# The Rock (radio station)
**The Rock** is a New Zealand rock music radio network owned by MediaWorks, broadcasting on FM frequencies in more than 20 towns and cities nationwide and streaming worldwide through the rova app.[1](https://www.rova.nz/radio/the-rock) • [2](https://onlineradiobox.com/nz/therock/frequency/) It is identified by its Auckland frequency 90.2 FM, its MediaWorks ownership, and flagship programs such as The Morning Rumble and Rock Drive with Jay & Dunc.[1](https://www.rova.nz/radio/the-rock) • [3](https://radioinfo.com.au/news/nzs-the-rock-debuts-on-dab-in-brisbane/) It became the first New Zealand radio station to broadcast live in Australia, launching on DAB+ in Brisbane.[4](https://www.rova.nz/articles/the-rock-is-now-live-in-australia)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Owner | MediaWorks, whose radio brands also include The Edge, More FM, The Breeze, The Sound, Mai FM and George FM[5](https://www.mad-daily.com/the-rocks-new-logo-brand-campaign/) |
| Coverage | FM frequencies in more than 20 New Zealand towns and cities; Auckland 90.2, Wellington 96.5, Canterbury 93.7, Dunedin 93.4[1](https://www.rova.nz/radio/the-rock) • [2](https://onlineradiobox.com/nz/therock/frequency/) |
| Flagship shows | The Morning Rumble with Rog, Bryce, Mulls and Mel; Rock Drive with Jay & Dunc[1](https://www.rova.nz/radio/the-rock) |
| 2018 rebrand | First new logo in the station's 27-year history, under the 'Rock is Our Religion' campaign fronted by Shihad's Jon Toogood[5](https://www.mad-daily.com/the-rocks-new-logo-brand-campaign/) |
| Ratings peak | GfK survey 2/2018: number one in its target demographic and among all people 25-44, with gains in nine of 12 markets[5](https://www.mad-daily.com/the-rocks-new-logo-brand-campaign/) |
| Australian launch | First New Zealand radio station to broadcast live in Australia, on DAB+ in Brisbane with Nova Entertainment[4](https://www.rova.nz/articles/the-rock-is-now-live-in-australia) • [3](https://radioinfo.com.au/news/nzs-the-rock-debuts-on-dab-in-brisbane/) |
## History and branding
The station's age is documented indirectly: the 2018 logo change was described as the first visual rebrand in the station's 27-year history, which places its beginnings around 1991.[5](https://www.mad-daily.com/the-rocks-new-logo-brand-campaign/) The original logo was hand-drawn and faxed through to management for approval when the station began.[5](https://www.mad-daily.com/the-rocks-new-logo-brand-campaign/)
The 2018 rebrand carried the slogan "Rock is Our Religion" and was fronted by [Jon Toogood](https://www.edgepedia.org/jon-toogood), frontman of the New Zealand rock band Shihad.[5](https://www.mad-daily.com/the-rocks-new-logo-brand-campaign/) The station's countdown brand is now known as the Rock 2000 [Countdown](https://www.edgepedia.org/countdown): the Australian trade press reports that the previous year's edition drew 2 million votes from over 117,000 voters, with [Black Sabbath](https://www.edgepedia.org/black-sabbath)'s War Pigs ranked number one.[3](https://radioinfo.com.au/news/nzs-the-rock-debuts-on-dab-in-brisbane/)
## Ownership and network structure
The Rock sits within MediaWorks' radio portfolio alongside [The Edge](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-edge), More FM, The Breeze, The Sound, Mai FM, and George FM; at the time of the 2018 rebrand MediaWorks described itself as New Zealand's largest independent broadcaster, reaching 4.29 million Kiwis through TV, radio and digital platforms.[5](https://www.mad-daily.com/the-rocks-new-logo-brand-campaign/)
