By Heather Devere: 2025 report from the APMN chair
Ngā mihi nui kia koutou katoa and warm Pacific greetings.

Welcome to the fourth Annual General Meeting of the Asia Pacific Media Network Te Koakoa. I’m Heather Devere and I am the Chair of APMN.

Introduction:
Firstly, I just want to acknowledge that we are working in an even more changeable environment than any of us have been used to before, so one of the things we need to address is where is our place in making a positive difference, and where should be focus our energies.

The Asia Pacific Media Network | Te Koakoa is now in its fifth year of operation as a network bringing together journalists, academics, researchers and community activists to provide analysis and communication relevant to people in the Asia Pacific region, provide education on media issues, and provide a platform for the voices often ignored in the mainstream media.

Looking back over the past year, there has been a lot of activity and changes and more activities are planned for the coming year. I’ll begin by reviewing our year’s work, and then give some information about up and coming projects.

Submission to the Select Committee on Principles of Treaty of Waitangi Bill
For those of you not from Aotearoa New Zealand, this Bill has been the focus of a lot of media and public attention and was put forward by the smallest party of the current Coalition government, that is the right-wing ACT party closely connected to the Atlas Network. APMN put in a submission opposing the Bill, along with more than 300,000 other submissions, the largest number of submissions to any piece of legislation in the history of New Zealand. 90 percent of the submissions were against the bill, supporting the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi as a piece of legislation that stands as a contract between two partners. As of a couple of weeks ago, the Bill failed to get through the second reading in Parliament and is now defunct, much to the relief of most of us. However, the architect of the bill, shortly to be our Deputy Prime Minister, does not believe this reflects the true feelings of New Zealanders, so he is not giving up just yet.

Pacific International Media Conference Suva
APMN partnered with the School of Pacific Arts, Communication and Education (SPACE) at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji where the international conference was held in July 2024. Coordinated and hosted by Shailendra Singh and entitled ‘Navigating Challenges and Shaping Futures in Pacific Media Research and Practice’ the conference in Suva was well attended, including by eight members of APMN (David Robie, Del Abcede, Philip Cass, Mark Pearson, Khairiah Abdul Rahman, Nik Naidu, Rach Mario, Adam Brown) plus the host Shailendra Singh). David Robie gave a keynote address entitled ‘Frontline Media Faultlines: How Critical Journalism can Survive Against the Odds”; Khairiah Abdul Rahman presented a paper looking at the framing of stories in the New Zealand press with a case study of the reporting of the shootings at the Christchurch Mosques; and Mark Pearson’s paper looked at the use of vanity and sham publishing. Shailendra Singh’s co-edited book Waves of Change: Media, Peace and Development in the Pacific was launched at the conference. Thank you to Adam for his conference report where there are more details of other conference papers presented, as well as on our website.

A ceremony was held at the conference to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Pacific Journalism Review at which a special anniversary edition of the journal was launched. The 30th edition was entitled ‘Gaza, Genocide and Media: Will Journalism Survive?’, edited by David Robie and Philip Cass. This edition contained 3 articles on the theme, 7 other articles, two commentaries, 4 frontline articles, a photo essay, two oblituaries, and 7 reviews. A forthcoming publication, edited by Shailendra Singh and Amit Sarwal will be based on selected papers from the conference.

A two-month exhibition titled “Connecting Diaspora: Pacific Prana” was facilitated by the Asia Pacific Media Network and coordinated by APMN’s chair Heather Devere, staged parallel to the conference at the University of the South Pacific’s Oceania Art Centre July 3-August 28. The creatives were film artist Mandrika Rupa (who also contributed an article to PJR), dancer and film artist Mandi Rupa Reid, and installation artist Tiffany Singh.

Asian Congress for Media and Communication (ACMC) Conference
As agreed at the last AGM, APMN has a working partnership with ACMC. Khairiah and Adam represented APMN at their Conference at the Vietnam National University in Ho Chih Min City in October and November 2024. The theme of the conference was ‘Media Construct and Constructive Media’. Khairiah and a former postgraduate student presented a paper on media framing on reportage of gun violence in New Zealand and Khairiah and Adam presented on the role of an independent media group as constructive media using a New Zealand case study. The next conference is likely to be in Japan in 2026, and ACMC is keen to hold another conference in New Zealand in 2028.

