Peter Stuart Mackenzie 1920 -

Peter Stuart Mackenzie, son of David Stuart Mackenzie and Mabel Mary Mackenzie was born in Levin in 1920. His family had moved to Levin in 1908, where his father was a dentist. He was one of the only pupils there who did not want to become a farmer – Levin was primarily a farming town – and therefore he took night classes in Latin so that he could qualify either for medical school or dental school.

After leaving school he attended a Bachelor of Science course at Victoria University. In those days Stage 1 of a B.Sc, almost guaranteed entry into medical or dental school. The B.Sc. course was harder for him that most students as he had not studied physics at the district high. He learned his physics in one year from his room mate, who had been first in physics at Wellington College. It was about this time that he decided to take dentistry as a career option instead of medicine.

He carried on to dental school after completing his B Sc course to Stage1. The total degree of Bachelor of dental Studies took four and ahalf years to complete. It now takes five. When Mr Mackenzie went to university the total cost of dentistry school was lower than that of medical school. It is now much higher and many students drop out because of fees. He believes the current fees are much too high.

He feels upon reflection that Otago was a good choice of university to go to. He said:

I have never felt disadvantaged because I went to Otago and many times I have been grateful for the excellent training given at the Otago Dental School.’

When he finished his studies at university he worked for a short spell at Christchurch Public Hospital and then went to the Trentham army camp as a dentist in the army.

After leaving the army in 1946, he went to Wellington for a short time where he met his wife-to-be, who was a receptionist and dental nurse where her worked.

He came back to Levin a year later, where he worked as his fathers Assistant until 1951, when his father retired and he took over his position. Mr Mackenzie says that, although basic methods of dentistry have not changed, the means by which you do them have. The invention of the high speed drill has made his work easier and faster. Anaesthetics have changed and are more readily available. Although he was at one stage interested in orthodontics – straightening teeth – that work now days is done by specialists – orthodontists. The introduction of fluoride into water supplies greatly lowered the decay rate especially among children.

Mr Mackenzie believes that when he became a full time dentist in Levin the town had a lot to offer. ‘Levin was growing fast in the 50s’. Since then it has changed a lot, unemployment has gone up and people have often to look elsewhere for work.

In spite of some more negative changes to Levin, he is pleased that he and his wife chose to settle here and both agree Levin has been a good place in which to raise a family. It has also been a friendly town, where many patients are personal friends, and it has been gratifying to have been able to serve them for nearly fifty years.