Most mornings, before he starts work at Taupō Toyota, Joe Konelio is at the gym.
By Amy McWhannell
He runs on the treadmill, lifts weights, then heads in to make customers’ cars shine.
At 45, Joe thought his days of wearing the black jersey were behind him. But this week, He’s heading to Tokyo with the New Zealand Deaf Blacks Sevens squad for the third World Deaf Rugby Sevens Championship, running from October 31 to November 3.
“I thought I wasn’t going to be selected this time due to my age. But I was happy I got selected again.”
He told his sisters first. There was no big announcement or celebration. Joe isn’t one to make a fuss. Joe has been deaf since birth.
He grew up in American Samoa, the oldest of six children, three girls and three boys, and went to school using American Sign Language.
When he was 16, his family moved to New Zealand. His parents enrolled him at Kelston Deaf Education Centre in Auckland, where he had to start again with a new language, New Zealand Sign Language.
Joe Konelio celebrates after a game on a 2020 tour of Argentina. Photo: Supplied
“It was hard. I found it hard to cope with learning when I arrived here.”
Sport helped him settle in. He played everything from basketball and volleyball to touch and soccer but eventually settled on rugby.
He first played club rugby for Mt Eden alongside his younger brother. He loved the game, but the communication was hard.
That changed when he joined North Harbour Deaf Rugby.
In deaf rugby, the biggest difference is communication, and the team has its own interpreter who signs for the players so they can work with their coach.
Joe, a wing, has worn the black jersey before, touring England in 2017 and Argentina in 2020.
Joe came to Taupō for a holiday in 2023 and now lives here with his sister and her family.
Not long after arriving, he joined Taupō Toyota as a vehicle groomer and takes the job seriously.
“Getting my job completed to 100 per cent and to my satisfaction… Seeing our clients smile when they come to collect their vehicles is uplifting and encouraging to me.”
Joe trains on his own in Taupō every morning, and the squad comes together for camps in Auckland.
The team flew out on Tuesday this week.
Back at Taupō Toyota, Joe’s colleagues will be cheering him on from home.
“Joe’s a great guy and we’re all really proud of him. It’s pretty special to have someone from our little Taupō team heading off to represent New Zealand on the world stage,” says Taupō Toyota chief executive officer Angus Helmore
And for any young deaf kids who want to follow him onto the field, Joe’s message is simple.
“Never give up on your dream. Keep it in the forefront of your mind.”