“They’re the club that gave me my opportunity years back now, so to be able to bring up [my] other special milestone is a really proud moment for myself and the rest of my family.”
To be able to play his 150th match, against the Crusaders in the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific semi-final in Hamilton on Friday, was a tough one to beat, he said.
“Obviously, we’ve been working really hard throughout the season to put ourselves into contention to play playoff rugby.
“We’re excited to be at home, in front of our fans and kinda know what we need to do to put ourselves in the best position to win.
“We’re extremely excited for this opportunity.”
Born in Invercargill as the son of dairy farmers, McKenzie grew up in the South Island and was educated at Christ’s College in Christchurch, where he kicked off his rugby career.
He featured for the New Zealand Schools Barbarians and the New Zealand Secondary Schools before moving to Waikato for further rugby opportunities.
He made a standout performance for the New Zealand Under-20 team at the Junior World Championship in 2014 and marked his provincial debut for Waikato the same year.
McKenzie joined the Chiefs for the 2015 Super Rugby season, aged 19, alongside his older brother Marty McKenzie, as cover for the injured Robbie Robinson.
He made his debut against the Blues in February that year, starting at No 10 in place of Aaron Cruden, who was resting due to All Blacks commitments.
He quickly impressed coaches and fellow players, with former Chiefs coach Dave Rennie describing him as a hard worker, brave and “a hell of a kid” at the time.
“He’s so confident and he’s such a tough little bugger. He put a lot of tackles in, he carried courageously and kicked for goal outstandingly well,” Rennie said after McKenzie’s debut.
Damian McKenzie facing the Blues back in 2015. Photo / Photosport
Cruden, who had watched from the sidelines, said McKenzie had played his first match as a Chief well.
“He really backed himself … He made all his tackles, he was everywhere around the field,” Cruden said at the time.
McKenzie’s performances with the franchise led to the Māori All Blacks and eventually All Blacks selection in 2016.
He became a regular starter for the Chiefs and All Blacks and proved himself as a versatile player, excelling as a first five-eighths and fullback.
Known not only for his on-field capabilities and trademark smile before kicking a goal, he is popular with fans.
He is often the last player on the field meeting fans, posing for selfies and giving autographs.
Damian McKenzie gets ready to kick a goal in February 2024. Photo / Photosport
Despite his South Island roots, McKenzie feels strongly connected to Waikato, and even a stint in Japan with Tokyo Sungoliath in 2022 couldn’t lure him away from the region for long.
When he re-signed with the Chiefs in 2023, former Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan said McKenzie’s talent was undeniable.
“We are a better rugby team because of him,” McMillan said at the time.
McKenzie is currently signed with New Zealand Rugby through to the 2029 season.
“[Waikato’s] a home away from home, I’m obviously from the deep south, but this has been the place I called home for the last 12, 13 years,” McKenzie said this week.
“[I] haven’t looked back. [The Chiefs has] been a club that’s given me a lot, it’s a proud region, my fans are amazing.”
When asked about his favourite memories with the Chiefs, McKenzie said it was reaching milestones.
“The first game is always a special experience, like when you first start … playing, there is not a lot of expectation [that] you need to perform … you [are] just out there having fun,” he said.
“The milestone of playing one hundred’s great and there is one milestone or moment … I haven’t been able to get and that’s a championship [win], so hopefully, fingers crossed, we can make that happen this year.”
The Chiefs will play the Crusaders at Hamilton’s FMG Stadium Waikato on Friday, June 12 at 7.05pm in the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific semi-final. Tickets are available online via chiefs.flicket.co.nz.
Danielle Zollickhofer is the Waikato news director and a multimedia journalist at the Waikato Herald. She joined NZME in 2021 and is based in Hamilton.