The 66-year-old Roxburgh policeman said that was one thing he had in common with Police Commissioner Peter Marshall. ''We've both gone as far as we can go in our careers, I reckon. But I had no aspiration to move up the ranks - I love general duties and serving on the front line, so I have no complaints whatsoever.''
Snr Const Wanoa has been part of the Roxburgh community for 25 years and the genial officer is well-respected by those on both sides of the law. Described by his colleagues as the ''elder statesman'' of policing in Central Otago, he loved being a country cop and was rarely seen without his trademark wide smile.
''Being a rural policeman and living in a small town, you have to really connect with your community. I was the president of the RSA here and am now the vice-president, was club captain of the golf club, until illness forced me to retire, and I coached schoolboy rugby up to rep level. You get to know people, give your trust to them and they give it back to you, tenfold.''
Of Ngati Porou iwi, Snr Const Wanoa spent his childhood in Te Araroa, north of Gisborne. He travelled south after leaving home at 16 and spent 10 years working at the Mataura freezing works.
''I was 25 when they accepted me into Traffic College. We were given one month's training, then we were let loose.''
He was first stationed in Christchurch and transferred to Mosgiel in 1980 for three years. His work included a stint in the transport licensing unit. In those days, to protect railways against increasing road transport competition, restrictions were in place which prevented certain goods being carried more than 150km on the road, without an exemption.
''It was interesting work - we were in plain clothes and plain cars and worked from Otago south, everything from surveillance through to prosecution.''
He moved to Roxburgh in 1988 to take up a job as traffic officer. He and partner Debbie Bradley also bought a seven-day dairy in the town and operated that for five years, before selling it. In 1992, the Ministry of Transport traffic safety service merged with police and he had the choice of being a general duties officer or highway patrol.
''I chose general duties and have no regrets - it's been a hoot.''
Roxburgh's first policeman was based in the town in 1878 and since then, a total of 15 officers have served the area. It has been a two-officer station for several decades and Snr Const Wanoa worked with former Sergeant Andy Reed from 1991 until 2007.
''We got on well and that was one of the reasons for my longevity in the job. Never once, in all the time we worked together, did we argue.''
He took over as officer in charge of Roxburgh in 2007.
''Policing has come a long way in 39 years ...but the fundamentals haven't really changed. Since the advent of cellphones though, more and more stuff is reported to the police, especially bad driving. People aren't reluctant to call in and give information, which is great.
''I commend people for doing that and where I can, I like to ring and thank them for giving us that info. It's a two-way thing and it's important to say thanks.''
The main highlight has been interacting with people.
''I've really enjoyed that side of things, it's the people that have made my career. I can honestly say there's never been a day when I've got out of bed and said: 'I don't want to go to work today'.''
''That's not to say that there aren't some naughty people here - they're not all good, but they know what the end result is and they just have to deal with it.
Much of the crime he has dealt with in the Teviot Valley has been drink-related offences, bad driving, violence, disorder, burglaries and thefts.
''My motto is to be fair and firm. I've never held a grudge against a person.
''I'm lucky in that I don't get stressed. I like to use a bit of humour - take it and give it- that's what it's all about, a bit of humour mixed in.''
He has a few pet hates. ''Kids and 'big kids' riding their bikes on the footpaths ... I've been known to let down their tyres ... and mobility scooter drivers who think they're [racing car driver] Michael Schumacher.''
Snr Const Wanoa is a familiar sight enforcing the 50kmh speed limit through the town but has no idea how many tickets he has issued through the years.
''One Blossom Festival weekend we caught hundreds of speeding motorists and even ran out of film for the speed camera, which was set to activate at 64kmh. One local girl was snapped three times.''
Animals also feature in the problems dealt with by country cops. During the Muldoon era, a local farmer named all his calves after politicians. Some of the calves go out on to the road and Snr Const Wanoa attended the crash after a motorist hit one of the animals.
''I went out to the crash and one of the calves was deceased. The car was munted, it had flattened the roof but the driver was OK. I called the owner of the calves who came to the crash scene and said: 'Oh s... , that's Ruth Richardson' -you had to laugh ...''
Then last year, I was called to a calf out on the road at same place. Had my red and blues going and the calf was in front of me when it charged me and marked the front of my patrol car. I had to do a quick tap dance to get out of its road before it charged again.''
Attending crashes, helping with search and rescue work, and having to relay the news of sudden deaths has all been part of the job.
''That's hard, being on the doorstep, having to give family the bad news about a loved one who has died. But you can't avoid it, so there's no sense delaying it, you have to do it straight away. Small communities, everyone knows everyone else, you do get emotionally involved - you wouldn't be human if you didn't.''
The support of his partner has been vital in his career.
The couple are off to Australia next month, house-sitting in Port Stephens, New South Wales, for the rest of the year and then plan some more travel. Although he would miss the camaraderie of the police -''it's been a great outfit to work for'' - it was time to step down to deal with some health issues,''but nothing life-threatening''.
He planned an active retirement in Roxburgh. Central Otago police sub-area commander, Senior Sergeant Ian Kerrisk, said it was hoped to replace Snr Const Wanoa as soon as possible.
Proud of his medal, sad about loss of life
Snr Const Jape Wanoa is proud of a Queen's commendation he received for brave conduct after an attempt to rescue a parachutist from the flooded Taieri River in October 1982 but wishes the outcome was different.
''I was living out at Momona village and there was an open day at the airport and lots of parachutists. I was watching them jump out of the plane and this particular one I saw exit the plane, and thought he was heading for the river, which was in flood, about twice its usual width.
''Three of us guys just took off, stripped down to our jocks and got in the water. It was too swift and the other two turned back but I managed to get across and shot back to where I'd seen the guy go in, but there was too much debris and it was too dirty and I couldn't see the young fella. He drowned and a week later they recovered his body.
''I made some inquiries and found this young fella - Lester Bellamy- was buried in the Tapanui cemetery. Now that my career is over, I'm going to make a pilgrimage to the Tapanui cemetery, to pay my respects to him.
''I'm not into glory-hunting - I'm not like that. I got a medal for the incident and wear it proudly but I'd rather it was a successful rescue ...''
