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Alan Timothy Gibbs
Born1939 (age 85–86)
Christchurch, New Zealand
Alma materCanterbury University (B.A., 1961)
Victoria University of Wellington (M.A., Economics, 1962)
Occupation(s)Businessman and former public servant
SpouseJennifer Gore (Dame Jenny Gibbs)
ChildrenAmanda, Debbi and Emma and one son Thane.
Parent(s)Theodore Nisbet Gibbs
Elsie Gibbs

Alan Timothy Gibbs (born 1939) is a New Zealand-born businessman, entrepreneur and former public servant.

During the 1960s and 1970s, Gibbs was involved in manufacturing and investment banking, before overseeing the corporatisation of New Zealand's forestry sector as chair of the New Zealand Forestry Corporation during the Fourth Labour Government.[1][2]

Gibbs is a founding member and major funder of the ACT Party and has been a prominent advocate of free-market reform since the 1980s.[3][4]

He is the founder of Gibbs Amphibians, which produces amphibious vehicles.

Early life

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Alan Gibbs was born in Christchurch, the son of Theodore Nisbet Gibbs and Elsie Gibbs.[5] His father was a businessman and active member of the National Party who chaired a Royal Commission on taxation for the First National Government.[6]

In 1963, after graduating from university, Gibbs was employed as Third Secretary in the New Zealand High Commission in London through his father's connection to future Prime Minister Keith Holyoake.[6] In 1965, Gibbs returned to New Zealand to work in the Prime Minister's department.[1]

New Zealand business career

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From 1966 to 1970, with his brother Ian, Gibbs sought to produce New Zealand's first domestically produced car, the Anziel Nova.[4][7][6] In the 1970s, Gibbs worked in investment banking, establishing his own firm Gibbs Securities to advise on corporate transactions.[4] As a business person, Gibbs was involved in several high-profile investments and restructurings, including the acquisition of car dealership Tappenden Motors, the management buyout of Freightways, the privatisation of Telecom, and the founding of Sky TV.[4]

Public sector reform

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In 1985, Gibbs was appointed to the Forestry Corporation Establishment Board, which established the New Zealand Forestry Corporation (NZFC), a state-owned enterprise, as part of the Rogernomics reforms.[1] Gibbs oversaw the NZFC during the corporatisation of New Zealand's forestry assets, which resulted in over 3,000 public sector forestry employees being made redundant in 1987.[2][8] In 1989, the Forestry Corporation's plantation forests were privatised.

Gibbs also advised the Fourth Labour Government on restructuring the public health and welfare systems.[9]

Political advocacy

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As a university student, Gibbs was a self-described proponent of "market socialism", and started the New Left Club at Canterbury University.[10] However, he later adopted a neoliberal ideology after becoming more involved in business.[6]

During the Fourth Labour Government, Gibbs was an active member of the Business Roundtable and a strong supporter of Roger Douglas.[4] He established a New Zealand branch of libertarian think-tank the Centre for Independent Studies and was involved in the establishment of the ACT Party.[11]

In 2014, the New Zealand Herald reported that Gibbs gave $100,000 to the ACT Party each election year.[3] During a speech to the ACT Party conference that year, Gibbs advocated privatising all of New Zealand's schools, hospitals and roads.[12]

His daughter, Debbi Gibbs, is chairperson of the Atlas Network, a libertarian think tank.[13]

Art and sculpture collection at Gibbs Farm

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Gibbs is an art collector, and since 1991 has created a 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) sculpture park on his property at Gibbs Farm,[14][15] which is located on Kaipara Harbour on New Zealand's North Island.

Among the art works installed on The Farm are pieces by contemporary artists including Daniel Buren, Neil Dawson, Marijke de Goey, Andy Goldsworthy, Anish Kapoor, George Rickey, Richard Serra and Bernar Venet.[16][17]

Gibbs receiving an honorary doctorate from University of Canterbury Chancellor John Wood in April 2014

Honours and awards

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In 2018, Gibbs was inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame.[18] He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Canterbury in 2014.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Goldsmith, Paul (2012). Serious Fun: the life and times of Alan Gibbs. Auckland: Random House. ISBN 978-978-1-86979-2.
  2. ^ a b Berg, Peter (May 2013). "The events of 1987 Corporatising and privatising the state's forests". NZ Journal of Forestry. 58 (1).
  3. ^ a b "Go radical, Act Party told - New Zealand News". The New Zealand Herald. 28 February 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Featured NBR Listers 2024: Gibbs family". NBR | The Authority since 1970. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  5. ^ Goldsmith, Paul (2002). TN Gibbs. Auckland: David Ling.
  6. ^ a b c d "Gibbs reveals NZ Inc as it used to be". NBR | The Authority since 1970. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  7. ^ Wade, Harrison (30 May 2022). "Who are New Zealand's wealthiest automotive enthusiasts?". NZ Autocar. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  8. ^ Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "Government restructuring". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  9. ^ Samuel, Peter (1 March 1988). "New Zealand's New Zeal". Reason.com. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  10. ^ Eldred-Grigg, Stevan (1996). The rich: a New Zealand history. Auckland ; New York: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-14-025740-3.
  11. ^ a b "Alan Gibbs | Doctor of Engineering | University of Canterbury". www.canterbury.ac.nz. 24 July 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  12. ^ "Go radical, Act Party told - New Zealand News". The New Zealand Herald. 28 February 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  13. ^ Williams, David (30 October 2023). "Chiding in plain sight". Newsroom. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  14. ^ "Gibbs Farm official website". 2010. Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  15. ^ Haseeb (4 August 2012). "Sculpture in the Gibbs Farm". VentureBees. Archived from the original on 6 October 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  16. ^ "The Incredible Sculptures of Gibbs Farm". 16 July 2012. Archived from the original on 19 January 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  17. ^ "The Farm" Archived 1 April 2023 at the Wayback Machine by Rob Garrett - retrieved 15 January 2015
  18. ^ "Past laureates". Business Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.

Books and media

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