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Eyewitness News - Bob Jones punches reporter Rod Vaughan

Television (Excerpts) – 1985

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21 Jun 2017 - 08.10pm

tut tut

Troy

21 Jul 2014 - 10.52pm

we need more politicians like this

Stan Chun

27 May 2014 - 11.41pm

If I had a trout at the end of my line and lost it because a paparazzi type reporter did not respect my privacy I think I would have punched him in the nose too. We can be too 'polite' and some take advantage of this especially the press as they need a story. Well they certainly got one that time. Jones does not mince words and cannot tolerate idiots. The reporter was lucky he was not thrown in the river as well.

Brian

27 May 2014 - 09.04am

Well Rod, it did make for good television I suppose.
Would have have been funny if you had of clocked him first.
You saw it coming right?

Mary

27 May 2014 - 07.00am

Bob Jones fooled a lot of people at the time. He formed a political party for his own ends, ( just to rid the country of Muldoon) and many people were taken in. A friend of mine worked very hard in that party believing it to be a real political party and then suddenly they were all dropped when he achieved his aim. He had not been honest. Granted, it was intrusive to follow him with a helicopter but he deserved it. His reaction shows what sort of person he is. I have absolutely no respect for him. He appears to have very little self-knowledge or compassion. The real mystery is that he has such a lovely, talented, compassionate brother in Lloyd.

Bob

11 Jan 2014 - 11.07am

LOL. You should have left him alone. Maybe call him for an interview instead of landing a chopper to corner the guy. If you're going for a hostile interview, you might want to wear your gloves.

Kevin Waugh

22 Oct 2013 - 08.30pm

Punching someone (when not in self defence) cannot be excused - and for someone who is supposed to be a "boxer" to to punch a "civilian" just shows what a bully and ignorant pr*ck he is (he hasn't changed )

Rod Vaughan

2 Oct 2013 - 10.01am

Thank you Arthur for putting the story in context. And just for the record I never for one moment thought New Zealanders would feel "sorry" for me. I made it quite clear at the time, and later in my book "Bloodied But Not Beaten", that most Kiwis thought I deserved to be punched for my actions on that fateful day.
Whether that still holds true is another matter.

Charlie hoots

17 Jul 2013 - 08.55pm

I'd be pretty pissed if a helicopter scared off my fish also.

Arthur Wilson

4 Apr 2013 - 11.55pm

Jones had just announced he'd wound up the NZ First Party he'd created, basically without any real explanation, and disappeared from sight. Why would he NOT have expected the media to track him down? It was big news. You can't just one day say: "That's it, she's all over red rover, the party's kaput, see ya!" and imagine no questions will be forthcoming. Had this been just a break he was taking, as opposed to a moonlight flit, then fair enough, he'd have had every reason to claim an invasion of privacy -- but by making that announcement and then doing a bunk, he asked for it. A damned poor show, especially after he'd used the media for all the publicity he could get when he headed the party.

12 Mar 2013 - 11.09pm

The irreconcilable thing to me is that Vaughan actually thought the NZ public would feel sorry for him...

NotASimian

1 Dec 2012 - 12.00pm

I'm sure all you knuckle draggers who support Jones' actions would be equally supportive if I was to do the same thing to the Jehovah's Witnesses and other religious types that come to my door and tell me I deserve an eternity in hell for not believing in their imaginary friend? Y'know, invasion of privacy as you say....

doug brown

20 Oct 2012 - 10.46pm

Again, it's a case of both sides being amateurs. Who the hell hires a chartered helicopter to disturb a politician fly fishing for an interview. What an incredible waste of resources. Who in their right mind would think anyone would appreciate this invasion?

Rossco

27 Sep 2012 - 11.36am

I met Jones at the 1981 Springbok tour game in Hamilton. He had grabbed me by the arm and invited me to fight with him against the protesters. I regret to this day not smacking the idiot between the eyes there and then. Jones is an idiot.

4 Sep 2012 - 09.17pm

what a woofter ya moron!!!

nick

16 May 2012 - 07.50pm

Well done Bob!!!, with an intrusion of privacy such as this, the reporter got exactly what he deserved. Refreshing to see a "straight up/ non pc" reaction.

Notamoronisamoron

8 May 2012 - 06.33pm

Anyone commenting on here who cannot recognise the gross intrusion of privacy and the sanctimonious attitude of our pathetic media, may well indeed be a moron.

NotAMoron

7 May 2012 - 03.04pm

Shocking comments here from people supporting this kind of violent behaviour....You should be more supportive of the media, if it wasn't for them holding politicians accountable, they'd get away with anything and everything. Obviously a lot of you have absolutely zero understanding for how the media actually works in your favour for keeping politicians (who you SHOULD be more skeptical of) honest.

Rosie France

4 Apr 2012 - 11.31am

I preferred it when he chivalrously 'defended' Yoko Ono from a cameraman by smacking him over in a Tokyo museum....

Gary McNabb

2 Apr 2012 - 12.32am

What a prize idiot.
I don't agree with how the reporters went about this but it's shameful when a politician, a representative of our country and role model, solves problems like a gorilla.

29 Mar 2012 - 10.02am

This needs to happen to more of these tossers!

Andre

10 Mar 2012 - 01.51pm

When will the tiny brained , inflated ego'd journalists of NZ and the world think they have the right to invade peoples space. This video should be played at vocational guidance reception areas, so deluded folk who think it is an honorable vocation get a slap of reality. The media need much more of this sort of treatment.

Peter

6 Mar 2012 - 03.11pm

I have donated to the Taupo Museum the original of the brilliant Minhinnick Herald cartoon which followed this incident, plus newspaper clippings at the time, so that those younger than me can get the whole context of the saga. Bob was also reported as saying that for another $1000 he would have punched the helicopter pilot as well!

Benno

21 Jan 2012 - 09.17am

Yea smack that little nancy boy in the face. The man's fishing and you come in with a helicopter.. Just deserts mate.

Stanley

16 Nov 2011 - 07.22pm

Just deserved, that will teach him a good lesson for forcefully invading ones privacy...Good one Bob!

Adrian

16 Nov 2011 - 07.01pm

Bob you Legend, I would pay a $1000 to punch a Journo. After the Key today thing the Govt could change the law to raise taxes by punching these muppets.

Kimba Jackson

16 Nov 2011 - 05.30pm

Good times, good times Bob. Thanks for the memory. Give him one for me too. Any reporter I have come into contact with has done more than enough to deserve similar.

Dave

16 Nov 2011 - 04.50pm

kiwi mate of mine just pointed me at this. brillliant quote, and served the reporter right for invading his privacy

Pete

1 Sep 2011 - 11.09am

I remember this when I was a young fella. I guess if you're going to annoy a politician, you should probably choose one who wasn't a boxer. I'll bet our Rod never went looking for him again when he didn't answer his phone. Plus Bob's hilarious comment to the judge about doubling the fine so he could do it again. Say what you like about him, Bob Jones is a man of great wit and its a shame we have such bland sound bite spouting talking heads today.

Dan

28 Aug 2011 - 09.59am

Great left hook Bob, this was my most favourite piece of TV growing up as a kid. Finally the media getting what it deserved!

9 Aug 2011 - 11.59pm

Serves Rod right for a gross invasion of privacy

7 Aug 2011 - 12.17am

Why was this thug not put in jail?

James

5 Aug 2011 - 02.51pm

Now Gordon Harcourt from "Fair Go" will be able to add his clip of being beaten up!

Jim Mitchell

5 Aug 2011 - 10.42am