To find our next stop, scan the building signage for a vibrant pink circle stamped with the words "THE HITS" in thick, black, interlocking block letters.
This is the nerve center for one of New Zealand’s most far-reaching radio networks. Today, it’s a sleek operation broadcasting to twenty-six markets, but its history is a bit like a radio dial that’s been spun too quickly-full of static, sudden changes, and some truly bizarre local characters.
You see, for a long time, the New Zealand government held a monopoly on the airwaves. It wasn't until the 1990s that things really cracked open. The government broadcaster, Radio New Zealand, began consolidating its local stations into a single commercial brand, originally known as "Classic Hits." The idea was to save money by networking-broadcasting one voice from a central studio to the entire country. But before the corporate suits fully took over, these local stations were fiefdoms of personality.
Take the Southland station, for instance. For thirty-three years, the morning host was a local legend named John "Boggy" McDowell. But Boggy didn't work alone. His on-air partner was a live budgerigar named Bertie who lived in a cage in the station foyer. Bertie was a genuine celebrity, visiting schools and opening events. Things got strange when a receptionist decided the bird was suffering from "nervous tension" and whisked it off to a vet. The station, needing to cover the absence, concocted a lie that Bertie had been headhunted for a movie role in Hollywood. The joke went so far that a staff member later flew back from Christchurch in a giant budgie costume, greeted at the airport by hundreds of cheering fans.
That sort of local flavor is harder to find these days. In 2014, the network rebranded from "Classic Hits" to simply "The Hits" to chase a younger demographic-specifically, socially active parents and homeowners. This building here in Auckland became the mothership. The transition was efficient, but brutal. Industry insiders called it a "bloodbath" for regional talent. Long-standing local voices were made redundant, replaced by networked shows beamed out from this very location. In the town of Ashburton, listeners were so furious about losing their local host, Phil Hooper, that the company actually had to move him to a different station brand just to stop the revolt.
The drama hasn't been limited to the provinces, either. The network saw a major shakeup in 2017 when the long-running morning duo, Polly Gillespie and Grant Kereama, suddenly disappeared from the airwaves. Polly took to Facebook claiming they were "gagged" by their contracts, sparking a public feud with management.
Today, the vibe is less about budgies and more about high-production stunts. The current breakfast team, Jono and Ben, are known for elaborate pranks. They once convinced a co-host she was flying to London for the King's coronation, dragging out the ruse for weeks, only to reveal her "flight" was a simulation inside a local warehouse. It’s a different world from the old days of AM radio, but it certainly keeps people listening.
The Hits has come a long way from its government roots, evolving into a content factory that dominates the drive home
