Labour leader Chris Hipkins has described Sir Bob Jones as a "colourful character never short of an opinion".

"There is no doubt at all that he made an indentation on the political landscape."

Former Labour minister Stuart Nash considered himself a good friend of Sir Bob Jones, having known him for 16 years after meeting him upon entering politics.

Nash described Jones as a “genius” and an “absolute legend”, while acknowledging not everyone would share that view.

"Some people will remember him as a disruptor, some as a genius, some as a true gentleman. He was the sort of guy who, back in the day, invoked a complete range of emotions."

The pair would regularly catch up for lunch or dinner, often at Jones' favourite Wellington restaurant, Juniper. Nash said he last saw him about three weeks ago for lunch with Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds, whom Jones had wanted to meet.

Laughing as he reflected on Jones’ famously “grumpy” streak in later years, Nash noted his passion for reading, his dislike of mobile phones, and his quiet philanthropy.

Jones also enjoyed using his controversial sense of humour to test people, Nash said. 

“If you had thin skin and took it the wrong way, you could see it as offensive — but Bob used humour to disarm.

“The guy really was one of a kind — it’s probably the end of an era."

Speaking from an engineering business in Dunedin, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described Sir Bob Jones as a “living legend of New Zealand”.

Luxon recalled reading Jones’ books as a teenager, admiring his “acerbic wit” and intelligence. 

“He was someone I admired hugely,” he said.

While Luxon didn’t have many in-person interactions with Jones, he spoke of him with clear respect.

Broadcaster Jeremy Wells recalled his time with Sir Bob Jones, telling Newstalk ZB’s Matt Heath & Tyler Adams Afternoons that Jones was “incredibly affable and very hospitable outside of the public eye.”

“He shared so much of himself. He was a great raconteur, an amazing conversationalist — even if, at times, it was more of a listening exercise for the other person involved in the conversation. You were definitely happy to listen, because his stories were second to none.”

Reflecting on Jones’ political venture in the 1984 election and how the split vote helped unseat Robert Muldoon, Wells asked: “Is there a man who has changed NZ politics more?”

Wells also revealed that TVNZ once offered him an exemption from its strict no-smoking policy for a studio interview with Jones, during which they drank wine and smoked cigars — in a conversation that ran well over its allotted time.

“If he decided he liked you... there was nothing he didn’t share,” said Wells. “I don’t think we’ll ever see another person like Bob Jones again.”