate of about NZ15 an hour.

That's less than Gentle would earn in the UK

but is that enough to put her off?

I think I could get over a lower salary

but it just depends on cost of living and childcare and stuff as to whether

we could afford to move out here and for me to do a job like that.

Childcare costs could prove key.

Meanwhile, Phil's hung up his headphones

to check out other software opportunities.

He meets Kara Smith,

a specialist from an international recruitment agency.

Is there much in the way of opportunities, at the moment?

Definitely.

You'll probably be happy to know that senior software developers

are quite in demand and one of the hardest to find skill sets.

That really is music to Phil's ears.

Can you tell me a bit about the work/life balance?

I really think that a lot of organisations acknowledge

the fact that the reason that people come to New Zealand

is that work/life balance, as well.

So, whilst we're very hardworking,

we're probably not as relaxed as the world would paint us out to be,

I certainly have a lot of friends and colleagues that are British

and that say that the way of life here is very nice.

Providing financial stability for his family

has always been one of Phil's biggest concerns,

so discovering if he could earn a good salary is essential.

So, we'd typically see a salary range of between,

for a senior software developer,

-between NZ90,000 and 110,000 per annum, as a base salary.

-OK.

We're certainly seeing pressure on salaries upwards,

because they have to, to keep hold of the talent.

OK, so there's a potential for things to go up in the future?

Potential.

That's a much more positive outcome for Phil.

With his fact-finding mission over,

he joins Gentle and Harrison in the park.

But how will their day impact

when it comes to choosing between work in the UK and New Zealand?

MUSIC: Love Me Again by John Newman

-New Zealand.

-UK.

I felt like I had to vote for England, in a practical sense,

because there's more demand for nurses out there,

they get paid more out there.

But it doesn't mean that I'd rather work in England than New Zealand.

And I voted New Zealand because the market's really good over here

at the moment, and so there's a lot of demand

for somebody with my skills.

I'm glad that you feel that way.

Their week back in New Zealand has delivered several surprises

for Gentle, and it could now be Phil who favours the move.

Will a day exploring the Kiwi lifestyle help remind Gentle

why she's held on to her lifelong ambition to move home?

Making the most of the mild Kiwi climate, the family indulge

their love of the countryside with a trip to the Arataki Visitor Centre.

-Hello, how are you?

-Yeah, good, thank you.

You just looking to do a walk?

With over 16,000 hectares of native rainforest and coastline,

this should be the perfect place to put Gentle back on track

and convince Phil that New Zealand is somewhere he could feel settled.

I still want to come out here, but I am also getting some signals

that, maybe, it might not work out for the best.

I'm really struggling to picture us here,

and what it would be like, how we'd fit into the lifestyle.

I can't put my finger on why, I just...

I don't know, there's just something that's not quite joining

all the dots in my head.

-Very pretty, isn't it?

-Wet!

Wet! It's very wet out there, isn't it?

-Let's see what else there is, shall we?

-Fortunately, it doesn't take

long for the Kiwi countryside to work some magic.

-Good boy.

-It's really nice up here.

-Yeah, it's really pretty.

-It's a nice place to come, isn't it?

-Yes.

-And it's got a number of

different walks, so, depending on how much time you've got,

you can do different things.

But stopping to reflect on what New Zealand could offer also sees

doubts raised.

I'm feeling maybe a little bit of pressure,

after I've slept on things, because the job just didn't go

-quite so well for you yesterday and...did go from me, so...

-Yeah.

-It feels like it's a little bit...

-Pressure?

-..all down to me.

I know, and I feel really bad that, you know, your dream job,

you might not be able to afford to be able to take,

because I can't earn as much as I need to, so...

That's really difficult.

-Hello!

-Hiya!

Gentle and Phil's return to New Zealand has shown

that the country may not be everything Gentle had hoped for,

but Phil has seen some upsides.

It's lovely to spend time with the family.

That's the ideal thing.

Everybody's dream would be to not have to work, to be able to come

out here and just live that lifestyle all the time.

It's a good sentiment to end the day on,

so, when it comes to choosing between their lifestyle in the UK

and what they could have in

New Zealand, how will the couple vote?

So, we've had a fun-filled day here in New Zealand and now we're going to

make a choice between English lifestyle or New Zealand lifestyle.

BOTH: New Zealand.

Wow, we got something the same!

I suppose, difficult not to, after this morning.

The views from up at the reserve where amazing

and just..being in the rainforest like that,

it's not quite the sort of thing that you get back home.

Things to do outside are lovely in England

and it is a beautiful country,

but you don't necessarily get as many chances to, with the weather.

And I think, as well, it's just something different out here that

you haven't experienced before, so it's all new and fresh and exciting.