Khairiah is to edit one of the first issues under our new Pacific Media format based on the papers presented at the ACMC Conference.

APMN Publications
The first two issues in our new Pacific Media publication format will be based on the two conferences held last year.

In February this year, Philip Cass resigned from his role as editor of the new Pacific Media publication. After many years as editor or associate editor of Pacific Journalism Review, we would like to acknowledge his contributions. Philip has also been part of APMN since its conception, so we will miss his experience and staunch advocacy for better media coverage of the Asia Pacific region.

A special meeting was held in February at which Khairiah was appointed as editor in Philip’s stead. Khairiah has had years of experience in the background with our publications, and we are thrilled that she has agreed to take on this role. We would also like to acknowledge Adam’s support in the background too.

David and Del are hoping to take more of a backseat, although as always they are still extremely active in making sure that there is a smooth transition. They will talk more about this later in the meeting.

The Asia Pacific Report published in conjunction with APMN, continues with coverage of the region.

Nuclear Free Pacific exhibition
This past year big strides have been made in the arrangements for the Nuclear Free Pacific exhibition in July. We are grateful for the assistance of Antony Philips in preparing for staging this exhibition. The exhibition and re-launch of David’s book, Eyes of Fire, will take place in July this year. Thanks in particular to David, Nik and Rach.

Commentary on media issues and activities
In the past year APMN members have continued their media commentary on topics such as Palestinian rights, social justice, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), disinformation, and nuclear free Pacific. Gavin Ellis continues with commentary on issues, including Gaza, newspaper editorials, advertising standards and the media company, NZME. Wendy Bacon’s investigative reports includes Israeli activists in the Australian Labor Party, and Palestinian issues in Australia. Nik Naidu is working on interviews of ‘legends’ involved in creating a nuclear free and independent Pacific, and the Whānau Hub has set up Talanoa TV to comment on Pacific issues. Camille Nakhid has published several academic papers on racism, youth, and indigenous research. David (Pacific correspondent), Del and Joseph Fernandez, APMN member and Australian correspondent were In Taipei in October for the 7th anniversary of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Asia-Pacific bureau operating in Taiwan. David was interviewed for a six part podcast series on the Last Voyage of the Rainbow Warrior (also the title of his book to be showcased at the Nuclear Free Pacific exhibition later this year). Heather Devere’s book on Friendship and Politics was also launched recently.

Financial Committee
Our thanks to the Acting Treasurer David Robie, and Finance Chair Nik Naidu for managing our accounts. A full financial report will be presented later in this meeting. We are continuing to balance the books, but there is nothing to spare.

Whānau Centre and other collaborators
Nik will give a report on the Whānau Community Centre and Hub where we continue to be well hosted.

APMN website
The website of Asia Pacific Media Network/Te Koakoa Incorporated  website was set up and running from March, although there have been some glitches in reregistering members which we hope have been sorted.

Projects for 2025
31 May 2025: NZMN celebration dinner (Whānau Community Hub)

10 July 2025: Launch of the new 40th anniversary edition of David’s Rainbow Warrior book at Ellen Melville Community Centre by Little Island Press (linked to Greenpeace Aotearoa and our NFIP exhibition)

12 July 2025: NFIP Legends Exhibition Opening at the Ellen Melville Community Centre -- a cultural event.

12-18 July 2025: Paddy Walker Room, Ellen Melville Community Centre. Legends of Nuclear-Free Pacific exhibition (40th Anniversaries of both the Rainbow Warrior bombing and the Rarotonga Treaty for a nuclear-free Pacific).

5-7 November 2025: Parihaka IPRA 30th Biennial Peace Conference

In conclusion, we are moving forward in slowly recruiting members, and we welcome very warmly welcome any new people to the network. Media commentary has renewed importance in a world where authoritarianism is gaining ground. We want to stimulate research and debate. We want to ensure that our region is well represented as we continue to speak truth to power.

Dr Heather Devere
Chair, APMN
April 2025