ZM's new drive show host a Rotorua boy at heart

ZM's new drive show host Clint Roberts is from Rotorua. Photo/Supplied

ZM's new drive show host is a Rotorua boy at heart - with dreams of hosting his own DJ set at Lava Bar.

Bree Tomasel and Clint Roberts were confirmed earlier this month as ZM's new hosts, taking over the Drive Show from Monday.

Roberts is excited to be back on the Rotorua airwaves after a year working for George FM.

"I grew up in Rotorua, went to Selwyn Primary School and then John Paul College.

"It's big for me to be back on air in Rotorua, finally all my mum's friends can hear me again.

"It will be nice to say to people, hey I'm not dead."

His new show with ZM was a long time coming and Roberts said he couldn't wait to push go and turn the microphones on come Monday.

But his first time in a recording booth was a little bit different.

"I got the opportunity, when I was in Scouts, to go and visit a radio station.

"The sound technician put me into the sound booth, I had my headphones so I could only hear myself talking but she was changing my voice.

"I could see everybody outside cracking up and I think that's a moment that stuck."

Roberts said it didn't stand out at the time, but looking back on it, that was the reason he went straight into broadcasting school.

He spent some time with then Classic Hits host Mike Baird getting as much advice as he could.

"It came full circle for me when his son Max was coming to me for advice."

Roberts was looking forward to the new role with his new co-host.

"Bree is from Australia, so I get to introduce her to New Zealand.

"I'm looking forward to taking her to Rotorua and showing her around, so far Queenstown is her favourite place and we need to change that."

He will be coming to Rotorua later this year to take part in the half ironman at Tikitapu (Blue Lake).