After 70 years of marriage the pair, 90 and 92 respectively, know they are lucky to still be together and living in their own home in Caversham.
Today, they will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary with an open home and on Saturday the family will gather to mark the occasion.
Congratulatory cards from Prime Minister John Key and the Queen sit on the coffee table.
The Mackles married at the Methodist manse in Queen St on February 17, 1945, after meeting at a dance at the Purakaunui Hall.
Mr Mackle credits his success at getting his bride up the aisle as ''getting her mother on my side''.
''I got on well with her.''
Mrs Mackle (nee Frye) said her mother had always advised her to ''pick a good one''.
Unfortunately, it was her mother's death that made the marriage possible.
Houses were difficult to buy at the time, so they were able to take on the family home in St Kilda.
''I don't think we had a recipe. We just plodded on quietly with our own interests.''
For Mrs Mackle it was her ''lodge'' and Mr Mackle the St Kilda Brass Band.
The couple, who had four children, now have nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, which ''keep us young'', they said.
