Every year, more than 6,000 rock music maniacs gather at Tāmaki Makaurau’s iconic Spark Arena to countdown the final entries in The Rock 2000. There’s a religious fervour in the air for all things guitar, bass and drums. Where else in the world can you witness several thousand people moshing to the radio? Incredible.

This year Blindspott took the #1 spot with their 2003 hit “Nil by Mouth” and surprised the crowd by appearing on stage to perform the song live. Also joining them that night were The Living End, Devilskin, Villainy and The Boondocks.

Photography by Connor Crawford