When it comes to family, friends and fresh fish, it's always whānau first for Tauranga's fresh fish king Robert (Bobby) Tonihi Palmer. The much loved 68-year-old husband, father, grandfather and businessman passed away on Monday, December 5, following a near decade-long on-and-off again battle with cancer.

'I met Bobby when I was a BOP rugby referee in 1980s/1990s and Bobby was a senior rugby player for Arataki,” says funeral celebrant Mike Savage.

'I was in the motor trade for 23 years, Bobby bought his trucks off the company I was with. We would also service their trucks, and that's when I met Aggy in 1996.”

Late-1996 was also when husband-and-wife team Bobby and Agnes Palmer opened their flagship shop Bobby's Fresh Fish Market on Tauranga's waterfront. Today there are outlets in Pāpāmoa, Greerton and Te Puke, all run by the couple's siblings, children and grandchildren.

'Bobby has been in the seafood industry for around 40-50 years,” says Ag. 'And 42 years for me. He was a hothead in his younger days, and we started the business after a European friend – Jack Costello from Sanfords – told him he'd never get far in business if he acted like that.”

She recalls Nobby Clark, Bob Owens and 'all the mayors back then” also told him to change his behaviour.

'The mayors were a big influence. Eric Smith and the Smith whanau too – they helped guide him along the path, to calm his temperament.”

Ag lists other inspirational peers that helped shape their future. 'His nan, uncles, the Rollestons, Mikaeres, Ngatais, and the Murrays from Matakana Island.”

'They installed a love and mahi in him not to be selfish, to give when needed and to always make sure people who came and paid their respects were given good kai, plenty of kai,” says Ag.

Bobby's classic Kiwi fish and chip shop by the wharf grew to become not only one of Tauranga's most iconic places providing plenty of good kai, but is enjoyed by thousands who travel from across NZ to taste what is arguably the best fish and chips in the land.

Often a queue of people wait to choose from John Dory, trevally, snapper, gurnard as well as kina, oysters and mussels – it all depends on the catch of the day. When there's no fresh fish available, the shop doors are closed.

Born in Tauranga on June 21 1954, and raised on Matakana Island, Bobby attended the old Mount Maunganui Primary, Mount Maunganui College, and Hato Pētera, a Māori boarding school in Auckland.

Robert (Bobby) Palmer, age 68, died this week after succumbing to cancer. Photo: supplied.

Local classmate Andy Rutter recalls Bobby regularly coming to school on his horse. 'No saddle, just a rope bridle, leaving it in next-door field ‘til time to catch it and head home,” says Andy. 'Staunch at Bullrush too.”

Bobby's parents farmed land around Hull Rd, Triton Ave and Totara St. 'We had the Mount Fish Market there,” says Ag, 'and employed many people”.

Employing many, often straight from school, as well as encouraging and mentoring others in business was all part of Bobby's work ethics.

He was a keen rugby player, playing for the Mount and Arataki clubs back when Arataki sports field just had a shed, with Ag saying the coaches would put their hands in their own pockets to help support him because they 'saw his potential and courage”.

About 10 years ago, Bobby was diagnosed with cancer, managing to fight it off until November when it returned for the final time. Bobby and Ag knew he was very ill.

'We tried to keep to a normal life and go to work as usual, and he was working right up until the day before he died.”

Mike received a phone call from Aggy on Monday to advise him of Bobby's condition.

'I mentioned that I could come over and have a chat. In the hour-and-a-half between the phone call and meeting with the family, Bobby had passed away.”

Bobby took his final barge trip to Matakana Island from Ōmokoroa, where family, friends and old mates joined together to pay tribute to a man who knew how to spread great aroha along with legendary kai.

Bobby's Fresh Fish Market on Dive Crescent has been closed for part of this week. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford.