When the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) officially opened its doors it did so not only as the largest purpose-built convention centre in the country, but also as the home of one of the most ambitious and meticulously designed professional audio installations ever undertaken in the region.
The first thing most visitors notice is the architecture: sweeping lines, huge flexible spaces, and a sense of scale that marks the venue as one built for the world stage. But for those who step inside the Te Paepae Theatre, something else hits them long before they admire the lighting or the detailing.
The sound. The clarity. The feeling that the room is alive and ready for anything.
This is no accident.
It’s the result of a multi-year project involving distributor JPRO, integration specialists Vega NZ, and a global leader in professional sound JBL Professional. Together, they’ve built one of the most ambitious venue-wide audio systems ever installed in the Southern Hemisphere.
And at the heart of the story is a simple idea: whatever the event, whoever the audience, the experience should feel extraordinary.
Building a Venue for the World
Located in the centre of Auckland, NZICC’s mission is unapologetically big: become New Zealand’s premier destination for international conferences, performances, exhibitions and cultural events.
“To cater to such a huge international audience, we have to provide world-class audio for every single one of our attendees,” says Ryan Gollner, Technology Services Manager for NZICC. “We needed consistency across the entire venue, and that’s where JBL came in.”
Consistency might sound mundane but in a building with hundreds of rooms, each with different acoustic demands, it becomes a heroic challenge.
“JBL’s voicing really stood out. No matter which room you’re in, you get the same smooth, clear, balanced sound”
Te Paepae Theatre
The centrepiece of the installation, the part that makes audio pros grin and performers breathe easy, is Te Paepae Theatre.
It’s the largest seated theatre in the country, with room for 2,850 guests. But that’s only its first trick. It can split into two independent theatres, each seating 1,235 people. It can operate as a banquet hall for more than 3,000. It can switch from keynote speech to live concert to awards night.
To keep up, the sound system must be just as flexible.
That’s why the team chose the JBL VTX A8 line array system, a touring-grade loudspeaker family more commonly found on international concert stages, supported by Crown I-Tech amplification, Soundcraft Vi consoles and BSS Soundweb audio processors.
“The sound is stunning and the coverage is seamless,” says Paul Edlin, Director of JPRO. “What really stands out is how effortlessly the system adapts to whatever the venue needs.”
All optimisation and tuning is stored inside Crown amplifiers and rigging changes are simplified by the VTX A Series’ fast, precise hardware and the JBL Array Link app. Switching modes takes seconds – for a venue hosting events back-to-back, that’s a gamechanger.
Edlin says the design tools were critical:
“Venue Synthesis modelling let us predict exactly how the system would behave. It gave everyone confidence that what we put on paper would translate perfectly in the real world.”
Walk into the theatre during a soundcheck and you’ll see elegant line arrays suspended like sculptural wings, paired with ground-stacked and flown subwoofers that deliver tight, controlled power. Around the room, fill speakers and delay lines blend into the architecture, ensuring every seat gets the same experience.
But step into the rest of the building, and you’ll notice something else: it all sounds like the same venue.
Meeting rooms, foyers, corridors, exhibition halls – each space feels connected through a unified sonic identity benefitting from a carefully curated mix of JBL professional ceiling, surface-mount and performance loudspeakers.
For integrator Vega Global NZ, quality and tonal consistency across the entire building were essential.
“JBL’s voicing really stood out,” says Stephen Ward, Managing Director of Vega Global NZ. “No matter which room you’re in, you get the same smooth, clear, balanced sound.”
That’s no small feat. It’s intentional design.
“The Te Paepae Theatre represents a leap forward for professional audio in New Zealand. It’s ready for anything from keynote addresses to world-class performances.”
A Venue Ready to Make History
As the finishing touches were completed the team reflected on the scale of what had been accomplished.
“We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve delivered,” Ward says. “Good things take time – and this project has proved that.”
For Edlin, the theatre is a milestone moment.
“The Te Paepae Theatre represents a leap forward for professional audio in New Zealand. It’s ready for anything from keynote addresses to world-class performances.”
With its world-leading JBL Professional audio installation, NZICC isn’t just another events venue. It’s a place where sound helps tell the story – whether that’s the sizzle of a product launch, the emotion of a musical performance or the excitement of thousands gathering for a shared experience.
It’s New Zealand’s newest stage.
And it sounds incredible.