Gentle's potentially lower earnings in New Zealand could mean

the couple's finances would be under pressure if they made the move.

Hello. Good to meet you. Hi, Harrison.

Any increase in income from Gentle's return to work could be

outweighed by the price of childcare.

To check out costs of facilities,

they meet centre manager Minnie at a local creche.

We'll let you bring into the centres, if he's still on formula,

-he brings the formula and nappies.

-OK.

-But otherwise we take a little breakfast in the morning.

-OK, yeah.

Lunch, afternoon tea and a late snack.

So, most of the babies arrive around 7:30 in the morning

and they are here till the end of the day.

Harrison looks at home, but Gentle has a few questions.

So, I was just wondering how you try to settle them in?

We kind of take whatever you give us. We keep to that routine

until Harrison feels comfortable to fall into our routine.

Gentle's happy with the standard of care offered,

but will the cost mean a return to work is not an option?

When he is under two, it's 55 a day,

-and when he becomes three, it becomes 35 a day.

-OK.

That's around half of what Gentle would pay in the UK,

so, working here could be more of an option.

Finding out I was going to be earning less obviously did concern me,

but if the cost of childcare

is less, then it might work out.

So, yeah, it's really good news.

Gentle's dream to return to the country where she was born

could be back on track.

But, the couple have been down this road before and Gentle knows

if she can't prove to Phil the move is financially feasible,

they won't be going anywhere.

The couple estimate they could get £300,000 for their property

in the UK, so we sent round two estate agents

to see if they would agree.

-Looks really weird on the TV.

-It's very odd.

Sitting/dining room, decorated very nicely.

Brilliant-sized kitchen. It looks like it's been recently fitted.

Good-sized master bedroom.

It's a lovely scene to wake up to in the morning.

Love the walk-in shower.

His and hers sinks. Really, really nice room.

-OK, we have a cloakroom.

-No, the cats' room.

Good space, and I think it's also the cats' home.

Oh, Jack and James!

-Fantastic size rear garden there.

-It's a lot nicer in summer.

In the current market, I would value this property at £275,000.

For a quick sale, I would value it at £270,000.

In the current market,

I would value this property at £275,000

and for a quick sale I would put it on the market at £250,000.

I struggle to see how it could be quite that low,

especially 250,000.

Based on those valuations, I think we would struggle a bit, wouldn't we?

-We wouldn't want to sell for that price.

-No.

Not for the effort that we've put into the house. We'd be at a loss.

It's less the less than the couple were expecting,

so it's definitely not the best start for Phil.

I've got to make sure that I can provide security and everything

that my family want and need, and so, the numbers are important.

To help see how finances would stack up down under, we've prepared

a cost of living comparison, starting with the weekly shop.

-OK...

-A quick flick down most things, it's a bit more expensive over here.

Whole milk is a big jump up.

-It's almost twice as much, from £2 to...

-It's more than twice as much.

Cor, satsumas are nearly three times the price.

With food generally costing more, the figures soon add up.

£38.45 a week worse off here, in New Zealand.

Well, I thought it would be worse than that, to be honest.

So, that's not too bad.

£160 more at the supermarket won't break the bank,

but Phil won't rest easy until he works out the bigger outgoings.

To help get an accurate picture,

the couple base mortgage repayments on the first property they viewed.

The mortgage is almost the same as it is back home.

-I thought it would be more, yeah.

-Electricity?

It's £50 cheaper over here, that's good.

Childcare. That's a cost that we haven't got it in the UK.

But its £312 for the month for childcare.

A night out at the cinema, it looks like it's a bit cheaper.

You having your hair done, twice the price.

-Yeah, well, I don't get it done very often, so...

-Well, you'd have to get it done even less.

Phil's playing hardball, as the couple add up how their

overall outgoings in New Zealand would compare

to what they spend in the UK.

Total outgoings in New Zealand,

£3,081, so that works out at...

-£279 a month better off, so...

-Yeah, that's good, isn't it?

It's just really surprising, yeah.

Gentle's delighted. The couple would be spending less each month

down under, but how would their potential salaries

affect the figures?

Based on the other jobs that I might be able to get,

for, up to 110,000,

that works out at £260 a month better off

here in New Zealand.

That's with you working and with Harrison in childcare.

Across a year, that would be just over £3,000 a year better off, so...

-Yeah.

-That might cover a flight home.

Knowing they'll be in the black should make Phil's decision

much easier when it comes to voting for finances

in the UK or New Zealand.

So, we've been doing some calculations and, based on

the cost of living here in New Zealand, we're going to make a vote.

-New Zealand.

-Undecided.

We are £3,000 a year better off over here,

but that would be with you working and I can't work out in my head

whether it's the right thing for you to do, to go and work and only

be that much better off, or, I don't know. I just feel like...

