AUGUSTINE PULU, ALL BLACK, CHIEFS AND COUNTIES MANUKAU STEELERS SCRUM HALF
You drive a Toyota Camry dressed up in Dukes of Hazzard style?
I do and I’m proud of it! The colour is Inferno and the car is a Limited Edition Toyota Camry ZR 2015 2.5, automatic.
Who else is allowed to drive your car?
From time to time my buddies from the Chiefs or Steelers get to chauffeur me around.
The famous broken arm during a Chiefs match — how has that affected your driving?
I manage but I avoid three-point turns and reversing backwards into parallel parks.
What do you always have in your car?
A charger for my music.
First car?
1990 Holden Commodore.
Your dream car?
I’m not a car connoisseur but ever since driving my General Lee Toyota Camry, I’ve taken a new interest in a 1968 Dodge Charger R/T. I guess I’m developing an appreciation for certain vintage cars.
Favourite car colour?
Right now, Inferno.
Who taught you to drive?
My cousins taught me to drive at the age of 14 in a car park in Mt Roskill. They were very instructive and patient with me and I was just so keen to get behind the wheel.
Manual or automatic?
I prefer manual because I enjoy the feeling of controlling the speed of my car on straights, corners, speeding up, slowing down.
Most memorable road trip?
When I drove down to Wellington for a Rugby World Cup 2011 match. Enjoying New Zealand’s amazing scenery, my beautiful wife Angela by my side, anticipating an exciting match between Tonga and France, in Wellington, a great venue for events, the best time.
If you could go anywhere, with any celebrity, in any car ...
The American actor and comic, Kevin Hart. I’d charter a big bus, with all my boys, travelling from Auckland to Hamilton to ‘‘The Hati’’ which is my garage, a hang-out for me and my close friends.
Favourite movie car scene?
My favourite movie is the cartoon Turbo because my daughters AJ and Nevaeh love it. The scene I love is when the snail goes through the engine and comes out in a racing car-transformation.
Do you enjoy driving or would you rather be a passenger?
I love driving but I do enjoy being the passenger too because I love capturing the beautiful views of New Zealand.
And what do you listen to in your car?
The playlist on my phone, listening to Bob Marley, because it gives you a great feeling to enjoy life.
What’s a great day trip?
The Franklin region has so many incredible places to visit for the day, Awhitu Peninsula and Manukau Harbour with its scenic windswept beaches and walkways, is a great family day out with a picnic on the beach. And as a special treat, I take my family to Rainbow’s End in Manukau.
Do you judge a person by what they drive?
No.
What irritates you most about other drivers?
That moment when a driver cuts you off by moving into your lane and I react, cutting off another driver as I did recently. Sorry!
Would you rather drive in Auckland or take public transport?
Drive. I love driving and listening to my own music at the same time. It just gives a great vibe.
Auckland’s traffic — what is your perspective on it?
Auckland’s traffic will continue to worsen at a rate of knots for a long time yet, thanks to the ongoing housing development reaching the rural edges of Auckland, and that is in response to the demand for more housing. That said, I think the solutions will come from many sources. But the fact remains that Auckland traffic plays a part in how people organise their daily lives and getting around.
Do you have a special number plate?
No, I don’t unfortunately, but I would wish to one day.