Robert John Yates (c. 1845 – 6 October 1931) was a New Zealand cricketer who played 15 first-class matches between the 1873–74 and 1893–94 seasons, all for Auckland.
A "splendid batsman of the defensive type",[1] Yates scored only one first-class half-century, making precisely 50 against Wellington at Auckland Domain in April 1887.
[2] When James Lillywhite's XI toured New Zealand in 1877, Yates was the highest scorer against them in any match, with an innings of 31 for an Auckland XXII.
[3] In his history of New Zealand cricket, Tom Reese rated Yates as Auckland's best batsman of his era.
[1][4] He was a talented violinist, who led the second violins of the Auckland Choral Society orchestra for over 30 years.