Meet Our Team

Dr Tony Wong graduated from The University of Otago with a BDS in 1980. He has worked both in New Zealand and in England, with 34 years experience as a general dentist and 25 running the successful Dixon St practice in Wellington.

Tony enjoys providing a service where his patients go away with a positive experience and feeling that they have been treated with the utmost respect and professionalism. He also believes in a hygiene-focused practice where patients become highly motivated and well informed by the comprehensive care they receive. Tony has participated in advanced mentoring courses with Dr Derry Rogers for restorative dentistry and Dr Kevan Wong for implant surgery. 

Outside of practice hours, Tonys’ interests include golf and various adventure sports from windsurfing to adventure motorcycling. Tony has a wife and three daughters who enjoy the beauty and outdoor lifestyle that Lake Wanaka and Central Otago offers, hence their decision to move here to work and live.

Karina graduated from The University of Dundee in Scotland in 2009 where she earned a BDS (with merit).

She has spent the majority of her career since then working as a general dentist in Australia and New Zealand with spells as a volunteer dentist in East Timor, Cambodia, India and Papua New Guinea.

Karina recently returned to NZ with her family and joined our Wanaka team in April 2018.

Karina enjoys all aspects of general dentistry and takes pride in her attention to detail and providing a gentle and thorough experience for her patients. She is also qualified to provide cosmetic tooth alignment using the Cfast system.

Karina is happiest when spending time outdoors with her family and enjoys climbing, scuba diving, tramping and travel.

Harish started his career in hospital dentistry in the area of facial trauma based at Middlemore Hospital working under consultant oral and maxillofacial surgeons. He then moved into private practice and worked in Auckland's very first accident and emergency dental unit in Remuera Rd. From here Harish gained valuable practical experience in dealing with emergency and acute dental situations with an emphasis on saving teeth. Harish has now focused his practice to the special field of Endodontics in Remuera.

Harish is a practical person, intent on getting the job done efficiently, painlessly, and with compassion. He wants to treat everyone as if he were the patient himself. Therefore, his interest lies in the practical art of delivering the best endodontic care using well established and proven methods.

Harish mentors colleagues, offers advice, and regularly runs education courses to general dentists to up skill the practical aspects of root canal therapy. Harish is a firm believer of the use of technology as appropriate as an adjunct to achieve the best possible outcome for the patient.

Harish's interests are total body and mind fitness. He plays tennis every Saturday afternoon, visits a personal body trainer 3 days per week and spends 2 days per week with a personal boxing instructor. Harish is also married with 2 wonderful daughters.

Credentials

• BSc from University of Otago in 1984
• BDS from University of Otago 1988
• Master of Dental Science in Endodontics from University of Melbourne 1995
• Member of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons MRACDS

Graduating from Otago University with a Bachelor Of Dental Surgery in 1991, Hilary initially worked in private practice in Nelson for 2 years before heading overseas on her O.E. On returning to New Zealand, Hilary resided in Southland for the next 26 years; 22 of which she was the owner of a busy dental practice in Invercargill. She sold the practice in 2019 and continued working there until the start of 2022. Now that her two children have left home, Hilary and her husband have decided it is time for a change! Sad as they are to leave family, friends and wonderful co-workers, they are excited to discover the new and exciting lifestyle of living in Central Otago.

In dentistry, Hilary most enjoys the connections she makes with people. Her aim is to provide good quality dentistry with a focus on making patients feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible. She achieves this by being as gentle as she can along with good communication; helping her to understand exactly what the patient wants and needs from their appointment and doing her best to make that happen.
Outside of dentistry, she enjoys time with family, and walking and hopes to improve her very modest mountain-biking and skiing skills.

Amanda Allen is an Oral Health Therapist who graduated from the University of Otago in 2009. She also holds a post-graduate diploma in Health Science.

Amanda loves helping people with their oral health goals and needs. She prides herself on providing gentle treatment with an empathetic approach to her patients, and always strives for the best possible treatment and results for all patients.

She says she feels she has two roles as an Oral Health Therapist. “In dental therapy I particularly enjoy working with adolescents and helping them create healthy habits that will last a lifetime. My hygienist role allows me to diagnose and treat a wide spectrum of patients, from those who need routine hygiene maintenance, to those with more difficult periodontal needs.”

Outside of the practice, Amanda says she loves everything Wanaka has to offer, from getting out on the bike or lake to hiking the beautiful mountains.

Elizabeth graduated with a BSc in Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy (Distinction) from The
University of Birmingham in the UK. In recent years, she was an Ambassador for the ‘International Team of Implantology’.

Elizabeth has spent her career to date working in a multi-disciplinary private practice treating a broad range of patients and catering to their different needs. Elizabeth is passionate about treating nervous patients, implant maintenance and prevention. She aims to be gentle and meticulous while also treating patients with compassion and empathy. 

Elizabeth loves meeting new people and building relationships with her patients and finds this the most enjoyable part of her job, as well as seeing her patient’s oral health thrive.

Outside of work, you will find Elizabeth running, hiking or travelling. She has loved everything New Zealand has to offer and is excited for her new life in Wanaka!