SafekipediaThe Rock (radio station)
Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience
The Rock is a popular mainstream rock music radio station in New Zealand. It plays rock music and helps introduce new bands from the country to listeners. While it is aimed mainly at people aged 25 to 44, many younger and older people also enjoy its programs.
One of the station's most exciting features is The Rock 2000, an annual countdown of the top rock songs chosen by its listeners. This event has changed names over time, having been called The Rock 1500, The Rock 1000, and The Rock 500 before becoming The Rock 2000.
Sometimes, The Rock's broadcasts have caused discussions or disagreements among its audience. The Broadcasting Standards Authority has looked at many of these concerns and made decisions about them. Despite these moments, The Rock remains a favorite place for rock music fans in New Zealand to tune in and enjoy their favorite songs and discover new ones.
History
The Rock started broadcasting on 1 December 1991 in Hamilton as The Rock 93FM. The first song played was Are You Ready? by AC/DC. The station was created by Joe Dennehy, Grant Hislop, and Martin Dempster. It was first located in the basement of Radio New Zealand Broadcasting House in Hamilton.
Over the years, The Rock grew and expanded. In 1993, it moved to new studios in Hamilton. The station then started local versions in Taranaki and the Bay of Plenty. By 1997, it created a regional network linking these areas to the Hamilton station. In 1998, The Rock began networking to other parts of the North Island. In 1999, it moved to Auckland and later that year, it expanded to the South Island after Energy Enterprises merged with Radio Otago. Today, The Rock can be heard in almost every market in New Zealand.
Programmes
The Morning Rumble
The morning show on The Rock is called The Morning Rumble. It is hosted by Roger Farrelly, known as Rog or Big Dog, along with Bryce Casey, Andrew Mulligan, and Mel Abbot. Rog has been a co-host since the show began. Simon Doull was also a co-host for several years.
Bryce tried to break two world records while on the show. His most famous attempt was to bowl for the longest time ever. He succeeded in 2019 and also raised over $350,000 for a charity called "I am hope".
Hosts
Rog joined the Morning Rumble in 1994. He helps lead the show and often jokes with Bryce. Mel gives the female perspective and reads the news, while Andrew Mulligan reads sports news. The show's producers are Ryan Maguire and Mitch Farr.
Features
On Fridays, the show used to have a fun segment called 'Do Stuff To Jono Fridays'. This included playful stunts like turning Jono into a human slushy or giving him a tattoo without telling him what it was. Later, the segment changed to 'Do Stuff To Jimmy', but it is no longer part of the show.
Rock Workdays
Mel Abbot hosts The Rock Workdays from 10am to 12pm, followed by Lee Weir from 12pm to 3pm.
Rock Drive
The Rock's drive-time show runs from 3pm to 7pm and is hosted by Duncan Heyde, with co-host Jay Reeve.
Rock Nights
Jack Honeybone hosted Rock Nights from 2017 until 2025.
The Rock 2000
The Rock 2000 is an annual countdown of the 2000 biggest rock songs as chosen by listeners. The countdown happens over four weeks and is broadcast across New Zealand.
Winners
- 2025 – Black Sabbath - "War Pigs"
- 2024 – Foo Fighters - "Everlong"
- 2023 – Metallica - "Master of Puppets"
- 2022 – Lynyrd Skynyrd - "Simple Man"
- 2021 – Rage Against the Machine - "Killing in the Name"
- 2020 – Foo Fighters - "Everlong"
- 2019 – Pearl Jam - "Black"
- 2018 – System of a Down - "Chop Suey"
- 2017 – Rage Against the Machine - "Killing in the Name"
- 2016 – Metallica - "Master of Puppets"
- 2015 – AC/DC - "Thunderstruck"
- 2014 – Tool - "Stinkfist"
- 2013 – Tool - "Sober"
- 2012 – Metallica - "One"
- 2011 – Metallica - "One"
- 2010 – Rage Against the Machine - "Killing in the Name"
- 2009 – Metallica - "One"
- 2008 – Metallica - "Enter Sandman"
