David Telfer 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 four 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. 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 journalism programme and in 1998-2002 became coordinator of the University of the South Pacific journalism school where his students covered the 2000 George Speight coup d'état in Fiji. According to the NZ Listener, 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 Fellow. He is founding editor of Pacific Journalism Review, launched at the University of Papua New Guinea in 1994. Between 1998-2002, Robie was the Head of Journalism at the University of the South Pacific. He became an associate professor in Auckland University of Technology School of Communication Studies in 2005 and a professor in 2011. In 2020 he retired as director of the Pacific Media Centre. In 2021, he co-founded the Asia Pacific Media Network and produced the independent Asia-Pacific news websites Asia Pacific Report and Café Pacific.
Honours and awards 1985: NZ Media Prize, for coverage of the Rainbow Warrior bombing peace-prize-1985-89/
1989: Qantas Press Awards for best feature article peace-prize-1985-89/
2005: PIMA Pacific Media Freedom Award.
2015: AMIC Asia Communication Award.
In the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours, Robie was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to journalism and Asia-Pacific media education.
Publications Robie's publications include: Robie, David (2025) Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage of the Rainbow Warrior (40th anniversary edition) 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) Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage of the Rainbow Warrior (memorial edition) 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) Och världen blundar... Kampen för frihet i Stilla Havet (translated into Swedish by Margareta Eklof, Sweden) Robie, David (1989) 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 AUT University profile Cafe Pacific blog Asia-Pacific Media Network portal Pacific Scoop Pacific Media Centre "Young and brave: In Pacific island paradise, journalism students cover a strange coup attempt for course credit." - IPI Global Journalist, September 2000