A once-in-a-lifetime chance to be a part of something special.
When Gary Leslie first purchased The Highlands in 2015, he had two clear choices. The first was to replant the land in pines and generate carbon credits and a future harvest, with the possibility to develop the land in 2045. The second option was to develop the property now, to regenerate into native landscape, securing this outstanding natural landscape and facilitate a pathway for this to be owned and cherished by people today.
It was the humbling grandeur of the views that sealed his decision, as well as the incredible sense of serenity from the vantage points above Langs Beach, and the opportunity to welcome back the native wildlife by regenerating an indigenous forest they could call home. Gary chose this second option, desiring to create something special for the benefit of future generations. The result is downright spectacular.
The amount of native planting and pest control that has gone into regenerating 160Ha of what was once a pine monoculture into a luscious, multi-hued and lively native landscape is staggering. From the eight beautifully designed and engineered house pads you can see the regeneration happening with your own eyes – birdlife and bees returning and thriving, first succession natives flourishing. Preserved pūriri trees, remnant kauri and ricker stands offer shade along with a glimpse of the vision for the future of The Highlands.
Already a paradise, time and the ongoing commitment of Regeneration and The Highlands’ new landowners will continue to enrich this sensational native landscape, and provide a place for final succession trees such as kauri to germinate and grow.
Transitioning the property back to indigenous forest removed the last significant exotic monoculture along the coastal seaboard from Mangawhai to the Whangārei Harbour. By respecting what the land naturally wants to grow and thus restoring the environment to native coastal bush, Regeneration has contributed to
- Protecting the rare and endangered Hochstetter’s Frog population resident in the catchment by removing the impact of potential future earthworks.
- Kiwi re-habitation.
- Adding ecological value to the Te Aroroa trail walkways that border with The Highlands.
The Highlands is more than a product, it is a legacy – and now is your chance to become a part of it.
Meet The Highlands Visionaries
Gary Leslie, Proprietor
A Northland-boy through and through, Gary Leslie grew up in the Far North on the family farm in Oruaiti Valley, Doubtless Bay. After completing degrees in commerce as well as forestry science at Canterbury University, Gary and his wife, Allison, later established Northern Forest Products to manage the harvesting and marketing of plantation forests throughout Aotearoa. Looking for a different way to use land, he created Regeneration, a company that describe themselves as Land Conservationists and are committed to developing sustainable lifestyle properties. Part way through the project he lived in Europe with his family, where he completed a double MBA program through London Business School and Columbia University, an experience that gave Gary professional inspiration. Out of the many developments happening right now, The Highlands is Regeneration’s largest and, for Gary, the most rewarding. His investment into his vision is matched only by his investment into his team – the people who bring projects like The Highlands to life.
Deborah Smith, General Manager
Having worked with Gary for over 10 years, Deborah has been an integral part of the team since the beginning. Being a part of Gary’s vision of developing a harvested cutover into a completed subdivision has been an exciting journey. With a comprehensive background in administration and accounts, along with her attention to detail, Debbie keeps the wheels turning smoothly across the companies and various projects.