- 2007 – AC/DC - "Back in Black"
- 2006 – Guns N' Roses - "November Rain"
- 2005 – Metallica - "Enter Sandman"
- 2004 – Metallica - "Enter Sandman"
- 2003 – Pearl Jam - "Daughter"
- 2002 – Metallica - "One"
- 2001 – Nirvana - "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
- 2000 – Metallica - "Enter Sandman"
- 1999 – Metallica - "Enter Sandman"
Multiple Time Winners
- Metallica - "Enter Sandman" - 5 (1999–2000, 2004–2005, 2008)
- Metallica - "One" - 4 (2002, 2009, 2011–2012)
- Rage Against the Machine - "Killing in the Name" - 3 (2010, 2017, 2021)
- Metallica - "Master of Puppets" - 2 (2016, 2023)
- Foo Fighters - "Everlong" - 2 (2020, 2024)
Bands With Winning Songs
- Metallica - 11 wins (1999–2000, 2002, 2004–2005, 2008–2009, 2011–2012, 2016, 2023)
- Rage Against the Machine - 3 wins (2010, 2017, 2021)
- Pearl Jam - 2 wins (2003, 2019)
- AC/DC - 2 wins (2007, 2015)
- Tool - 2 wins (2013–2014)
- Foo Fighters - 2 wins (2020, 2024)
- Nirvana - 1 win (2001)
- Guns N' Roses - 1 win (2006)
- System of a Down - 1 win (2018)
- Lynyrd Skynyrd - 1 win (2022)
- Black Sabbath - 1 win (2025)
Frequencies
| Market | Location | MHz |
|---|---|---|
| Northland | Whangārei | 90.0 |
| Auckland | Rodney | 100.1 |
| Auckland | 90.2 | |
| Coromandel | Mercury Bay | 105.5 |
| Thames | 93.2 | |
| Bay of Plenty | Tauranga | 94.2 |
| Waikato | Hamilton | 93.0 |
| Rotorua | Rotorua | 92.7 |
| Reporoa | 98.0 | |
| Taupō | Taupō | 94.4 |
| Gisborne | Gisborne | 94.1 |
| Hawke's Bay | Wairoa | 94.1 |
| Hastings | 95.1 | |
| Taranaki | New Plymouth | 95.6 |
| Whanganui | Whanganui | 95.2 |
| Manawatu | Palmerston North | 95.4 |
| Wairarapa | Masterton | 95.1 |
| Kapiti | Paraparaumu | 91.9 |
| Wellington | Wellington | 96.5 |
| Nelson | Nelson | 94.4 |
| Marlborough | Picton | 92.3 |
| Blenheim | 91.3 | |
| Canterbury | Kaikōura | 89.1 |
| Christchurch | 93.7 | |
| Ashburton | Ashburton | 97.3 |
| South Canterbury | Timaru | 91.5 |
| Mackenzie Country | 91.0 | |
| North Otago | Oamaru | 104.8 |
| Central Otago | Alexandra | 98.3 |
| Queenstown | Wānaka | 89.8 |
| Queenstown | 100.0 | |
| Dunedin | Dunedin | 93.4 |
| Southland | Invercargill | 90.8 |
Ratings
As of May 2025, The Rock is one of the most popular radio stations in New Zealand. It has the third-largest audience share in the commercial radio market, with 8.0%. It is behind only Newstalk ZB and The Breeze.
| Market | Station share | Change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| All markets | 8.0 |  −0.9 | 3 |
| Auckland | 4.6 | −0.1 | 7 |
| Christchurch | 9.4 | −0.3 | 4 |
| Wellington | 8.3 | −0.7 | 3 |
| Waikato | 11.9 | −2.3 | 2 |
| Tauranga | 7.3 | −1.3 | 6 |
| Manawatū | 7.7 |  +0.1 | 6 |
| Hawke's Bay | 10.0 | −1 | 4 |
| Northland | 8.3 | −0.6 | 4 |
| Dunedin | 7.8 | +1.2 | 4 |
| Taranaki | 5.6 | −3.2 | 2 |
| Nelson | 8.4 | −1.7 | 4 |
| Southland | 17.6 | −0.3 | 1 |
| Rotorua | 8.9 | −1.6 | 5 |
Controversies
Broadcasting standards breaches
In November 1999, The Rock faced complaints about some of its broadcasts. The Broadcasting Standards Authority said the station had used offensive language and made rude comments about people. They said these broadcasts were not appropriate and asked The Rock to make a public apology and pay a small fine.
Later, in May 2007, The Rock did a morning show where fireworks were set off near a host. The Broadcasting Standards Authority said this was not safe, especially because children might be listening, and asked the station to apologize publicly and pay a fine.
In October 2017, The Rock talked about someone’s personal problems on the air without their permission. The Broadcasting Standards Authority said this was unfair to those people and asked The Rock to pay compensation and a fine.
In October 2020, The Rock talked about drinking alcohol in a way that seemed to encourage it. The Broadcasting Standards Authority said this was irresponsible and asked the station to apologize publicly and pay a fine.
Related articles
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