Obituary: Trevor Eagle

By KEITH NEWMAN

Information technology businessman. Died in Auckland last Saturday, aged 68.

Trevor Eagle was a passionate man who thrived on adrenaline, cheering his horses at the racetrack, stirring up the Government to back information technology and inspiring entrepreneurs to do their best.

Last week's admission by Science Minister Pete Hodgson that we have not done enough to champion our innovators, and his promise of a tenfold increase in Government venture capital funding, would have bought a smile to his face.



Mr Eagle was a man ahead of his time. He saw the pervasive changes technology would thrust on business and society and began acting on that knowledge more than 30 years ago, when he moved from Woolworths to join computer giant IBM.

He went into business for himself in 1969, investing his IBM severance money to establish Eagle Technology with his wife, Coralie.

He knew he was on to something when he undercut his former employer by selling $10 million in second-hand IBM mainframe equipment to Databank, the original cheque-clearing house.

Since the pioneering days with Prime Computers and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Eagle Technology has become one of the most successful systems integrators in the country.

Through smart management, leading-edge technology and a series of acquisitions, the company turned over more than $30 million annually.

Mr Eagle's personal fortune has been estimated at more than $25 million, although he would never admit to a figure.

He was always approachable and full of quotable quotes, but refused to dwell on the downside of anything. I once asked him about the so-called tall poppy syndrome. He replied: "You can keep your tall poppy syndrome. Negativity doesn't get you anywhere. It detracts from what you're trying to do. It's all about the buzz."

Mr Eagle was the founding president of the Information Technology Association in 1988, the Government's first appointment to its Technology for Business Growth advisory committee in 1992, and chairman of the Hi-tech Council, with the task of keeping the Government informed about industry needs.

He invested in several leading-edge companies, including Aquagas, which has global patents for technology that turns water into oxy-hydrogen fuel at 80 per cent of the cost of LPG.

He had a majority shareholding in technology education firm New Horizons and reshaped building industry information services company Spectel.

He took personal pride in Eagle Sportsnet, an internet-based service which analyses every first-class rugby game in the country, allowing internet users to see the statistics even while a game is in progress. The service turns out reports for coaches and media, including the Herald's before and after-match graphics.

Trevor Eagle had a rare insight into the way information technology was going to move, and whenever it turned you would find him leading the charge.

He was inspired by rubbing shoulders with successful people from throughout the world.

He represented New Zealand in breaststroke at the Empire Games in 1950 and remained a keen swimmer. He died aboard his yacht on the Hauraki Gulf. He had been swimming off Motuihe Island and entertaining members of the Unitec Honours Board, of which he was chairman.

He will be missed for his entrepreneurship, positive attitudes, strong ethics and business sense, and as a visionary and industry advocate who lobbied hard for New Zealand to take its rightful place in the knowledge economy.

Many considered him a mentor and friend.

He will also be remembered for his great love of his family, rugby, horses, red wine and entertaining.

Trevor Eagle is survived by Coralie and his children Duane, Fleur, Taryn, Chanel, Bray and Craig.