Feilding Civic Centre, Manawatu, New Zealand

Bettear CASTER transmitters now cover both the theater and the sports arena at Feilding Civic Centre, giving a multi-purpose venue one Auracast™ accessibility system for every kind of event.

At a glance

• Venue: Feilding Civic Centre, Feilding, New Zealand
• Region: Manawatu, New Zealand
• Venue type: Multi-purpose venue: theater productions, community events, civic functions and sports
• Capacity: 431 seats
• Bettear products: CASTER Auracast™ transmitters, RTX receivers, SmartHive charging and configuration bays
• Partners: Fauldings Sound (integrator), Kinetic Electrical (installation), JPRO (system design and commissioning support)
• Live since: Late 2025

The challenge

A venue that hosts very different events needed assistive listening that works for all of them, and a hearing loop was not a practical option.

Feilding Civic Centre hosts theater productions, community events, civic functions and sporting activities under one roof. When the venue planned an upgrade of its sound system, the project team saw a chance to improve assistive listening at the same time.

The team first considered a traditional hearing loop, but the building's structure made installation impractical. They needed an alternative that would work across different spaces and layouts, and would stay relevant as hearing technology evolves.

The solution and products

After evaluating the options, the venue chose a Bettear Auracast™ system and installed it as part of the wider sound upgrade.

• Bettear CASTER. Auracast™ broadcast transmitters cover both the theater and the multi-purpose sports arena.
• Bettear RTX. Receivers for patrons without compatible personal devices, used with headphones or a neckloop.
• Bettear SmartHive. Smart charging and configuration bays that let staff charge, manage and hand out RTX receivers quickly for each event.
• Patrons' own devices. Compatible hearing aids, earbuds and other Auracast-enabled hearing devices connect directly to the broadcast, with a smartphone acting as Auracast Assistant where needed.

Fauldings Sound led the integration, and Kinetic Electrical carried out the installation. JPRO, Bettear's distribution partner in New Zealand, provided system design and commissioning support. The team reported that the system was easier to specify and install than a loop, and was finished sooner than expected.

The results

Since it went live in late 2025, the system has exceeded the venue's expectations. Patrons connect easily and praise the audio clarity.

• One system for every space. The same Auracast™ infrastructure serves both theater audiences and sports arena crowds.
• Easy connection. Patrons connect their own devices without difficulty and report clear audio.
• Simple to run. SmartHive keeps the receivers charged and configured, so staff can hand them out quickly for each event.
• Room to grow. Beyond assistive listening, the system can support translation and tour guiding as the venue's needs grow.
• Discreet design. The slim transmitters blend into the venue.

In their words

"The technology opens up far more possibilities than traditional assistive listening."

Mark Marsden, Fauldings Sound, integrator for Feilding Civic Centre

Bringing Auracast™ to your venue? Our team is here to help you plan coverage, choose equipment and get it running.