Jones started his business, the eponymous Robt. Jones Holdings, in 1961.<\/p>\n
Sir Bob Jones in 2013. Photo \/ Brett Phibbs<\/p>\n
The businessman died on May 2 last year<\/a>, aged 85.<\/p>\n Company director Robert Edward Jones of Lower Hutt made his last will on May 3, 2016, appointing executors as: <\/p>\n Son Christopher Lloyd Jones of Lisbon, Portugal \u2013 the middle name is the same as Jones\u2019 brother, famous author Lloyd JonesRobt. Jones Holdings\u2019 managing director Greg Riaka Loveridge of Herne Bay, who has been with the company for two decadesLawyer David Butler of Lower HuttBanker Philip Andrew Bennett of Wellington<\/p>\n Because two trusts were identified, the will throws little light on who ultimately stands to benefit from Jones\u2019 fortune.<\/p>\n Jones bequeathed his assets to the trustees of the Jones (No. 1) Family Trust and the Jones (No. 2) Family Trust, both established in 1989. <\/p>\n The only assets specified in the will were two Sydney homes: one at Point Piper in what is said to be the city\u2019s most expensive area, where prices exceed A$15 million ($18.3m), and the other at Darling Point, where prices are in the A$9m to A$10m range.<\/p>\n The Tirohanga Trust was also mentioned in the will. Companies Office records show Tirohanga Nominees and Tirohanga Holdings own all shares in Robt. Jones Holdings.<\/p>\n Greg Loveridge is the sole director of the parent business, Robt. Jones Holdings, incorporated in 2004.<\/p>\n Loveridge was happy to speak about the legacy and how it is being managed a year after Jones\u2019 death.<\/p>\n He explained the situation clearly.<\/p>\n \u201cBob was always interested in buying new properties but had not been involved in the business on a day-to-day or even month-to-month basis for a number of years.\u201d<\/p>\n Yet Jones\u2019 big presence is very much missed. <\/p>\n \u201cThe office is a lot quieter than it used to be without him there,\u201d Loveridge said.<\/p>\n The family and the business were separate, Loveridge stressed. He had no involvement with the family directly.<\/p>\n However, he did acknowledge having worked with Jones\u2019 son, Chris Jones, for nine years.<\/p>\n For Loveridge, the emphasis is exactly the same as it has always been in the 20 years he has been with Robt. Jones Holdings.<\/p>\n \u201cThe key thing to know is that Bob\u2019s biggest wish is that he wanted the business to continue and wanted it to grow.\u201d<\/p>\n That wish was certainly fulfilled.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s got size, a solid number of income streams and we do what we have always done with buildings with multiple tenants,\u201d Loveridge said.<\/p>\n The company\u2019s website is about to be updated.<\/p>\n Wellington-based company general manager Aaron Leech said it needed a refresh to \u201cget with the times\u201d.<\/p>\n The company, founded by the ex-politician, controls some of New Zealand\u2019s most valuable office towers with hundreds of tenants, including government agencies.<\/p>\n As recently as 2023, Jones was still accumulating buildings<\/a>. <\/p>\n Then, Robt. Jones Holdings bought 51-53 Shortland St, an 18-level Auckland office tower valued at $70 million.<\/p>\n That gave Jones full control of the twin-tower Shortland Centre because he already owned the neighbouring tower at 55 Shortland St, so it made sense to buy the neighbour on the Fields Lane corner.<\/p>\n The two towers rise from a common podium with valuable underground parking for around 300 vehicles.<\/p>\n Last year, after Jones died, Loveridge also told BusinessDesk<\/a> the business would continue to operate as usual.