Peter Lines (July 29, 1957 — June 28, 2025) grew up surrounded by hops and spent more than 50 years working the land — which is exactly what he was doing when he died in a freak accident on June 28.
Peter died when he was struck by a tree when trying to clear flood damage on his Totara Terrace hop farm in Wai-iti.
His death stunned the close-knit hop-growing community and the wider region.
“He was a big character, part of a multi-generational farming family and a significant part of the community,” said Tasman mayor Tim King.
The Lines family has farmed at Wai-iti since 1842 and started growing hops in the 1870s.
Peter was a fifth-generation hop farmer who left school early to pursue the only career he wanted.
“As long as I can remember I wanted to be a hop farmer,” he once said in a video produced for NZ Hops Ltd.
“I left school as soon as I could because all I wanted to do was work with my father on the farm.
“As a kid I’d help Dad before school each day, after school and all weekend. One of my earliest memories is of playing in the hop rows while my mother hand-picked the hops.
“I have a lot of pride and passion for growing hops. I feel proud to be producing hops on that same land and making a good job of them.”
Marlene, his wife of 46 years, added: “Peter is incredibly passionate about hops, ever since I’ve known him he’s put his heart and soul into growing hops – the loves everything about them.”
NZ Hops Ltd paid tribute to Peter through their social media channels with a beautiful video.
“Peter’s absolute passion for hops was truly contagious for all those who were lucky to visit him on his immaculate farm,” the co-operative said.
“His drive to be continually the best producer he could possibly be and a work rate that was admired by all growers was testament to his forebears that started farming this same soil back in 1842.
“Peter’s legacy extends far beyond the bines. It is rooted in the friendships, family ties, and community he helped cultivate. He leaves an enduring imprint on the hop and beer world. Somewhere out there, we know he’s raising a cold glass of beer with that unmistakable grin and a tale or two to share with friends on what’s been going on in the world of hops.”
Peter also had a brewery on his farm, Hop Farm Brewing, where he brewed with the help of his long-time friend and neighbour Colin Oldham of New Hoplands and a good friend Ross “Forty” Ford.
Speaking at the funeral, Colin said:
“What I really valued about my friendship with Pete was that we could talk about anything.
“We had real conversations and just as much banter — about hops, about our families, about the world, and about the colourful characters around us in the industry.
“There was complete trust between us. We knew we could count on each other.
“That kind of loyalty and honesty is rare — and Peter had it in spades.
“He was fiercely straight-up, dependable, and hard-working. He didn’t sugar-coat things, and that’s exactly why you could always take him at his word.”
The 600-litre brewery was originally called Totara Brewing, but once Peter realised he had the only hop farm in the country with a brewery on it he changed the name to Hop Farm.
Peter told Pursuit of Hoppiness in 2023 they had a core range of five beers, which are on tap at a few pubs around the Tasman region, as well as occasional seasonals.
And they had a “network of fellas with man caves who will buy kegs off us”.
Peter was an old-fashioned farmer who took pride in making sure his farm always looked clean and tidy.
If not for the tragedy of June 28, he would have kept working many more years as he waited for his son, Stace, and his wife Katie to take over and become sixth-generation farmers.
“It’s my hobby,” he said. “A lot of people think I’m crazy. I could retire tomorrow but I’d be bored senseless.”
As Colin noted:
“He never boasted, never slowed down, just got on with it — and did it bloody well. If anyone’s earned a rest, it’s Peter Lines. Rest easy, mate.”