Richard, 65, is a retired radiographer, and Alison, 61, a semi-retired doctor. Both UK citizens, they had lived in New Zealand in the 1990s but returned to the UK to care for Alison’s aging parents after Alison’s brother, a policeman, took his own life.
They immigrate to New Zealand in 2020 to escape what they - both NHS workers - describe as “the UK’s increasingly populist politics and its shambolic response to Covid”.
Living on an idyllic off-grid property in Martinborough with sheep and alpacas to keep them company, they love their new life here. But they also suffer from “survivor’s guilt” over leaving the NHS at the height of the UK Covid outbreak.
Their peaceful life is disrupted when Alison, who works part time as a GP in Martinborough, must return to the UK to care for her ailing mother.
Episode Description
- Richard, 65, is a retired radiographer, and Alison, 61, a semi-retired doctor. Both UK citizens, they had lived in New Zealand in the 1990s but returned to the UK to care for Alison’s aging parents after Alison’s brother, a policeman, took his own life.
They immigrate to New Zealand in 2020 to escape what they - both NHS workers - describe as “the UK’s increasingly populist politics and its shambolic response to Covid”.
Living on an idyllic off-grid property in Martinborough with sheep and alpacas to keep them company, they love their new life here. But they also suffer from “survivor’s guilt” over leaving the NHS at the height of the UK Covid outbreak.
Their peaceful life is disrupted when Alison, who works part time as a GP in Martinborough, must return to the UK to care for her ailing mother.
Rights Statement
- Made for the University of Auckland's educational use as permitted by the Screenrights Licensing Agreement.
Contributors
- Trajectory Media (Production Unit)
- Stuff (Production Unit)
- NZ On Air (Funder)
- Naashon Zalk (Director)
- Naashon Zalk (Producer)
- Doug Dillaman (Editor)