The rugged tighthead prop, who had been the cornerstone of the Highlanders scrum for the past two years, is now on the Otago bench and hoping to help the side to glory.
Hohneck (30) had signed to play at Gloucester in the English Premiership and was looking to leave for England at the end of the Super rugby season.
But he was not granted a release from New Zealand Rugby so has had to stay in New Zealand, or Waikouaiti to be precise.
''The plan was to finish up and go overseas. I was supposed to go straight over there and go and play footy. I could not quite cross the t's and dot the i's and New Zealand Rugby would not grant me the release.
''It is a bit of a sticking point. Why? You tell me, it is a bit frustrating. They have got you over a barrel. A contract is a contract. The way the contracts are done you are signed until the end of the year no matter if you are playing or not playing Mitre 10 Cup.''
Hohneck though was in no fit state to play at the end of the Highlanders season thanks to a badly broken nose.
''Normally, you break your nose and you can still breathe through it. But I did it twice. I broke my nose and then I broke the septum. The septum went across both holes, blocking them.
''That was pretty tough. On defence, you're trying to talk at the same time as trying to breathe. The second half of Super rugby got hard, hard on the lungs anyway.
''I had to have surgery on my nose so I decided to not play Mitre 10 full stop.''
He had the operation and rested up for the required six weeks.
In the meantime, Otago prop Hisa Sasagi suffered a hairline fracture of the eyesocket and back-ups were thin on the ground.
Living in Waikouaiti, Hohneck, who is an avid pig hunter, was just soaking up what is a hidden gem as fair as Hohneck is concerned.
''It is paradise out there [Waikouaiti]. Love it out there. I'm down the beach most days with the dogs.''
He took a call from Otago coach Cory Brown about wanting to come and play for Otago.
Gloucester did not mind as long as he was playing and staying match-fit.
He hopes to get on the flight for Gloucester in the next couple of weeks although there is the carrot of possible selection for the New Zealand Maori team which is touring the United States and then playing Munster and Harlequins in Limerick and London in November.
He could play for England as his mother was born in England but Hohneck is not getting ahead of himself.
''You would never say never but I just want to get over there and start playing footy.''
Before that thought there is the matter of playing the finals of the Mitre 10 Cup. Otago takes on Bay of Plenty in a semifinal on Friday night at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Hohneck has played 40 games for Bay of Plenty and knows many of the members of the current side.
Otago this week needs to get hold of the ball and make some play.
''The concern is getting the ball and keeping the ball. Last week we basically defended the whole time. How do you get the ball back and hang on to it is the question.''
