[5] On 22 January 1953, he married Dorothy June Netting at St Paul's Anglican Church, Papanui,[6] and the couple went on to have five children.

[9] Active in the North Canterbury branch of Federated Farmers, Wright served as chairman of the meat and wool section from 1967 to 1971, and president between 1971 and 1974.

[5] In the 1982 New Year Honours, Wright was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, in recognition of his service as president of Federated Farmers.

[9] His term as chairman and chancellor was characterised by significant roll growth and an increasing diversity in courses offered at Lincoln, with a consensus leadership style.

He was director of companies including Southpower, Alliance Textiles, New Zealand Rail, the Rural Bank, the Trigon packaging group, and FMG Insurance.