Paul Reynolds: internet giant and gentleman

Paul Reynolds, an internet pioneer in New Zealand, died suddenly on May 23 in Auckland. He was a huge figure right from the early days of web development here. In that irresistible Scottish voice he lured a luddite nation into the electronic age. Ever a generous gentleman, he was dazzlingly clever and also huge fun.

Thank you, Paul, for your life and work. You will be seriously missed here.

Here are some of the first tributes to Paul.You can post your own comments on the Internet NZ page, and others.

• R.I.P. Paul Reynolds, Internet NZ. Post your own comments here.
• Tribute to Paul Reynolds on Hard News, Russell Brown
• The Last Post, Janet Wilson
• Graham Beattie, Bookman, remembers Paul Reynolds

I'm just one of thousands of people whose lives Paul touched for the better. He wrote very enthusiastically about my first web-related book, Web Word Wizardry, at least 20 years ago. I was so grateful that Paul, with his practical and optimistic vision of the internet, valued my work.

Paul's radio broadcasts were always startlingly frank, clear, perceptive and enthusiastic. There was no shortage of written material either! His humanitarian perspective and his galloping brain meant every encounter with Paul produced an Aha! moment, an intellectual thrill.