[2][3][4] Wagner was born at Pretoria and attended Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool as a high school student where he played for the 1st team alongside AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis.

[6] On 6 April 2011, Wagner took four wickets in four balls against Wellington when he dismissed Stewart Rhodes, Joe Austin-Smellie, Jeetan Patel and Ili Tugaga.

[citation needed] After an uneven start to his Test career against the West Indies and his birth country, South Africa, Wagner established himself as a reliable third seamer for New Zealand side during their 2013 home and away series against England, taking 19 wickets in five Tests.

He produced consistent performances over the next two years, including a man-of-the-match eight-wicket haul against India at Eden Park.

[citation needed] Wagner continued his fine form during New Zealand's tour of Zimbabwe in 2016, and won the player of the series award.

[14] In the second Test, although New Zealand were soundly beaten, Wagner again led the attack, taking his fourth five-wicket bag.

[15] In April 2017, Wagner was named in New Zealand's One Day International (ODI) squad for the 2017 Ireland Tri-Nation Series.

[6] He said of retirement: "I've enjoyed every single moment of playing Test cricket for the Black Caps and am proud of everything we've been able to achieve as a team.