Andy Lowe is a Hawke’s Bay developer and conservation‑minded entrepreneur who created Hill Country Estate as a long‑term lifestyle community carefully integrated into the rural landscape.

Early career and business experience

Before turning to property, Andy worked in the meat industry, where he built commercial experience and capital that later allowed him to move into development. After selling his meat works business, he was subject to a restraint of trade, which pushed him to focus on property projects and long‑range land use planning.​

Vision for Hill Country Estate

Hill Country Estate began as Andy’s “slice of heaven” concept: a limited‑density farm park style development in Hawke’s Bay, with covenants to cap the number of sites and protect the wider landscape. The estate was designed to combine vineyards, olive groves, open space and lifestyle properties so people could live in the country while helping to preserve its character.

Design, scale and purpose

The Hill Country development was structured around a relatively small number of lifestyle sites within a much bigger landholding, with strong emphasis on open space, rural character and covenanted protection. Features such as vineyards, native plantings and recreational facilities (including a small golf course and shared amenities) were planned to foster a sense of community rather than conventional suburban subdivision.

Conservation and long‑term thinking

A key part of Andy’s approach has been thinking in 50‑ to 100‑year time frames, aiming to avoid ad‑hoc coastal and rural development and instead create communities that also act as guardians of the environment. This philosophy links to wider projects around Ocean Beach and Cape Kidnappers, where he has backed predator‑proof fencing and habitat restoration alongside development proposals.

Legacy and connection to the next generation

Hill Country Estate is often described as Andy’s dream project, reflecting decades of business experience and a strong belief that good development and conservation can support each other. That legacy now continues through his grandson Ashton Scott’s leadership of Hill Country Estate Wines, tying the original land‑development vision to a new generation focused on premium wine and ongoing stewardship of the property.