Barney Koneferenisi (born March 9, 1994) is a Samoan‑New Zealander Paralympic athlete, social entrepreneur, and accessibility advocate. Notably, he is a star of New Zealand’s national wheelchair rugby team, the Wheel Blacks. Beyond sports, Barney has been driving change by developing a rideshare app and service designed specifically for people with disabilities in New Zealand.
Barney Koneferenisi is a wheelchair rugby player from New Zealand. He is also a representative of New Zealand All Black Rugby players. He is one of the best wheelchair rugby players who has capabilities similar to the late legend Jonah Lomu. Barney is also known for his extraordinary performance in the Tokyo games. If you want to know about Barney Koneferenisi net worth, lifestyle, family, professional life, and other details, then this article is for you.
Barney Koneferenisi Early Life
Barney Koneferenisi is a New Zealand born wheelchair Rugby player. He was born on 9th March 1994. He finished his education at Auckland University of Technology. Barney completed his graduation in both Business and Law. In the year 2009, he was introduced to wheelchair rugby.
There is no information available on the internet about Barney’s freshman, sophomore, or other high school years. Barney attended The Auckland University of Technology to complete his graduation in two streams—business and law—after completing his secondary education.
Barney’s father had a strong passion for sports and demanded that his son play rugby for the All Blacks, a team representing New Zealand. In this sense, he thought of fulfilling his father’s dream when he learned about wheelchair rugby, told them about it, and they were genuinely happy that he decided to play rugby. Baney decided not to continue playing rugby, so he continued his education and completed his business and law degrees.
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📏 Body Measurements (Approx.)
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (with prosthetics) |
|---|---|
| Weight | Around 75 kg (athletic build) |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Brown |
Barney Koneferenisi Professional life:
Barney Koneferenisi is one of the most exceptional wheelchair rugby players. With a general rating of 3.5, he is regarded as one of the most advanced players in the Tokyo Games. He competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and was recently seen at the Paralympics in Tokyo. He has received numerous awards in sports. Includes the Prerna Grant in 2012 for his contributions to various sectors and Pacific Youth Awards, in New Zealand, by Prime Minister John Key in 2012.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Barney Koneferenisi |
| Date of Birth | March 9, 1994 |
| Age (as of 2025) | 31 years old |
| Nationality | Samoan–New Zealander |
| Profession | Athlete, Entrepreneur, Accessibility Advocate |
| Sport | Wheelchair Rugby |
| Team | New Zealand Wheel Blacks |
| Education | Bachelor of Laws, University of Auckland |
| Known For | Safe Rides (wheelchair-friendly rideshare startup) |
| Injury/Disability | Quadrilateral amputee (due to meningitis as infant) |
🏐 Wheelchair Rugby Career
Barney’s athletic journey began when he discovered wheelchair rugby in his teens. His raw talent and relentless drive helped him rise quickly within the ranks of New Zealand’s national team.
- Debut: Joined the national Wheel Blacks squad as a teenager.
- Major Highlight: Competed in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, scoring a personal best of 23 tries in one match.
- Style of Play: Known for speed, agility, and resilience on the court.
- Retirement: Stepped away from competitive sports in 2022 to focus on entrepreneurship.
🚗 Safe Rides: A Mission for Equity
Barney’s personal experiences with rideshare discrimination led him to start Safe Rides, a transport service built by and for people with disabilities. The platform provides:
- Wheelchair-accessible vans
- Driver preference options (e.g., gender-based)
- Inclusive features for LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent riders
- Customized booking and safety options
His mission was clear: create a service where no one gets left behind.
Barney Koneferenisi Net Worth / Salary
There is not much information about Barney Koneferenisi net worth and salary.
| Net Worth | Will be updated |
| Nationality | New Zealander |
| Religion | Christianity |
| House | Will be updated |
| Cars | Will be updated |
| Marital Status | married |
| Income Source | wheelchair rugby player |
| Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
Barney Koneferenisi Personal life:
Barney Koneferenisi is one of the best all black wheelchair rugby players. At the age of only 4 months, he was diagnosed with a disease called “Meningitis” and by the age 10, his left leg was imputed. He loves reading books and animals, also owns a brown shaded dog. Moreover, he is married.
💬 Inspirational Quotes
“We’re tired of being ignored. So we decided to build something for ourselves.”
“Everyone deserves a ride that’s safe, respectful, and accessible—no exceptions.”
Barney Koneferenisi Education Qualification
| School | Will be updated |
| College | Will be updated |
| University | Business, Law – Auckland University of Technology |
| Higher Degree or Training | No higher degree or training |
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📚 Other Contributions
Barney has also worked as a public speaker, mentor, and advocate for accessibility reform. Whether it’s addressing transportation inequality or promoting adaptive sports, he remains deeply involved in community-based activism.
🌍 Legacy & Future Vision
Barney Koneferenisi is more than a Paralympian. He is a changemaker who refuses to accept limits—physically or socially. Through Safe Rides, his story of resilience is transforming the everyday lives of people with disabilities in New Zealand. His dream is to expand the service across Australasia and eventually inspire global change in accessible transportation.
❤️ Barney Koneferenisi Favorite Things
| Category | Barney’s Favorite |
|---|---|
| Hobbies | Adaptive sports, tech innovation, public speaking |
| Favorite Sport | Wheelchair Rugby |
| Favorite Athlete | LeBron James |
| Favorite Food | Island cuisine (especially Samoan dishes) |
| Favorite Drink | Protein shakes, fruit smoothies |
| Favorite Destination | Samoa, Queenstown, Auckland |
| Favorite Movie Genre | Inspirational documentaries |
| Favorite App | Google Maps, Safe Rides |
| Favorite Brand | Nike (adaptive line) |
| Dream Car | Custom wheelchair-accessible van |
| Role Model | His mother, and accessibility activists |
| Favorite Quote | “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” |
Barney Koneferenisi Trivia
- Barney Koneferenisi got mentoring from Greg Mitchell.
- He won the award from the Prime minister’s Pacific Youth Awards in New Zealand in 2012.
Last Words
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