"Both are full time rugby positions, but I won't be on the grass as much in Japan as I have been here. I will be physically coaching the national women's sevens side as assistant, but will also be involved with academy branches throughout Japan. I will be based in Kumagaya, an hour out of Tokyo.
"The sevens side plays in the world sevens series, so travels the world. My first introduction will be the day I arrive when Japan hosts the world circuit series over two days in Kitakyushu (April 2-21). I won't necessarily be travelling everywhere with the team and will have other jobs with the academy branches and some work with 15-aside."
McKenzie said she was passionate about rugby and has loved her time in Whanganui, but is looking forward to the challenges her new role in a new country will bring.
"The Japanese are also passionate. I think it is interesting how it dovetails into their working culture, their sense of pride and ownership of a company. That same commitment applies to their rugby.
"I will be taking my five-year-old labrador Boy with me to keep me company - A lot of people have asked," McKenzie said.
She is most proud of her Future 15 and Gain Line programmes delivered in Wanganui under he watch.
"Future 15 is a college development programme I designed, managed and delivered by Hayden Hepburn from Cullinane College. It's a three-month pre-season programme involving players from colleges in Wanganui - Whanganui Girls College has just joined this year.
"Gain Line is a programme providing a pathway for 18 to 23-year-olds from college rugby through to club level. We also do work with trainers and it's through an app, so its more accessible. It is driven by Adam Allen from High Performance NZ, who is also head trainer for the Pulse.
"I'm very proud of these programme which are unique to Whanganui," McKenzie said.
Lock, who has played rep rugby for every age group on offer in Whanganui, including 41 matches for Heartland as a front rower, has been heavily involved in school boy rugby and the coaching in scene at various levels.
The 37-year-old has coached club rugby and at representative level for the past five years, including the Whanganui under-20 side and Whanganui Development. At club level he has coached for Marton and of late Border where last season he was helped out by good mate Ross Williams who returns to the fray again this year.
"Ross took Border to the premiership title two years ago and came back to help me out last year. I'll still be around, but it was time to move on to something that will further my coaching career - that's what I want to be, it's all about personal development and growth."
The pair will be replaced by two extremely capable types.
Simon Dibben, who only has two matches to play before celebrating his 50th for Steelform Wanganui in the Heartland division, and Kiwi-born Samoan Eneliko Fa'atau.
WRFU chief executive Bridget Belsham said Fa'atau will return home to New Zealand from Ireland where he has been playing and coaching for the past 10 years.
"Simon needs no introduction and Eneliko has vast experience," Belsham said.
"It was a difficult decision with 29 applications from local to international high quality contenders. Simon will join us on April 16 and Eneliko on May 20. It is sad to see both Justin and Lesley go, but we are all about developing and growing and they have both certainly done that over the past three years."
