Who got that job?

Job title: Stadiums manager

For: Hamilton City Council


The job of stadiums manager for three major Waikato events centres is a homecoming for Mark Christie. He has been living with his family in Tokyo, where he is general manager of a sports and dining club called The Tokyo Capital Club.

"I saw the stadium manager's position advertised while I was on vacation in New Zealand," he says, "and I was attracted to the position as it was focused around the revamped Waikato Stadium and it also linked the WestpacTrust Park and the Waikato Events Centre, three similar facilities to manage, yet very different in function."

Christie had wanted to return for family reasons, and after a two-hour video conference between New Zealand and Japan, he was making plans to return home.

The job requires balancing the business requirements of the facilities, as well as community needs, supporting the council and the Waikato Rugby Union "to ensure we can secure major games and events for the region."

The park is undergoing redevelopment and there are plans in the pipeline for the events centre.

Christie, whohas a diploma in physical education at Otago University, has worked for employers like Tahiti's Club Med, the Brisbane City Council, the Hyatt Regency Coolum, a private sports and dining club called the Pacific Club Kowloon, and the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong.

He was Manukau City's recreation manager, looking after community leisure facilities, before shifting to Tokyo.