The Rock (radio station)

In 1998 The Rock began networking to other regions in the North Island. In 1999, The Rock moved to Auckland, and began broadcasting from there. Later that year, Energy Enterprises and Radio Otago merged to form RadioWorks; as a result, the station was networked into the South Island. In Christchurch, Radio Otago had already been operating their own rock station called C93FM and this station was networked to Dunedin and Invercargill, C93FM actually played a classic rock format similar to Radio Hauraki. RadioWorks replaced C93FM in Dunedin and Invercargill with The Rock and kept C93FM operating in Christchurch, but changed its format to Adult Contemporary and launched The Rock on a separate frequency. C93 no longer operates as the station failed to attract listeners after the format change. Christchurch C93FM listeners were gutted that their local Classic Rock station had a format change and had to give way to a Network station, the phones rung for weeks with upset listeners not liking the format change to Adult Contemporary. Today The Rock broadcasts in almost every market in New Zealand.[4]

The only remaining original member of The Rock crew is Rog.[5] Other DJs left, including Greenman, who went on his OE to the UK, Beachy (Christopher Beach) who moved into sales and Julie Moffett, who now works at RNZ.

The morning radio show is known as The Morning Rumble, the members of which are currently Roger Farrelly ("Rog", "Big Dog"), Bryce Casey (2020 Broadcaster of the Year), Andrew Mulligan ("Mulls") and Mel Abbot. Rog has been a co-host on the show since its inception. Simon Doull spent several years as a co-host, left and returned in 2015. In March 2011 Andrew Mulligan joined but left for Radio Sport a few years later and returned in 2017.

Bryce has attempted to break two world records during his tenure on the show, his most notable attempt being to break the record. He fell short by only a few hours, In June 2019 Bryce not only broke the world record for the longest time ten-pin bowling continuously, he also raised over $350,000 for the charity I am hope.[6][7]

Roger, or Rog as he's known, joined the Morning Rumble in 1994. Prior to that he had worked the afternoon shift at The Rock. Rog serves as a leader of sorts for the Morning Rumble crew, and his ongoing banter and power struggles with Bryce provide a lot of the show's entertainment. Mel provides the female perspective on the show and reads the news, while Andrew Mulligan reads the sports news. The producers are Ryan Maguire and Mitch Farr.

On Fridays a section of the show was called 'Do Stuff To Jono Fridays'. This formed a large part of the entertainment value and was an early distinguishing feature of The Rock. Jono was made the victim of stunts such as 'The Human Slushy', 'The Pyramid of Fire', 'Human Coleslaw', 'Sleigh of Fire', 'The Skater Ramp of Doom', a full body wax, and giving Jono a tattoo on his bottom but not telling him that it was a love heart with the other DJs names.

In 2006 when Jono got his own slot with Robert on weekday afternoons, the show then became "Do Stuff To Jimmy". Stunts included putting electrodes on his nipples, and other assorted painful and humiliating acts. Jimmy is no longer working at The Rock, and there is currently no 'Do Stuff' segment. A one-off 'Final Ever Do Stuff To Jono' stunt was planned and executed in September 2009, during which Jono performed a 'Mega Stunt' - riding a BMX bike down a steep slope, through pyrotechnics and a pane of glass, and finally scaling a ramp to jump over a parked ute.

The Rock organised a 'win a wife' competition in early 2011. The winner would travel to Ukraine to meet a girl via the "Endless Love" dating agency. In response the Ukrainian group Femen organized a topless protest against this competition (in March 2011). A Femen activist advised: "Femen warns the 'lucky' winner of the New Zealand competition that he can expect an unhappy ending in Ukraine".[8]

Mel Abbot takes over on-air from 10am – 1pm fronting The Rock Workdays show which also features a legends of rock hour between 12-1pm. Mel is followed by Lee Weir ("Westie Lee") , who is also the technical producer of The Rock's drive show, from 1pm – 3pm.

The Rock's drive show is hosted from 3pm – 7pm by Duncan Heyde ("Dunc"), who is also the executive producer of the show, with co-host Jay Reeve, technical producer Lee Weir ("Westie Lee") and executive producer Tiegan Lilley ("Show Boss").

Caleb Greaves hosts Rock Nights.

The Rock 2000 is an annual countdown feature, counting down the 2000 biggest rock songs ever, as voted by listeners in an online poll. The chart order, including which bands and songs feature on the countdown, is determined by listeners via a voting system on the station's official website. The countdown runs on weekdays over a four-week period and is broadcast throughout New Zealand. In 2016, the list expanded by 50% as The Rock 1000+500, it was previously called The Rock 1000. Previous to that it was The Rock 500. From 2017 to 2019 it was known as The Rock 1500. Since 2020 it has been known as The Rock 2000.

• 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"

• Metallica - "One" - 4 (2002, 2009, 2010-2011)
• Metallica - "Enter Sandman" - 3 (2004-2005, 2008)
• Rage Against the Machine - "Killing in the Name" - 3 (2010, 2017, 2021)
• Metallica - "Master of Puppets" - 2 (2016, 2023)

• Metallica - 9 wins (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)
• Nirvana - 1 win (2001)
• Guns N' Roses - 1 win (2006)
• System of a Down - 1 win (2018)
• Foo Fighters - 1 win (2020)
• Lynyrd Skynyrd - 1 win (2022)