They are quiet, contented champions of all that is good about life in Mount Maunganui.

Ever since that day in 1956 when Owen Taft 'stole her away”, he and wife Judy have lived in the same suburb, in the same street and in the same house. They like 'same” – it has kept them together and happy.

Owen and Judy Taft. Photo: Bruce Barnard.

'We have everything we need here,” says Owen, who was 25 when he took his 17-year-old bride up the aisle. He would have held Judy's hand that day. Now he is on the couch, almost six decades to the day later, and still holding her hand. Still in love, still blissful.

No – he hasn't been overseas, he's never owned a passport. 'Been to the South Island a couple of times though,” says Owen. Does that count? And although he has been in a DC-3 and a Tiger Moth he 'doesn't trust those big things flying around up there”. And this from a guy who worked at the airport.

By comparison Judy's been ridden with wanderlust. 'I went to Tasmania once.” Can't have been a memorable outing though because she can't remember exactly where and it was only to bring a friend's sick mother home. So it was hardly a holiday.

But they did get over the Kaimai Range to Auckland, Taupo, Gisborne and points in between on their honeymoon. So they're not exactly Hawea St house hermits.

Speaking of homes – Owen and Judy built their present home, their only home, for 1,870 pounds, the currency of the time. 'I remember precisely,” says Owen. Of course he would, they got it for a song. 'We got a state advances loan of 2000 pounds.” That would translate in today's terms to about $85,000 at three percent.

And with the $260 left over, they built a garage with a concrete floor, a work bench and a 200 gallon galvanised water tank. Times were very different. 'Our last valuation was $459,000.” So the 2000 pounds they spent has now become a nearly half million dollars plus asset. It doesn't make him rich but it does mean the golden years for a man who is now legally blind will continue to glint.

And again no! Owen's never thought of moving from The Mount, from his only home. 'I love the beach. I was on the beach nearly everyday fishing.” And there's the comfort of a nearby Bayfair Shopping Centre, the doctors and the chemist. And the climate, of course. 'Why would you leave?”

The Tafts arrived at The Mount when there were no boats, the Norfolk Pines were three to four metres and there were 800 people, not 20,000. 'Yes, it's changed and not all for the good. It's got quite wild around here.”

Judy did think about moving. 'It might be quite nice to have new things. But it's only ever a thought and it passes quickly.”

But 60 years of togetherness in the same house, the same street and the same suburb hasn't been without tribulation. A beautiful young woman who will forever be 23 beams out from a photograph.

'Daughter Debbie – killed in a car crash at the Piarere turnoff February 15, 1980,” says Owen. He and Judy became parents to Debbie's two children for many years, one of whom still lives right across the road. Tafts don't buzz far from the hive. Even their son in his late-50s lives at home, providing the couple with care.

Owen first saw Judy practising with a marching team at Tauranga Airport. 'I worked there and watched them go round and round in an old hangar.” Of course he did. And was she a looker, did she stand out? 'Well she must have.”

As well as being a knit-aholic and a very good cook. Judy leans over and pats his puku. And she's perfect. 'She doesn't have a fault.”

According to Judy it was a relationship that just grew. And continues to grow in new directions in the same house, in the same street and in the same suburb. And they're still holding hands.

Owen and Judy celebrated their 60^th wedding anniversary with friends and family last weekend.