The Young family moved back to Levin to run a blueberry farm after 21 years abroad in Hong Kong, London and New York. Photo / Ashleigh Collis
This year the Young family moved home to Levin after 21 years abroad in Hong Kong, London and New York - for blueberries.
Leaving a high-powered job in advertising at Saatchi & Saatchi's New York office, Antony Young and wife Nancy, an accountant, together with their three children, Daniel, Hayden and Becky, have swapped high rises for a semi-rural lifestyle.
Antony said the family was doing well in New York but "something was missing".
While on holiday last year visiting family in Horowhenua Antony drove past a blueberry farm for sale in Levin and decided to check it out.
The prospect of the farming life excited him so much that while walking around the farm, he got on the phone to his wife in New York.
Farming was not a totally foreign concept for Nancy whose parents have been market gardeners in Horowhenua for the past 60 years, but for the rest of the family it was to be a whole new adventure.
Antony, who now also sits on the Horowhenua District Council Economic Development Board, hasn't completely given up his suit and tie life.
He opened a marketing business based in Wellington and also does advisory work for international companies working from his office at home.
"It's amazing what you can do with Skype and a decent internet connection," he said. Of all the places they have lived, none have trumped New Zealand, according to Antony.
"Being back home in New Zealand and working on the farm has brought us together as a family.
"This is a completely different world than we were used to. We have pigs, alpacas and are building a chicken coop ... our friends in New York are jealous of our life now."
The transition from New York to Horowhenua was also a lot smoother for their teenage children than the couple thought it would be, with their son Hayden awarded dux at Horowhenua College.
"We came here for quality of life and there hasn't been any trade-off bringing them here," said Antony.
Hayden, 18, enjoys the balanced life he has now.
"It's nice to be outside and roll up our sleeves instead of academia being my sole focus," he said.
"It's cool to see how the farm is changing and the progress we have made over the year."
There are a few things that 16-year-old Becky misses about New York.
"I miss my friends and bagels but otherwise I love it here because we get to spend more time with dad," she said.
On Thursday Noho Blueberry Farm, on the corner of State Highway 1 and Heatherlea East Rd, will open for its short season where fresh, spray-free blueberries will be available for picking and buying, as well as coffee and fresh fruit icecream to enjoy.