[4] He has been a director of an aged care facility, the Arena Manawatu stadium company, and the Universal College of Learning in Palmerston North.

Bates set up a company to train boards of directors, named Sirdar Global Group, and operated it in New Zealand and Africa, and self-published two books on business success.

[6] Bates was selected by the National Party to contest the Whanganui electorate at the 2023 election.

[8][9] Bates said the result reflected that people in Whanganui don't want their assets controlled from the capital.

[8] He said people in the region were keen to see both the Three Waters and Resource Management Act reforms reversed.