How to choose an AV and event production company in New Zealand

What AV and event production covers

"AV" is shorthand for a wide field: sound, screens and projection, stage lighting, staging and set, live vision (cameras and switching) and increasingly the technical side of hybrid and livestreamed events. A full-service production company ties all of this together and runs the technical show from rehearsal to strike. MICE lists more than 200 AV, staging, lighting and production-tech companies nationwide, from solo operators to national production houses.

The tiers of supplier

• National production houses handle large conferences and complex shows — firms such as Vidcom New Zealand, Oceania Productions, Streamliner Productions, Encore Event Technologies and The Production Agency.
• Specialist staging and set companies build the physical stage and scenic elements.
• Lighting and sound specialists handle gala dinners, awards nights and product launches where the look and feel carries the room.
• Conference AV specialists such as Congress Rental New Zealand focus on interpretation, delegate audio and multi-room meetings.

How to choose

1. Brief the outcome, not the kit. Tell suppliers what the audience should see and hear and how the show should feel; let them specify the equipment. 2. Match scale to experience. A plenary for 800 needs a production house that regularly delivers at that size — ask for comparable recent shows. 3. Check venue familiarity. A supplier that already works in your venue knows its rigging, power and load-in, which saves time and cost. 4. Plan for hybrid early. If any part of the event is streamed or recorded, bring the production company in during venue selection, not after. 5. Confirm crew, not just gear. The operators running the show matter more than the equipment list — ask who will be on the desk.

Next steps

Decide your show's scale and format, then brief two or three production companies against your venue and run sheet. If a PCO or DMC is managing the event, they will usually recommend and coordinate the AV partner.