What makes Vector Arena CEO Guy Ngata tick?

What makes Vector Arena chief executive Guy Ngata tick?

Passing Auckland’s Vector Arena daily as it was being built in 2006; Guy Ngata would think “that’s going to be great, I’d love to be part of that”.

Two and a half years on he’s the Chief Executive of New Zealand’s largest indoor arena and the jewel in Auckland entertainment crown, where last year well over 300,000 people enjoyed more than 100 events from concerts to wrestling, stage shows, music awards, gala dinners and netball.

A line up of world-class artists including the Foo Fighters, Andrea Bocelli, Rod Stewart, Elton John, Def Leppard, Kayne West , Kylie Minogue and Billy Joel all played at Vector Arena in 2008, and in December alone six stand-out shows attracted more than 60,000 people.

For Guy, the job has provided the challenge and satisfaction he was looking for - making Vector Arena live up to its billing as the entertainment hub of the Pacific.

But it’s about much more than that for the 34-year-old Sacred Heart College old boy.

“It’s a big building, but we have a small permanent team of people with a knowledge and passion for events. What is most important is the team vision and the enthusiasm for facilitating, rejuvenating and redefining Auckland and New Zealand’s events landscape,” he says.

Guy encourages his team to rediscover the passion they have for what they do every day - the thing that makes them want to get up and go to work.

For him, continually answering that question is easy. It is the challenge and negotiation required to come to a deal, the reaction of the crowd when the artist first comes out onto the stage, and seeing people leave Vector Arena safely, smiling and satisfied.

Satisfaction for Guy himself also comes from the support from both promoters and the public in the two years Vector Arena has been operating.

“Promoters are tough because they have to be - it’s a very high risk business for them. The artists are negotiating hard these days, so it’s about building those mutually beneficial relationships with promoters where they’re supporting us and we’re supporting them,” he says.

“From the public point of view, people have supported Vector Arena really well and I think they are genuinely proud of it.”

Guy has been back in New Zealand for 10 years, following a stint in the United Kingdom playing rugby and traveling, and achieving a Sport and Recreation Degree.

On his return to New Zealand he landed his then dream job, Coaching Manager for the Auckland Rugby Football Union. The role allowed him to work in a sport he has a real passion for, with people he could relate to, in a city he loves.

A born and bred Aucklander, Guy’s well-known and former top journalist father Whai is from the East Coast, and his mother Geraldine is from Wellington. He is the youngest of three brothers and sport, culture and music have always been a part of family life.

As much as he enjoyed his Auckland Rugby job, after five years Guy was looking for a new challenge, and moved on to become the Operations and Events Manager for Trusts Stadium Waitakere three months before it opened in 2005.

With his help the venue attracted large events including the K-1 World Grand Prix, David Tua’s first boxing match on home soil in 10 years, Fight for Life, and it was also home of basketball’s New Zealand Breakers.

But rather than spending time with contractors, suppliers and staff Guy wanted to get more involved with the commercial aspect of the events business. The impending opening of Vector Arena provided the perfect opportunity to do just that, but it took some ‘harrassment’ of then CEO Bruce Mctaggart to give him the chance.

Since he got the job there’s been no let up or looking back for Guy, and that’s just the way he likes it.

He knew it was never going to be a 9am to 5pm role, and he admits that it does encroach on his private life with wife Stefanie and their young sons George and Hunter. It’s not that he has to be present for every event, but it has become a ritual to walk the venue pre-show, and spend some time talking with the promoters and members of the public.

Guy is keen to point out that it is not a glamorous job – only the promoters get to liaise with the artists, which is fine with him – but there have been a number of highlights.

Guy says it was an “incredible experience” to meet Stevie Wonder while he was here for one show only in October. His is the music that Guy grew up with – it was always on the tape deck in the car on family holidays.

He was delighted to be invited after the show to have dinner with Stevie and some of his entourage.

“It was amazing to meet him and he was very gracious and humble. I don’t tend to get star struck – you can’t in this business – but sitting there in the early hours of the morning across from Stevie Wonder having a chat was quite amazing.”

As for his other musical tastes, he describes them as ‘eclectic’. He has a passion for classical music through to R n B and rock. As a youngster Guy learnt the violin for three years and the piano for six, but sheepishly admits he’s hasn’t really played since. At high school he did music to bursary level and was involved in theatrical productions.

As for the coming year at Vector Arena - there’s plenty to look forward to and to keep him busy. World-class acts lined up to play at Vector Arena from this weekend, Billy Connelly, Coldplay, Eric Clapton, The Wiggles, Andre Rieu and the StarIight Express stage show.

Visit www.vectorarena.co.nz to find out about what other acts are coming to Auckland as the year progresses.

ENDS

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