Injured dentist sinks teeth into milk bar

Vertebra and spine injuries changed Matt Wright’s plans from becoming a dentist in western Southland to a milk bar owner.

When the milk bar, Ohai Oasis, opened its door for the first time in Ohai yesterday, it became the first shop in the town since a fish and chip business closed about 12 years ago.

Wright injured his spine and crushed a vertebra when falling off a removal truck during his and wife Tonii’s move to Ohai two years ago. Matt was a dentist in Rotorua.

The injury caused him to lose feeling in his fingers and hands, and halted his career as a dentist. An operation was needed, but it was delayed and didn’t get performed until last week.

‘‘It’s 50/50 whether I get back to dentistry’’ Wright said.

He and Tonii visited Ohai during a visit to Southland in 2017. They took a shine to Ohai and went on to buy an old church there in 2019. They transformed it into their home.

Eighteen months ago when Matt was unable to work as a dentist, the couple started thinking about opening a shop in Ohai, across the road from their home.

The building for the shop had been used by different businesses over the decades, including a hairdresser and legal firm. The Wrights have spent $80,000 on turning the building into a milk bar.

It was a memorable occasion when it opened yesterday, Matt said.

‘‘When you consider what it was like a year and a half ago, which was basically a derelict building with a flax bush outside, broken windows and rotten floor.

‘‘It’s been a labour of love . . . we restored the building and get free rental.’’

The Wrights have installed to the exterior of the building a charging station for electric vehicles.

Customers of the milk bar yesterday agreed the business was great for Ohai.

Sheep and beef farmer Louise Terry said: ‘‘It’s good for the community and getting people out and about, mixing and mingling.’’

Linda Ransfield, who has lived in Ohai for 40 years, always thought a new shop would open in the town one day.

‘‘It’s been coming, but [the question was] who was going to do it,’’ Ransfield said.

Wool buyer David McKitterick said: ‘‘It’s really good to have it . . . it’ll do well.’’