Cafe Pacific Media

By David Robie, editor of Asia Pacific Report Four opposition party spokespeople today condemned the New Zealand coalition government’s Palestine policies and called on voters to oust it and elect parties pledging “humanitarian” policies. The spokespeople accused the Christopher Luxon-led government of turning a “blind eye to a full-blown genocide” and being complicit in crimes against humanity.

COMMENTARY: By David Robie, editor of Asia Pacific Report Some years ago when I headed the Pacific Media Centre that I founded at Auckland University of Technology, we ran a postgraduate internship programme at the China Daily in Beijing. It was part of a professional development exposure platform that also included Jakarta in Indonesia and Manila in the Philippines, along with several media and university journalism campus outlets in the Pacific, including the University of the South Pacific.

While the public is encouraged to blame immigrants, Muslims, the left, or “Israel haters”, the UK state is racing to erect a scaffolding of control to protect itself before we wake up to the deception, writes Jonathan Cook. ANALYSIS: By Jonathan Cook When is it possible to declare that a society has moved from liberal democracy, however imperfectly realised, to authoritarian rule? Is there a moment when it is suddenly obvious the change has occurred? Does authoritarianism announce its arrival?

By David Robie, editor of Asia Pacific Report “Triple-tap” attacks by Israeli and US forces against Palestine, Iran and Lebanon were condemned today at a Stop Wars Aotearoa rally against the atrocities in the Middle East in Auckland’s Aotea Square. New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters was also criticised in satirical theatre over accusations of racism and insults against immigrants.

REVIEW: By Olivia Rosane It’s a commonly repeated statistic that the US military is the world’s largest institutional polluter, but what exactly does that mean?

By David Robie, convenor of Pacific Media Watch “This is the last time you’ll see me… they brought me here to kill me.” These chilling words by detained and tortured Palestinian paediatrician Dr Hussam Abu Safiya were cited by an Amnesty International advocate today at an Auckland rally denouncing the failure of New Zealand media to highlight his plight.

Mānawatia a Matariki! Flashback 41 years on: One year ago marking the 40th anniversary of the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior, Te Aniwaniwa Paterson wrote this article. Further reading: David Robie’s book Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage and Legacy of the Rainbow Warrior (Little Island Press).

PROFILE: By Mong Palatino Global Voices has interviewed veteran Aotearoa New Zealand writer and educator David Robie who discussed the state of Pacific media, journalism education, and the role of the press in addressing decolonisation and the climate crisis. Professor Robie was among the 2024 New Zealand Order of Merit awardees and on the inaugural King’s Birthday Honours list for his “services to journalism and Asia-Pacific media education”. His career in journalism has spanned six decades.

COMMENTARY: By Saige England Being passive must come after being passionate and active. Some know this. Some don’t. So many people still don’t know this. I keep hoping they will learn, know, care and do something. I recall a line about journalism many years ago, that good journalists write the truth about social issues so that the right people will read about them and do something to change those social issues, the terrible wrongs against humanity.

SPECIAL REPORT: By Eugene Doyle Something significant and revelatory just happened in the New Zealand Parliament. I was present at today’s Foreign Affairs Select Committee meeting when things kicked off between the Foreign Minister and humanitarian aid activist Hāhona Ormsby, one of the New Zealanders who survived kidnapping and beatings by Israeli forces in May. Despite the presence of many well-known pro-Palestinian activists, there was no security in the room when things turned spicy.