[1] After a carpentry apprenticeship in Christchurch, Couch joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in August 1943, and later transferred to the army.

[1] In 1945, Couch returned to Pirinoa to work as a builder, and in 1947 he married Bessie Carter, his childhood sweetheart.

[1] Carter was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Couch converted to that faith in 1949.

He created some controversy by wearing a Springbok rugby team blazer at the time of their 1981 tour of New Zealand as well as attending a public meeting organised by the League of Rights.

This was despite his having been denied entry to South Africa as part of the All Blacks rugby team in the 1940s because of his race.