Peter Lines: Community mourns fifth-generation hop farmer killed by falling tree during floods

Peter Lines was hit by a tree while clearing flood damage. Photo: Supplied

By RNZ

The man killed by a falling tree during floods across the South Island was a fifth-generation hop farmer and “big character” in both the industry and his region.

Peter Lines was hit by a tree while clearing flood damage in Wai-iti, southeast of Wakefield on Saturday morning.

He died at the scene and the incident has been referred to the coroner.

Tasman Mayor Tim King told RNZ the death had shocked the community.

“He was a big character, part of a multi-generational farming family and a significant part of the community.”

Lines’ family had been growing hops for some 170 years and he was proud to be a fifth-generation hop grower.

In a video he made for the NZ Hops website, he described how he enjoyed the work and loved the growth of new beers in New Zealand – so much so that he branched out into brewing.

Emergency Minister Mark Mitchell said this afternoon he wanted to acknowledge the region had lost a highly respected member of the community.

“That will be reverberating through the community.”

– RNZ