The couple moved to Hawke's Bay about eight years ago from Waikaremoana, where much of their family is still based.
Before leaving he had been told to get fit and strapped on his walking shoes, when he arrived in Hastings a weigh-in at Totara Health showed he was down to 112kg.
The weight loss journey stepped up with regular walks making a marked improvement, but when he became unwell progress started to reverse.
An eight-week "pulmonary rehab" programme at the hospital with weights, stair walks and gym training put everything back on track.
"I thoroughly enjoyed it, it was a shame it had to finish".
Doctors told him to get down to 91kg or 92kg, he's now sitting at 88kg and is "on top of the world".
Eating nutritional foods, less drinking, visits to the Swimgym in Hastings once a week and 4km walks up to three times a week have helped Mr Waiwai stay trim.
He also kept weights at home for strength training.
After dropping a few clothes sizes he donated his oversized T-shirts to charity, but kept one pair of pants as a reminder of how far he had come.
No longer was it "embarrassing" to go shopping, it was a task he got excited about.
"It was hard to have to go in and ask for a 3XL, it was actually really hard to find anything that fitted. I hopped into my old trousers the other day and there was room for another person inside."
While weight was a touchy subject he felt it was important to broach the issue.
"I want to encourage people, especially family, the older you get the more you concentrate on health, if we look after our health and weight maybe the cost on our healthcare system will go down. I only wish I could turn the clock back and start sooner."