<\/p>\n \u201cAs per Bob\u2019s wishes, the business is to continue to operate and provide income for his various beneficiaries and charitable endeavours,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n \u201cThe management of the buildings remains the same.\u201d<\/p>\n Below is a list of Robt. Jones\u2019 properties. Valuations are included where they are available.<\/p>\n 19 Wellington properties<\/p>\n Brandon House, 149-152 Featherston St, a refurbished 11-level building on Brandon St corner, $16.1mCentrepoint, 342 Lambton Quay, $39.5mPencarrow House, 56\u201366 Jervois Quay, $17.3mThe Bayleys Building, 36 Brandon St, $19.4mEquinox House, 222 Lambton QuayMidland Chambers, 45 Johnston StSolent House, 70 The Terrace, $35.9m44 The Terrace building, $44.5mCity Chambers, 142 Featherston StCivic Chambers, 114 Lambton Quay165\u2013177 Lambton QuayFeatherston House, 119 Featherston St, $16.8mHarbour Tower, 2 Hunter St, $41.7mLambton Centre, 117 Lambton Quay, $27.4mLambton House, 152-172 Lambton Quay, $38.1mLegal House, 101 Lambton QuayWellington Chambers, 154 Featherston St. $23mWoodward House, 188 Lambton Quay, $8.7mProsser Street, 11 Prosser St, Porirua<\/p>\n Eight Auckland properties <\/p>\n 37-41 Shortland St, 19-level building previously called the AIG Building, now called 41 Shortland St, $92.5mPerpetual Guardian Tower, 191 Queen St, $77.5mSouthern Cross Building, 59-67 High St, $38mTakapuna Finance Centre, 159 Hurstmere RdTower one and tower two, Shortland Centre\u00a051 and 55 Shortland St \u2013 51-53 is valued at $60m, 55-66 is valued at $82mSAP Tower, 151 Queen St\u00a0bought<\/a>\u00a0from Precinct Properties for $97m in 2014, now valued at $145m129-155 Hurstmere Rd, Takapuna, $35mPD Insurance House, 5-7 Byron Ave, Takapuna<\/p>\n Six Glasgow properties<\/p>\n Jones was drawn to Glasgow for its great architecture.<\/p>\n Classical buildings in red brick are among the company\u2019s collection there.<\/p>\n Back story<\/p>\n Robt. Jones Holdings was founded in 1961 and has claimed to be the largest CBD office building owner in Auckland and Wellington.<\/p>\n Records show that various companies own the 27 New Zealand properties, all with Robt. Jones at the start of the company names.<\/p>\n Nineteen are in Wellington, eight in Auckland and six in Glasgow.<\/p>\n Jones rose to political prominence when he founded the New Zealand Party, active from the early 1980s to the early 1990s.<\/p>\n He held controversial views, including labelling beggars<\/a> a disgrace to society and last decade suggesting<\/a> M\u0101ori should bring P\u0101keh\u0101 breakfast in bed, weed their gardens, and wash and polish their cars out of gratitude for existing.<\/p>\n That resulted in a petition that received more than 88,000 signatures.<\/p>\n He did not go ahead with plans last decade<\/a> to erect a 12-level wooden office building in central Wellington on the site of the Leaders Building on Featherston St.<\/p>\nSir Bob Jones was in the TV series Dragon’s Den. Photo \/ Michael Bradley<\/p>\n
Sir Bob Jones named two homes in Sydney’s best suburbs in his will.<\/p>\n
Greg Loveridge of Robt. Jones Holdings. Photo \/ Robt. Jones Holdings<\/p>\n
Sir Bob Jones at the offices of Robt. Jones Holdings in Auckland in 2013. Photo \/ Brett Phibbs<\/p>\n
Plans from 2017 for a wooden building in Wellington’s Featherston St were never executed.<\/p>\n
SAP House, 151 Queen St, Auckland: one of the company’s many assets. <\/p>\n
51-53 Shortland St, Auckland, which Robt. Jones Holdings bought in 2018.<\/p>\n
Sir Bob Jones at the offices of Robt. Jones Holdings in 2013. Photo \/ Brett Phibbs<\/p>\n
A Robt. Jones Holdings building in Glasgow, Scotland. Photo \/ Robt. Jones Holdings145 St Vincent StThe Beacon Building, 176 St Vincent StAllan House, 25 Bothwell St, corner of Wellington StFestival House, 177 West George StThe Gatehouse\u00a0201 West George St107 West Regent St<\/p>\n