We have investigated the cathodoluminescence (CL) emission and the Raman spectra along individual ZnO nanorods grown by a catalyst-free method. The spatial correlation between the CL emission and the defect related Raman modes permits establishing a correspondence between the non-radiative recombination centres (NRRCs) and the defects responsible for the 275 cm−1 Raman band. According to this relation, the NRRCs in these nanorods are tentatively associated with complexes of zinc interstitials.