Iconic dairy back in business

FRESH START: Nilam (left) and Hiran Patel, on Saturday, the first day their new Kia Ora dairy in Featherston was open. The original dairy had shut eight months earlier, with the Patels opting for a location three doors up with better street parking.PHOTO/ANDREW BONALLACK

The Kia Ora Dairy is back in Featherston.

In fact, the dairy's opening on Saturday morning marked the end of a drought for dairies in Featherston, following the original dairy, three doors away, being converted to a Thirsty Liquor bottle store, plus the loss of the Signal Box dairy to a blaze last year.

Kia Ora owners Nilam and Hiran Patel, who also run the bottle store, say they are not fazed by the upcoming Supervalue complex further up the road.

The Kia Ora dairy was near-iconic in Featherston, as a stop-off point for ice creams, but it only had one park on the kerb outside.

The brand-new building has better frontage, the Patels say.

"People have promised they will be back," said Mrs Patel.

"They have been looking forward to having a dairy back in town.

"I'm confident - especially with the ice creams."

Mrs Patel's entire New Zealand life, apart from two months in Wellington, has been in Featherston, she said.

"I've lived for 14 years here, I like Featherston."

Eleven minutes after opening at 8am, the first official customer was rural postie Gordon Wyeth, stopping off to collect a pie and two energy drinks.