David Robie (born 1945) is a New Zealand author, journalist and media educator who has covered the Asia-Pacific region for international media for more than two decades. Robie is the author of several books on South Pacific media and politics and is an advocate for media freedom in the pacific region. In 1985, Robie sailed on board the Greenpeace eco-navy flagship ''Rainbow Warrior'' for 10 weeks until it was bombed by French secret agents in New Zealand’s

Auckland harbour Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...

. He is the author of a book about the ill-fated voyage, ''Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage of the Rainbow Warrior'' (Lindon Books, 1986). An updated memorial edition of ''Eyes of Fire'' was published in July 2005, and a 30th anniversary edition in July 2015 (Little Island Press). In 1993-1997, Robie headed the

University of Papua New Guinea The University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) is a university located in Port Moresby, capital of Papua New Guinea. It was established by ordinance of the Australian administration in 1965. This followed the Currie Commission which had enquired ...

journalism programme and in 1998-2002 became coordinator of the

University of the South Pacific The University of the South Pacific (USP) is a public research university with locations spread throughout a dozen countries in Oceania. Established in 1968, the university is organised as an intergovernmental organisation and is owned by the gov ...

journalism school where his students covered the 2000

George Speight George Speight (born 1957) is a Fijian businessman and politician who was the leader of the 2000 Fijian coup d'état, in which he and rebel soldiers from Fiji's Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit seized the Fijian Parliament and held Prime Ministe ...

coup d'état A coup d'état (; French for 'stroke of state'), also known as a coup or overthrow, is a seizure and removal of a government and its powers. Typically, it is an illegal seizure of power by a political faction, politician, cult, rebel group, ...

in Fiji. According to the ''

NZ Listener New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island country b ...

'', an assistant minister in Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka's government in 1998 threatened to close Robie's media and politics website - ''Café Pacific'' - and revoke his work permit as a media educator in "what was seen as the first test of the 1997 Constitution's freedom of expression clause". In 1999, Robie became an annual

Australian Press Council The Australian Press Council (APC) was established in 1976 and is responsible for promoting high standards of media practice, community access to information of public interest, and freedom of expression through the media. The council is also the ...

Fellow. He is founding editor of ''

Pacific Journalism Review Auckland University of Technology (AUT) ( mi, Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau) is a university in New Zealand, formed on 1 January 2000 when a former technical college (originally established in 1895) was granted university status. AUT ...

'', launched at the

in 1994. Between 1998-2002, Robie was the Head of Journalism at the

. He became an associate professor in

Auckland University of Technology Auckland University of Technology (AUT) ( mi, Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau) is a university in New Zealand, formed on 1 January 2000 when a former technical college (originally established in 1895) was granted university status. AUT ...

School of Communication Studies in 2005 and a professor in 2011. In 2020 he retired as director of the

Pacific Media Centre Auckland University of Technology (AUT) ( mi, Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau) is a university in New Zealand, formed on 1 January 2000 when a former technical college (originally established in 1895) was granted university status. AUT ...

Awards

1985: NZ Media Prize, for coverage of the Rainbow Warrior bombing 1989: Qantas Press Awards for best feature article 2005: PIMA Pacific Media Freedom Award. 2015: AMIC Asia Communication Award.

Publications

Robie's publications include: * Robie, David (2015
"Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage of the Rainbow Warrior"
(30th anniversary edition) * Robie, David (2014
"Don't Spoil My Beautiful Face: Media, Mayhem and Human Rights in the Pacific"
* Robie, David (2005

* Robie, David (2004) ''Mekim Nius: South Pacific media, politics and education''. * Robie, David (ed.) (2001
''The Pacific Journalist: A Practical Guide''
* Robie, David (ed.) (1995
''Nius Bilong Pasifik: Mass Media in the Pacific''
* Robie, David (ed.) (1992
''Tu Galala: Social Change in the Pacific''
* Robie, David (1989

* Robie, David (1989) ttps://www.amazon.com/Blood-their-Banner-Nationalist-Struggles/dp/0862328640#reader_0862328640 ''Blood on their Banner: Nationalist Struggles in the South Pacific'' * Robie, David (1987) ''Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage of the Rainbow Warrior'' (New Society Publishers edition, USA) * Robie, David (1986
''Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage of the Rainbow Warrior'' (Lindon, NZ)

References

External links

David Robie AUT University staff profileCafe Pacific blogAsia-Pacific Network portalPacific ScoopPacific Media Centre"Young and brave: In Pacific island paradise, journalism students cover a strange coup attempt for course credit." - ''IPI Global Journalist,'' September 2000
{{DEFAULTSORT:Robie, David 1945 births Auckland University of Technology faculty Living people New Zealand journalists People associated with Greenpeace New Zealand investigative journalists University of Papua New Guinea faculty