She grew up in Heretaunga, near Wellington, as a "sporty girl", and came out as a debutante.
She was a model, for a season, at London fashion house, Worth, before marrying Alastair McGregor, who farmed Western Southland’s Mount Linton Station, in the early 1960s.
During this time she flew a fixed-wing plane and also became Southland’s first female helicopter pilot — her specialty was flicking cast sheep upright with the skid of her Hughes 300.
Brigie, who elegantly hosted copious parties, also drove one of New Zealand’s first Range Rovers and an E-type Jaguar.
In 1970, she and her husband bought a property on Queenstown’s Hunter Road, which she called Hamilton Hill.
Local architect Murray Cockburn, then living in Oamaru, designed a distinctive Mexican home as their holiday house — "in many ways, she designed it and I listened to what she wanted".
After Brigie and Alastair divorced she married Wellington-based Alan Pollock — they subsequently shared their time between Wellington and Queenstown till he died six years ago, after which she lived here full-time.
Brigie was a keen skier on Queenstown’s Coronet Peak skifield and co-founded its Rocky Gully ski club.
Local friend Jillian Jardine recalls she was an amazing host at Hunter Rd — "the Melbourne Cup party was a tradition which continued after her husband died".
Brigie was a keen cook, gardener and painter, travelled extensively, and introduced golfcross, using rugby ball-shaped golf balls and suspended goal nets, to Queenstown.
She also proudly developed Hamilton Hill as a deer farm.
In recent times she had a QEII National Trust open space covenant placed on her property, recognising its beautiful natural pond, in particular, meaning it can’t be subdivided.
Fulfilling her wishes, another female chopper pilot, Louisa ‘Choppy’ Patterson, scattered her ashes after her memorial service.
Brigie’s niece Lucinda ‘Bizz’ Macfarlane, speaking at the service, said her legacy at Hamilton Hill is "a testament".
"It’s a place she truly treasured."
She’s also survived by her sister Anna Peacock and nephews Jeremy and Rupert Moore.