The network rebroadcasts across more than 20 New Zealand towns and cities. Documented frequencies include Auckland 90.2, Hamilton 93.0, [Wellington](https://www.edgepedia.org/wellington) 96.5, [Canterbury](https://www.edgepedia.org/canterbury) ([Christchurch](https://www.edgepedia.org/christchurch)) 93.7, Dunedin 93.4, Queenstown 100.0 and Invercargill 90.8 MHz FM.[1](https://www.rova.nz/radio/the-rock) • [2](https://onlineradiobox.com/nz/therock/frequency/) A frequency directory also lists Auckland at 90.2 MHz FM.[2](https://onlineradiobox.com/nz/therock/frequency/) Beyond FM, the station streams worldwide through MediaWorks' rova app.[1](https://www.rova.nz/radio/the-rock)
## Programming and personalities
The station's schedule is built around a small set of flagship programs, including The Morning Rumble with Rog, Bryce, Mulls and Mel, and Rock Drive with Jay & Dunc.[1](https://www.rova.nz/radio/the-rock) The rest of the day includes The Rock Workday with Mel Abbot, billed as the No Repeat Workday, Rock Nights, The Dawnbreaker, The Rock Graveyard, and the talk-style program Not For Radio.[1](https://www.rova.nz/radio/the-rock)
## By the numbers
The best-documented audience figures come from the GfK commercial radio survey 2/2018. In that survey The Rock was New Zealand's number one station in its target demographic and among all people aged 25-44, gained listeners in nine of 12 markets, and was outright number one in Dunedin, Taranaki and Southland.[5](https://www.mad-daily.com/the-rocks-new-logo-brand-campaign/)
The Rock 2000 Countdown is a major audience-participation event. The edition preceding the Australian launch drew 2 million votes from over 117,000 voters, with [War Pigs](https://www.edgepedia.org/war-pigs) by Black Sabbath at number one.[3](https://radioinfo.com.au/news/nzs-the-rock-debuts-on-dab-in-brisbane/)
## Australian expansion
The Rock became the first New Zealand radio station to broadcast live in Australia. The launch is a collaboration between MediaWorks and Nova Entertainment, with the station heard on DAB+ in Brisbane and streamable anywhere through the Nova Player app, including Apple Play and [Smart TV](https://www.edgepedia.org/smart-tv).[4](https://www.rova.nz/articles/the-rock-is-now-live-in-australia) • [3](https://radioinfo.com.au/news/nzs-the-rock-debuts-on-dab-in-brisbane/) [The Australian](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-australian) run opened with a promotional stunt of 10,000 back-to-back songs with no ads, building towards the full launch on 31 August, which features The Morning Rumble, Rock Drive with Jay & Dunc and the Rock 2000 Countdown.[4](https://www.rova.nz/articles/the-rock-is-now-live-in-australia)
In the Brisbane DAB+ market, the Australian trade press identifies Triple M Classic Rock as the station The Rock will compete with the most.[3](https://radioinfo.com.au/news/nzs-the-rock-debuts-on-dab-in-brisbane/)
## References
1. [The Rock: NZ's best rock radio station, rova (MediaWorks)](https://www.rova.nz/radio/the-rock)
2. [The Rock Transmitter frequencies - New Zealand, Online Radio Box](https://onlineradiobox.com/nz/therock/frequency/)
3. [NZ's The Rock debuts on DAB+ in Brisbane, RadioInfo Australia](https://radioinfo.com.au/news/nzs-the-rock-debuts-on-dab-in-brisbane/)
4. [The Rock is now live in Australia, a first for New Zealand radio, rova](https://www.rova.nz/articles/the-rock-is-now-live-in-australia)
5. [The Rock is born again, revealing a new station logo & brand campaign, M+AD](https://www.mad-daily.com/the-rocks-new-logo-brand-campaign/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Broadcasting and journalism › Broadcast organizations and stations › Individual broadcast stations, lists, and call signs › Individual broadcast stations (overview)*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license