Flaxmere Heroes: Josh Kronfeld hero for May in 2018 Flaxmere calendar

Josh Kronfeld with his children Cassius, Kronfeld (left), 7, and Arlo Kronfeld, 4. Photo / Duncan Brown

A man dedicated to supporting people into an active and healthy lifestyle is May's hero in the 2018 Flaxmere Heroes Calendar.

Josh Kronfeld, who was brought up in Flaxmere, said he was overwhelmed when U-Turn Trust ambassador Henare O'Keefe approached him for the calendar.

"It's nice to be able to give back with it being where I grew up and I think that's the main thing. With grabbing the characters they use from year to year - people come from different areas and move on in the world but there is always a point of starting and Flaxmere was where it was for me."

Mr Kronfeld grew up to become All Black No 943 and is a household name after playing 69 games for Otago, 42 games for the Highlanders and 54 tests for the All Blacks, making his test debut in 1995 against Canada.

He has also played 39 games for Leicester and was renowned for his speed on the field.

"I never in my wildest dreams considered myself being an All Black and then the things that have happened because of that, I feel pretty blessed."

He fondly remembers kicking a football around in Flaxmere Park with his mates and "terrorising the neighbourhood on our bikes".

Mr Kronfeld believes the community is a "different place now" to what it was more than 20 years ago.

"It was just one sort of loop of road and a few houses and the village was just a pile of dirt where we used to go and play, it's funny to see how much it has transitioned and become a valid community now."

Since retiring from first-class rugby in 2003 he has made numerous media appearances on shows such as The Crowd Goes Wild, Celebrity Treasure Island, and Dancing with the Stars, among others.

However, most surprising of all is that he returned to university and studied for his Bachelor of Physiotherapy.

"I reckon there are always opportunities for anybody as long as we've got our eyes open to realise that and the only way you can do that is through learning and discovery so if you keep those thought processes in the mind from the word go, you're going to be successful," Mr Kronfeld said.