The Highlander prop was one of 15 players from the Super Rugby team who hid in the Dunedin Botanic Garden, waiting for children to hunt them down like Easter eggs.
"I guess we are the eggs in the Easter hunt.
"Being hunted by the kids is energy-consuming too, so I’m keen to eat some eggs to keep my energy levels up," he said during the event.
Max Bisset (8), of Dunedin, said hunting for Highlanders was "way better" than searching for Easter eggs.
"You can get Easter eggs anywhere. You just go to the shop. Finding Highlanders is special."
Finding Highlanders was harder too, because Easter eggs tend not to move around.
The Great Highlanders Easter Hunt organiser and Highlanders marketing manager Amanda Gould said it was the third year in a row the event had been held, and about 400 children participated in this year’s hunt.
"It’s always such a fantastic event and Dunedin’s really turned it on with the weather today."
"It’s a community event that we love to do. The players always enjoy it."
Lienert-Brown said the event was great fun, and he enjoyed the throngs of fans.
"It was a great turnout. I was feeling the love."
