Entrepreneur joins opera cast

Bruce Mactaggart sees great things in the future for the Hawke's Bay Opera House. The co-owner of Auckland's Vector Arena has joined the board of directors for the Opera House, which he described as an "absolutely beautiful building".
"I was fortunate enough to be shown through it a number of years ago when I first came to New Zealand," he said. "The renovations and extensions have created a really marvellous facility.
"I think it has huge potential and part of my vision will be to make sure it's not the best kept secret in New Zealand."
Mr Mactaggart, who lives in Havelock North, said New Zealand was lucky to be blessed with many beautiful old theatres, and the Opera House was one of the "jewels in the crown".
"The contribution I hope to make is to be able to promote it internationally."
The venue had the potential to grow the local market for events and promote the region, as Vector Arena had done in Auckland.
"Nothing is surer," he said. "If you have a facility that can host diverse entertainment and they are properly promoted ... they can be a huge benefit to marketing a destination overall."
But he said the 985 capacity limited its capacity to attract some major events.
Originally from Australia, Mr Mactaggart is joint owner and operator of Vector Arena, and executive director of the Immersion Edutainment Group, producers of the successful show Walking with Dinosaurs.
When approached to join the Opera House board he was pleased to take up the role.
"My family and I live here and I've always been happy to make a contribution," he said. "I've spent a lot of my life working with major events and tourism in particular venues here and internationally and I can bring a skill-set that may not be available."
The Opera House is owned by the Hastings District Council through its holding company, Hawke's Bay Opera House.
Also appointed a director was Chris O'Reilly, a marketing and business strategy expert who also lives in Havelock North. They replace Bryan Hutchinson and Dianne Abraham, who have retired.
Opera House chairman John Buck said the two men brought an "immense level of innovation and skill", and would fast-track the Opera House to becoming a nationally recognised centre for performing arts.