PHOTO: Sir Bob Jones. FILE
Sir Bob Jones — New Zealand’s most famous property investor and an outspoken political disruptor — has died at the age of 85.
Best known for building a multi-billion-dollar commercial property empire and launching a political movement that helped end the Muldoon era, Jones passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family after a brief illness.
The news was confirmed by the general manager of Robert Jones Holdings, the company he founded and built into a powerhouse of commercial real estate.
🏙️ From State House Beginnings to Sky-High Property Portfolios
Born in Lower Hutt, Sir Robert “Bob” Jones rose from humble beginnings to become one of the wealthiest and most recognisable figures in New Zealand business. In 1964, he founded Robert Jones Investments, which would later become a titan in commercial property, owning landmark buildings across Auckland, Wellington, and even as far afield as Glasgow, Scotland.
Jones took the company public in 1982, a bold move that cemented its position as a major player in New Zealand’s booming real estate sector. Though it weathered the 1987 stock market crash, the company never regained its pre-crash share value, but remained highly influential in the commercial property landscape.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
🎯 Political Firebrand: The Man Who Split the National Party Vote
In 1983, Bob Jones shocked the political establishment by launching the New Zealand Party, aiming to disrupt Robert Muldoon’s National Government. His blend of free-market economic policies and sharp-tongued populism attracted enough voters to split the right-leaning base and pave the way for David Lange’s Labour Party to sweep into power in 1984.
Although the New Zealand Party didn’t win any seats, it collected a significant 12% of the vote, effectively reshaping New Zealand’s political future.
🎤 Controversial, Outspoken — and Always in the Spotlight
Never one to shy away from public debate, Jones was a regular in the media — writing newspaper columns, appearing on talkback radio, and publishing books. He often expressed strong opinions on everything from the arts to politics, boxing to bureaucracy.
His most infamous media moment came in the 1980s, when TV reporter Rod Vaughan helicoptered into Jones’ fly-fishing retreat. The resulting confrontation — where Vaughan was punched in the face — was captured on national television and became a legendary moment in Kiwi pop culture.
⚖️ Legal Warrior and Defamation Defendant
Jones was no stranger to courtrooms, having fought numerous defamation suits and contract disputes over the years. One of the most significant cases came after the 1984 election, when he sued National Party MP Hugh Templeton over defamatory campaign pamphlets — a legal battle that helped define future New Zealand defamation law.
He was knighted in 1989 for services to business but continued to generate headlines. In 2018, he famously attempted to sue over a petition calling for his knighthood to be revoked following a controversial newspaper column — a case he later dropped.
💬 Beyond the Bluster: A Private Philanthropist
Behind the bravado and boxing gloves, Bob Jones was also a committed philanthropist. He supported organisations ranging from women’s refuges to the New Zealand Ballet and was deeply involved in the boxing world. He even managed heavyweight champion Joseph Parker early in his career and frequently appeared as a boxing commentator.
🕊️ A Legacy That Will Outlive the Man
Sir Bob Jones’ death marks the end of an era in New Zealand property, business, and political history. He was a man of contradictions — fiercely intelligent, stubbornly independent, often controversial, but undeniably impactful. From high-rise towers to high-profile lawsuits, he left his mark on every aspect of New Zealand life.
SOURCE: RNZ