100 People Behind Bay Business - 2023

BOB CLARKSON
Influential businessman, sportsman, and politician—often controversial.
Bob Clarkson did not sit around and wait for things to come his way.
From humble beginnings, Clarkson became
a force to be reckoned with in the Bay of
Plenty. Some would say his greatest gift to
the Bay of Plenty is the Baypark Stadium
(now known as the Trustpower Baypark Stadium)
which he finished building in 2001, at a cost just shy
of $15 million of his own money. The stadium has
been home to various sports, including speedway
racing, rugby, and football. He sold the stadium to
the Tauranga council in 2007.
In 2020, Clarkson offloaded his extensive
industrial and rural property portfolio for $200
million in one of the biggest property transactions
ever in the Bay of Plenty.
THE EARLY YEARS
Born on 25 March 1939 in Gisborne, Robert
Moncrieff Clarkson was raised on his parents’ diary
farm near Gisborne. He attended Gisborne Boy’s
High School for two years before, at age fifteen, he
left school to qualify as a fitter and turner in 1958.
At first working in the family tractor business,
Clarkson later went to the Waikato where he
assisted as an engineer in carving out Kaimai
Tunnel. Eventually, he began selling and servicing
tractors in Matamata. He made the bulk of his
money importing and fitting V8 motors from the
United States. After nine years, he moved into
commercial building and construction.
PROVINCIAL HOCKEY, OLYMPICS, STOCK CAR
RACING, AND DRAGSTER TITLES
Clarkson played field hockey for the Poverty Bay
provincial team. He was standby goalkeeper for
the New Zealand team that took gold at the 1976
Montreal Summer Olympics in 1976.
His interest in cars and racing saw him become
a member of the New Zealand Stock Car Racing
Team from 1968 to 1971. He also held seven New
Zealand/Australian titles in drag racing between
1972 and 1975.
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
Being a long-time member of the National Party at
the time, he was recruited to contest the Tauranga
seat against Winston Peters in 2005. Peters had
held the seat for 21 years.
Bob Clarkson won the seat with a 2.02% (730
votes) lead over Winston Peters. Most notably, he
was the National Party Associate Spokesperson,
Building and Construction and Associate
Spokesperson, Housing, both from 2005 to 8
November 2008. He resigned from his political
career in 2008. In 2011 he defected to Act, but never
represented the Act Party in an election.
COURTING CONTROVERSY
Clarkson’s outspoken nature has often invited
controversy. Winston Peters accused Clarkson of
spending more than is allowed on his campaign.
However, the high court found in Clarkson’s favour.
Although some of his comments, both in
parliament and various interviews, offended
various groups he has never been one to shy away
from saying what he thought, even if it did result in
him sometimes ending up in ‘hot water’.
He wanted to develop a multi-million-dollar
residential community (2000-odd houses with 500
‘discounted’ to be affordable homes for Tauranga
families) alongside the Wairoa River, but was
held up by rezoning and consenting issues which
eventually forced him to let the ambitious plan go.
CNZM
Bob Clarkson was appointed a Companion of
the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to
Philanthropy, Industrial Properties, and the Sports
Stadium 2003.
4 | 100 – PEOPLE BEHIND BAY BUSINESS | 2023