The son of one of the eight men killed in the Kaipara Harbour boating disaster in 2016 has drawn inspiration from the tragedy.
Tavita Milford was so moved by how police helped his family that he was motivated to join the force himself.
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Milford says he still remembers the incident as if it were yesterday, and the loss of his father, Taulagi Afamasaga, still hurts.
"Every day I always think about him," says Milford.
He says alarm bells first rang when he read about a boating accident on the harbour.
"My mum, who always fished with him on that same boat, at the same location... I showed it to her and said 'does this boat look familiar to you?' and she said 'yeah, that's the boat'."
Milford's family drove to the police station, and that's when they found out his family was caught up in the tragedy.
"When a police officer told us he was one of the missing, I just felt complete numbness."
Afamasaga was one of the eight men who drowned when his fishing charter vessel "Francie" capsized in the notorious stretch of water.
Seven of the victims were quickly recovered, but Afamasaga's body went missing.
"I think it was around about the sixth day that we realised he was gone - it was just pure, pure sadness."
On day nine his body washed up onshore.
Milford says his family's nervous wait was made easier with the support of Pasifika police officers.
"They knew what to say and how to make the people feel comfortable and that was really reassuring because she [Milford's mother] was the one who was affected the most."
That's because she was meant to be on the same charter.
"I could have lost both parents."
Milford says he always had dreams of joining the police but losing his dad gave him the extra push needed.
"It was something that my dad wanted me to do, but he just wasn't around to see it. It was just a way to honour him."
Milford's brother-in-law Sam Yerro was also inspired to join the force, and both graduated from police college early this month.
Constable Milford says it was a bittersweet moment, but he knows if his dad was here, he would say how proud he was of his son.
Newshub.
