A British family who won a competition to spend six months living in New Zealand have decided to stay. Simon and Chrissie Pearse, from Caversham in Reading, Berkshire, beat 3,000 other hopeful families to win six months living in the city of Napier. Mr and Mrs Pearse, together with their two sons, Zac and Wes, sold their house and moved "down under" in January. The family have decided not to return to Reading and are now renovating a house in the suburb of Taradale.
Since the Pearse's began their all-expenses paid experience they have become mini-celebrities in the area, enjoying a furnished house and new car. Mrs Pearse has said the reason for their decision to stay is the open friendliness of people in New Zealand. She said: "I think we're going to be busy, once we are moved, repaying the kindness of all the people who have entertained us with invites to our house." The family won the competition just a week after Mr Pearse, who now has a new job in Napier, had been made redundant. It was organised by the local city council keen to promote and win media attention for the city across the world.
Organisers received more than 1,000 expressions of interest in the first three weeks alone and, eventually, families from 27 different countries entered the competition.
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