"So I put a challenge to him. If he could get out of bed and walk three steps, then increase that by one step every day, I'd work with him to get him to complete the half marathon this year," Mr Milne said.
But it was not to be. Mr Whareaitu died in March of heart failure about two bouts of pneumonia, shortly after his 30th birthday.
Mr Milne said he was deeply moved by the words of the young people who spoke at his funeral in Kaitaia.
"They were saying how because of Waa's influence they had made something of their lives. Then Lorraine asked me if I could carry Waa's ashes in this year's half marathon. I was greatly honoured," he said.
Mr Milne won't be carrying his mate alone. He has enlisted a group of his friends, plus fellow officers from Kawakawa, to share the honour and they will take turns carrying his urn in a backpack.
"Waa believed in the saying 'He waka eke noa', which I'm told loosely translates as 'We're all in this together'. That's why I've asked my colleagues to help."
The team will include police officers Courtney Sandilands and Meagan Lyle and teacher Brent Strathdee.
Mr Whareaitu's mates will also be raising money for the Bald Angels, a Northland children's charity, which is staging a mass head shave in Kerikeri on November 19, the day before the half marathon.
"Waa's legacy is the youth that have grown into good adults. Bald Angels is trying to do the same thing. By carrying his ashes as a member of the Bald Angels team we are, in a way, carrying on with Waa's legacy."
Mr Milne initially got to know Mr Whareaitu as a cafe regular. They also had an Air Force link - Mr Milne used to be in the RNZAF and Mr Whareaitu ran the local cadets - and Mr Milne tried to help after a series of burglaries at the cafe.
Despite 17 break-ins, Waa never stopped trying to help the youths responsible.
"Even though they had broken in and stolen from him he wanted to do what he could to better their lives. He even got a couple of them to come and work in his cafe. He was a great role model. These kids kept breaking in but he kept reaching out to them."
- Donations can be made to the Bald Angels Charitable Trust's Westpac account 03-0351-0240110-00. For information about the cause or the big shave go to www.baldangels.org.nz.
