Episode 7: Milton Taumaunu

Milton is a truck driver, father and Massey local since moving to West Auckland with his partner and baby son 14 years ago. As his family has grown over the years so too has his love of Massey - an area he feels “lucky” to live in. Milton has seen a lot of change and sees more on the horizon, but is optimistic about Massey’s future.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

My name is Milton, I'm a truck driver around the West Auckland area.

I didn't grow up out this way, I grew up in South Auckland.

My partner - Pearl - her family have lived out West for most of their lives, and we just thought it'd be a bit of a change to go from South Auckland, to come out here West and give it a go.

We've stayed out here for 14 years now. It's been great - I wouldn't look back.

It's a tight place, where you can play sport, go to school, enjoy the shopping facilities around here, without going out of your way - that's the best thing that I like about Massey.

We do the earthworks for building the houses that are going on around here, and it just seems to be growing.

There's going to be a heck of a lot more people around, infrastructure is going to have to be a lot bigger. They're slowly doing things about that.

It can be a problem, like anything with any city that grows. But I think, no doubt, that there are plans for everything to grow, and it will get there. And that's a good thing - growth is good, for Massey.

The motorway - construction that's going on around there - a lot of money's been spent on it and that's really good - that's great - especially if you work out of West Auckland.

I love the big park that they've just built in Beauchamp Road - that's great, the kids love that place and it's just two minutes up the road.

It'd be cool to have a swimming pool around here, you know, for the kids. Big swimming pool - that's cool.

Thinking about Massey - what could be better, improved? There isn't too much I can think of, that Massey hasn't got, really.

Massey is the place we really want to be, so we're pretty lucky to live here.