Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 12, 2026

Ian Taylor (New Zealand businessman)

Sir Ian Lemuel Taylor is a New Zealand businessman and former television presenter based in Dunedin.

Last revised
Jun 12, 2026
Read time
≈ 5 min
Length
1,242 w
Citations
27
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Taylor in 2021 source ↗

Sir Ian Lemuel Taylor KNZM (born 1949 or 1950)1 is a New Zealand businessman and former television presenter based in Dunedin.2

Early life and education

Born in Kaeo to a Pākehā father and Māori mother,3 (of Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngā Puhi descent) he grew up in Raupunga and went to a Catholic boarding school in Masterton.

Taylor joined the band The Kal-Q-Lated Risk in c.1967 as lead singer, and later graduated with an LL.B. degree from the University of Otago.

Business career

A former television presenter (notably for TVNZ children's programmes Play School, Spot On and New Zealand's Funniest Home Videos), Taylor founded Taylormade Media in 1989 as a television production company. The following year he established Animation Research Limited, which quickly became one of the top computer animation companies in New Zealand and known internationally for its work, particularly in television advertising and sports graphics. Its sports division/product Virtual Eye, is used in various sports such as for ball-tracking in cricket where it assists umpires with their Decision Review System and informs TV commentators and viewers. During the 2010/11 Ashes series it was known as Eagle Eye.4

Taylor was inducted into the New Zealand Technology Hall of Fame in 20095 and was named North & South Magazines 2010 New Zealander of the Year.

Honours

He was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Institute of IT Professionals (HFIITP) in 2010 (under its former name New Zealand Computer Society), the top honour of the tech sector in New Zealand.6

In the 2012 New Year Honours, Taylor was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to television and business.78 In 2013 Taylor was named Outstanding Maori Business Leader of the Year.

In May 2014, Taylor was part of a team who were awarded a Sports Emmy9 under the category "Outstanding New Approaches – Sports Coverage" for development of an innovative mobile application for the 34th America's Cup.

On 13 February 2019, Taylor was named Innovator of the Year at the annual New Zealander of the Year Awards.10 Awards organisers cited Taylor's business intuition and expertise as an exemplar of innovation in New Zealand.11

Taylor's investiture as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit by the governor-general, Dame Patsy Reddy, at Government House, Wellington, on 4 May 2021 source ↗

In the 2021 New Year Honours, Taylor was promoted to Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to broadcasting, business and the community.12 He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Commerce (DCom) by his alma mater, the University of Otago, in May 2022.13 From March 2022, Sir Ian Taylor is serving as the Chair14 of the advisory board for New Zealand Product Accelerator(NZPA),15 a NZ government funded programme that helps connect industry with research expertise, to solve industry problems, increase productivity, and support economic growth.

Views and positions

Between June 2023 and July 2025, Taylor published four open letters critiquing national policy: he warned that wealth-tax rhetoric could stigmatise job-creating founders; condemned the Government’s downsizing of the Dunedin Hospital project as shortsighted regional politics; defended small exporters after Prime Minister Christopher Luxon allegedly labelled them “C-listers”; and, while praising Jacinda Ardern’s early pandemic leadership, faulted the MIQ system and stalled reforms on child poverty and capital gains. Collectively the letters urged evidence-based decision-making, equitable regional investment and greater recognition of start-up innovators.16171819

Salaries

In November 2012, Taylor spoke out against the high salaries being paid to New Zealand chief executives, saying chief executive salaries should be tied to how well they protect jobs and to the salaries of their staff.2021

Mining

Taylor has expressed opposition to the proposed Santana Minerals Bendigo-Ophir gold mine in Central Otago, expressing concern about its environmental impact and financial viability.2223 In March 2026, Taylor challenged Resources Minister Shane Jones to a debate in regards to the proposed Bendigo-Ophir gold mine.2425 Despite initially accepting, Jones pulled out of the debate less than two weeks before the scheduled date.26

Personal life

Taylor is married to Liz and they have two children. He is a nephew of the New Zealand singer Pixie Williams.27

References

References

  1. Dungey, Kim (2 June 2012). "Ian Taylor: World class New Zealander". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  2. Loughrey, David (26 March 2009). "Ian Taylor: 'I almost closed my company'". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
  3. Hutching, Chris (Spring 2004). "Māori entrepreneurs on a roll" (PDF). Te Karaka. Ngāi Tahu Publications. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 February 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2009.
  4. "The Story of Virtual Eye Cricket". Animation Research. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
  5. "Ian Taylor – Creative Innovator". NZ Hi-Tech Hall of Fame. The New Zealand Hi-Tech Trust. Archived from the original on 7 February 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
  6. "Honorary Fellows of the IITP (HFIITP)". About the IITP. Institute of IT Professionals of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 10 July 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  7. "New Year Honours 2012" (27 January 2012) 8 New Zealand Gazette 215.
  8. "New Year honours list 2012". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  9. "THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF THE 35th ANNUAL SPORTS EMMY® AWARDS |". Retrieved 14 July 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  10. "Trade Me New Zealand Innovator of the Year". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  11. "Taylor wins Innovator of the Year award". Otago Daily Times. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  12. "New Year honours list 2021". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  13. Lewis, John (17 May 2022). "Sir Ian honoured, humble about honorary doctorate". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  14. Chair of New Zealand Product Accelerator
  15. "The New Zealand Product Accelerator". The New Zealand Product Accelerator.
  16. "'Seemingly endless drain': Sir Ian Taylor's letter to Chlöe Swarbrick on wealth tax". NZ Herald. 1 July 2025. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  17. "Dunedin Hospital: An open letter to Christopher Luxon by Sir Ian Taylor". Otago Daily Times Online News. 1 October 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  18. "Ian Taylor: An open letter to the PM on behalf of 'C-listers'". NZ Herald. 3 July 2025. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  19. "Breaking Views: Matua Kahurangi: Ardern's legacy in ruins". Breaking Views. 3 July 2025. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  20. Tapaleao, Vaimoana (5 November 2012). "Rise of the $1m salaries: top boss says enough". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  21. "Ian Taylor – TEDxtalk". YouTube. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021.
  22. Taylor, Ian (22 January 2026). "Ian Taylor: Dear Chris Bishop, this is not the kind of future we should fast-track". Stuff. Retrieved 27 March 2026.
  23. Taylor, Ian (24 February 2026). "Taking a trip, looking for answers". Otago Daily Times. Archived from the original on 5 March 2026. Retrieved 27 March 2026.
  24. Hepburn, Steve (13 March 2026). "Sir Ian, Jones to face off over gold mine". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 27 March 2026.
  25. Hepburn, Steve (7 March 2026). "Jones gives ground rules for Sir Ian debate". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 27 March 2026.
  26. Shaw, Ruby (27 March 2026). "Jones pulls out of debate, blames media". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 27 March 2026.
  27. "Music feature: Pixie Williams, her life and musical legacy". Radio New Zealand, National, Afternoons. Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
External links