“From the river to the sea, Herzog to the ICC” – this placard summed up the mood at the Sydney Town Hall protest on Monday evening, peaceful until the police cracked down. Image: Al Jazeera
KIA ORA WHĀNAU #9 -APMN NEWS UPDATES For more than two years, many Asia Pacific Media Network members have been on the street in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand protesting and reporting on the biggest moral crisis of our times – the Israeli genocide in Gaza.
The crisis reached a new level in Australia this week with the widely condemned four-day state visit by “signed bombs for children” Israeli President Isaac Herzog that fuelled massive protests in 30 cities and townships across the country.
In Sydney at the Town Hall Square on the opening day of the visit, tens of thousands of protesters -- including several members of Parliament – opposed the Herzog visit.
Police were accused of brutally cracking down on peaceful protesters and journalist and commentator Mary Kostakidis, a former SBS broadcaster, posted on X that they had “destroyed the public’s trust”.
Speaking at the Town Hall rally, Jewish Australian investigative journalist and author Antony Lowenstein said: “The simple fact is that Israeli actions endanger all of us, including Jews. Because what Israel is doing claims to be in our name, in my name. And believe me when I say it is not in my name.”
Lowenstein, author of the best-selling book The Palestine Laboratory that has been translated into multiple languages, is a global expert on the Israeli military machine and yet he has rarely been interviewed in Australian and New Zealand media.
Law academic Joseph Fernandez, an APMN member, wrote: “NSW Premier Chris Minns has lost all moral authority to govern. He and his goons were out to stage unrest.”
The independent Michael West Media reported: “A Premier who dines with a leader accused of genocide, who has signed the very bombs dropped on civilians, while his police break the arm of an 84-year-old woman, assault a woman with Parkinson’s disease, spray a seizing child in the face, and brutalise people at prayer has forfeited all moral authority to govern.”
Among our APMN members involved in the frontline of protest and reportage are investigative journalist and former journalism professor Wendy Bacon, filmmaker and former journalism professor Chris Nash, Asia Pacific Report publisher and former journalism professor David Robie, and media publications designer Del Abcede.
Among Wendy’s contributions were an article in Asia Pacific Report as Herzog’s visit began saying: “As thousands massed around the country tonight to protest against the visit of President Herzog, the government’s claims of fostering ‘social cohesion’ are a shambles.
“The mainstream media, too. Any remaining shred of credibility shattered.”
David has reported a series of articles about the toll on Gazan journalists and on protests in New Zealand, including one on decolonisation.
David Robie and Del Abcede at a pro-Palestinian rally in Adelaide, South Australia, last December. Del has been among organisers of the weekly PSNA rallies in Auckland. Image: Asia Pacific Report
Kōrero with Victor Mambor – upcoming APMN event, March 9 Join award-winning Jubi Media founder, journalist, publisher and editor Victor Mambor for a media kōrero, solidarity, kai and refreshments. Organised by the Asia Pacific Media Network (APMN) and Whānau Hub in association with West Papua Action Aotearoa.
Victor is a courageous and award-winning West Papuan journalist, founder of Jubi news website and newspaper. Harassed and facing death threats, he has experienced growing risks as his journalism expanded beyond Jubi’s reporting on human rights issues over the Melanesian region’s long-running independence struggle as a correspondent for global media. In 2021, the UN Human Rights Council described him as a “humanitarian and human rights activist”.
The Victor Mambor flyer.
He has visited New Zealand before and had a voted interview with AUT’s Pacific Media Centre in 2014.
Also, don't miss the West Papua film night with Victor Mambor on Saturday, March 7, 6pm, Academy Theatre. Tickets will be available soon via the Academy.
Talanoa TV “glams it up” in new series One of our partners at the Whānau Community Centre and Hub, APMN’s Nik Naidu and crew have recently launched a new programme series on their Talanoa TV channel. After the “Nuclear-Free Pacific heroes” series last year, they have now boosted their public profile with “Let’s Glam It Up” hosted by Rachael Mario and Ernestina Bonsu-Maro.
IPRA conference coordinator Professor Kelli Te Maihāroa (Waitaha, Ngati Rārua, Te Atiawa) and programme coordinator Dr Heather Devere at the conference in November 2025.
APMN chair Heather Devere’s active role in the IPRA peace conference The International Peace Research Association (IPRA) held its biennial conference for the first time in Aotearoa – at New Plymouth Ngamotu, and for the first time the conference had a focus on Indigenous Peace, Resistance, and Reconciliation. APMN’s chair, Heather Devere, was programme coordinator for the conference.
More than 200 participants from 40 different countries, including Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Canada, China, Colombia, East Sudan, Ecuador, Fiji, France, Germany, Ghana, Hawai’i, Honduras, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Maohi Nui (French Polynesia), Mexico, Palestine, Puerto Rico, Scotland, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, South Sudan, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, UK, USA, West Papua, and Zimbabwe, met together in discussion, debate and activities designed to address issues relating to peace and justice both locally and internationally.
Held at a time of extreme international insecurity, Aotearoa offered a place of respite, especially to those coming from regions of ongoing and intractable conflict. The challenges still seem insurmountable, but inspiration, reflection and interchange gave hope to some, and small comfort to others.
Ongoing concern was expressed in two statements issued at the conference.
The first edition of Pacific Media arrives back from the printers. Image: APMN
APMN’s new journal, Pacific Media, makes its debut Our new Pacific Media research publication and outlet for academics and community advocates has now been added to the Informit database at RMIT for researchers.
Two editions of the new journal, published by the Aotearoa-based independent Asia Pacific Media Network (APMN) and following the traditions of Pacific Journalism Review, have been included in the database’s archives for institutional access.
Most university and polytech journalism schools in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific subscribe to Informit which delivers expert-curated and extensive information from sectors such as health, engineering, business, humanities, science and law – and also journalism and media.
Managing editor David Robie, who founded both the PJR and PM, welcomed the Informit initiative and also praised the Tuwhera DOJ platform at AUT University.
“There is a real need for Pacific media research that is independent of vested interests and we are delighted that our APMN partnership developed with Informit is continuing with our new Pacific Media journal,” he said.
Congratulations to our series editor, Khairiah A Rahman, currently on research sabbatical in Singapore, and the designer Del Abcede for all their efforts.
The first edition, themed on “Pacific media challenges and futures”, was partnered with The University of the South Pacific and edited by Associate Professor Shailendra Singh and Dr Amit Sarwal and published last year.
The second edition, themed on “Media construct, constructive media”, was partnered with the Asian Congress for Media and Communication (ACMC) and edited by Khairiah A Rahman and Dr Rachel E Khan, and was also recently published.
APMN reregistered under the new law APMN is now reregistered under the Incorporated Societies Act 2022 and our annual general meeting is due in mid-April with a date yet to be set. It will be both an in-person and Zoom event. Make sure your membership dues are up-to-date so that you can vote.
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