I can understand that, but I want to go back to work anyway.

At least it wasn't, you know, negative.

Phil's indecision is a blow for Gentle.

Despite the figures working in their favour,

he could be losing faith in his wife's belief they could have a

better life down under, and his biggest hurdle is yet to come.

He's always been concerned about the effect a move

would have on his parents.

While Harrison takes a nap, the couple settle down to watch

messages from friends and family back in the UK.

-Hi, guys.

-Hi, Gentle. Hi, Harrison, hi, Phil.

Hope you've had a great week.

They're a lovely little family.

-Gentle and Phil would do everything for Harrison.

-She's very daring.

She likes to get into the action.

She's really lovely.

Well, we love him very much.

He's a kind, loving person and he tries to help us when he can.

I was ill and he helped me, he came home.

He came out of uni to come home and help her.

Oh, Harrison is gorgeous. He's just adorable.

He's very attached to us, for some reason or other.

I think I'd really miss you and I would like you to stay, but I think

that you should go and do what you want to do, so, go to New Zealand.

Go to New Zealand.

Obviously quite sad at the thought that they might really do it.

We'd both be both be pleased for them, pretty upset for ourselves,

-as it were.

-I'm going to cry.

-Don't do that.

We don't want them to go.

But, if they've got to go, they must.

And, whatever they decide, we're 100% behind them.

-HE CRIES

-Aw...

You going to New Zealand will leave a big hole in my heart,

but I know, whatever decision you make, it will be the right decision.

Don't really consider us, just get on with it and make the best of it.

Make every moment count, we love you, wherever you are in the world.

-We will miss you.

-We will miss you so much.

See you when you get back, my love.

Bye, love you all.

-Oh, you all right?

-Yeah.

-It's a bit unusual, seeing Martin cry, isn't it?

Definitely. It's hard to see my parents getting upset like that.

It's a difficult move, a difficult decision to make.

It's just so far away, isn't it?

You do feel a sense of responsibility towards your parents,

they've looked after you all your life and when they start to

get older, you want to be there to help them out.

Seeing his parents so upset was an emotional blow for Phil,

who now faces the decision he's been dreading.

Choosing to make his wife's long-held Kiwi dream come true,

will mean devastating his family back home.

For as long as she can remember, Gentle has longed to

return to the country she left as a baby and she is convinced

the country would be the best place to bring up her son.

I think New Zealand could offer Harrison a brilliant life.

It seems like they're focused on outdoor, free fun.

I think it's a fantastic country for a child to grow up in,

it's beautiful.

And that's the sentiment she may have now persuaded Phil to share.

I can really see him fitting in and just getting into life over here.

But, although it's been her lifelong dream,

their week down under has shown Gentle New Zealand wouldn't

necessarily deliver everything she'd been hoping for.

Before we came out here, I kind of thought, either way,

I'd want to give it a go.

So, OK, it's good to get answers to questions,

but I'm going to feel the same.

Whereas coming out here and finding some answers to questions has

left me a little bit confused, which I didn't expect.

And while the financial risks of the move may have lessened for Phil,

the emotional costs involved are still weighing on his mind.

Before we came out, I was definitely more conservative

and reserved about just jumping in to such a big move.

A lot of it, in my head, is about financials,

those are concerns that are still there, but I think, maybe,

I'm starting to think, especially after the friends and family,

a bit more about the emotional side

of what it would be like leaving people behind.

But, at the same time,

he knows just how much Gentle's dream has meant to her.

I definitely think there's been a certain amount of pressure on me

this week.

The decision that I make affects her dream.

If I was to say no, and be the one to put an end to her dream,

there were definitely be a certain sense of guilt on my part.

As their final decision approaches, Gentle knows how much is at stake.

It's one of the biggest decisions we've ever had to make as a family,

so, it's a very big deal.

Either way we vote, it will change the course of our lives.

After decades of dreaming, it's time to see if Gentle will follow her

heart and if Phil has been persuaded to uproot from his family at home.

So, we've had a great time here in New Zealand finding answers

to our questions.

Our final vote goes towards...

BOTH: New Zealand.

I didn't know right up until it was kind of...

uncertain, but, when I think about the potential out here

and the potential for Harrison, I think, yeah, let's give it a go.

As you say, it's better to regret the things you do than

the things you don't, so, yeah...

-Let's be brave!

-Oh, that's great.

Excited and a bit nervous, just keen to see where we go from here, really.

With most of his practical concerns put to bed,

Phil's reconciled himself to taking Harrison away from

his grandparents in the UK in order to greenlight

Gentle's lifelong dream of moving back to the country she calls home.

We wish them all a happy and prosperous future down under.