Fresh from two seasons with the Highlanders, utility back Renata has moved south and will try his luck with Otago.'I was up there for six years with Waikato - a Hamilton boy, and I'd always played through the grades for Waikato,'' he said.
''The last couple of seasons I have been down here with the Highlanders I have really enjoyed it. I was not getting much opportunity up there Super rugby-wise, so I came down here and have really enjoyed it and embraced the environment. The people down here have been awesome.
''Possibly I got a bit stale up there. I have been living there all my life. It's always tough to leave home but I felt it is good for me.''
Renata had played 66 games for Waikato since his debut in 2008.
He was impressed by Otago coach and Highlanders assistant Tony Brown, and felt his game could only get better in the South.
''When you have a man like Tony Brown and the way he ran the ship, I thought it would pretty much carry on with the ITM Cup.
''Any of the boys will tell you he is a well-respected man. Anyone who has had anything to do with Otago will tell you in his coaching role he is taking steps in the right direction. All the players are blossoming under him.
''The way he sees the game, there is a lot of creativity. He has been there, done that. He has got the respect of everyone.''
Renata, who is a nephew of Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph, played 40 minutes for Otago in its close win over Southland last Friday in Alexandra, and is likely to play at fullback on Saturday in the ITM Cup opener against North Harbour.
He got a real introduction to the southern climes in Central Otago.
''In Alexandra we were warming up in the snow. That was something new for me - never had that up north. But I really enjoyed it and had a good 40 minutes.''
Renata, who has another season on his contract with the Highlanders, said this year with the franchise had been one to remember.
He said team inclusion was the biggest plus for the Highlanders, and Otago was going the same way.
''That was one of the biggest things this year. You just look at Richard Buckman. He was in the wider squad to start with and then he got a chance and ended up being a starting winger. That was what it was like - everyone totally included, everyone fighting for a position - and that worked for us in the end.''
Renata started his Waikato career as a first five-eighth but was initially stuck behind one Stephen Donald - the man who had a movie made about him.
Renata said he enjoyed watching The Kick, the subject of which is one of his good friends.
''He is a great man, one of my really good mates. I called him the other night about it and we had a good laugh. It was definitely what he was like, just the way he was portrayed.
''For years people used to talk about Beaver [Donald] and there were a lot of critics but 40 minutes, actually one kick, changed his whole career.
''Now he is an absolute legend. But to me he was a legend before that.''
