Bob Jones (New Zealand)
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert 'Bob' Jones is a property tycoon, author and former politician
in New Zealand
. Growing up in the City of Lower Hutt
suburb of Naenae
, he attended Naenae College and then Victoria University of Wellington
. During his time there, he contributed to a boxing column in the university's newspaper
Salient (magazine)
.
Jones earned his wealth through investments in commercial property via his company Robt. Jones Holdings Ltd, and is currently worth $200 million according to the 2007 NBR
rich list.
He formed the short-lived neo-liberal New Zealand Party
in 1983, just before Robert Muldoon's
snap 1984 election
. When the election was over, Jones disbanded the party. In 1985, Jones was reached while out fishing in a remote valley in Taupo
by reporters in a helicopter, which included TVNZ journalist Rod Vaughan. Upon realising the reporters spotted him, Jones infamously punched Vaughan in the nose, with the whole incident recorded on tape.
He attempted to remove the Fiji
an Embassy from one of his properties during the time of the 1987 Fijian Coup.
Jones is alleged to shun recent technology; he reportedly hand-writes all of his books by choice, and has been cited in the Sunday Star-Times as refusing to own a mobile phone. The Sunday Star-Times published a subsequent report on 22 October 2006, however, in which he denied elements of the previous week's report and said that he had no aversion to modern technology.
He is the older brother of prizewinning author Lloyd Jones
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Growing up in the City of Lower Hutt
Lower Hutt
Lower Hutt is a city in the Wellington region of New Zealand. Its council has adopted the name Hutt City Council, but neither the New Zealand Geographic Board nor the Local Government Act recognise the name Hutt City. This alternative name can lead to confusion, as there are two cities in the...
suburb of Naenae
Naenae
Naenae is a suburb of the city of Lower Hutt in the North Island of New Zealand. It lies on the eastern edge of the floodplain of the Hutt River, four kilometres from the Lower Hutt Central business district. A small tributary of the Hutt, the Waiwhetu Stream, flows through the suburb.Naenae has a...
, he attended Naenae College and then Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
. During his time there, he contributed to a boxing column in the university's newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
Salient (magazine)
Salient (magazine)
Salient is the weekly students' magazine of the Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. Salient was established in 1938 and originally published in newspaper format, but has lately become a magazine. Salient's style and editorial...
.
Jones earned his wealth through investments in commercial property via his company Robt. Jones Holdings Ltd, and is currently worth $200 million according to the 2007 NBR
National Business Review
The National Business Review is a weekly New Zealand newspaper aimed at the business sector. The paper is owned by Barry Colman who also publishes the Grocers Review and several other small trade publications....
rich list.
He formed the short-lived neo-liberal New Zealand Party
New Zealand Party
width=300|thumb|Party logoThe New Zealand Party was a political party operating in New Zealand. It was established by millionaire property tycoon Bob Jones, and promoted both social and economic liberalization. The New Zealand Party's motto was "Freedom and Prosperity", and it has sometimes been...
in 1983, just before Robert Muldoon's
Robert Muldoon
Sir Robert David "Rob" Muldoon, GCMG, CH served as the 31st Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984, as leader of the governing National Party. Muldoon had been a prominent member of the National party and MP for the Tamaki electorate for some years prior to becoming leader of the party...
snap 1984 election
New Zealand general election, 1984
The 1984 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the 41st New Zealand Parliament. It marked the beginning of the Fourth Labour Government, with David Lange's Labour Party defeating long-serving Prime Minister Robert Muldoon of the National Party. It was also the...
. When the election was over, Jones disbanded the party. In 1985, Jones was reached while out fishing in a remote valley in Taupo
Taupo
Taupo is a town on the shore of Lake Taupo in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand. It is the seat of the Taupo District Council and lies in the southern Waikato Region....
by reporters in a helicopter, which included TVNZ journalist Rod Vaughan. Upon realising the reporters spotted him, Jones infamously punched Vaughan in the nose, with the whole incident recorded on tape.
He attempted to remove the Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
an Embassy from one of his properties during the time of the 1987 Fijian Coup.
Jones is alleged to shun recent technology; he reportedly hand-writes all of his books by choice, and has been cited in the Sunday Star-Times as refusing to own a mobile phone. The Sunday Star-Times published a subsequent report on 22 October 2006, however, in which he denied elements of the previous week's report and said that he had no aversion to modern technology.
He is the older brother of prizewinning author Lloyd Jones
Lloyd Jones (New Zealand author)
Lloyd Jones is a New Zealand author who currently resides in Wellington. His novel Mister Pip won the Commonwealth Writers' Prize and was shortlisted for the Booker.-Early life and education:...
.