Description:

The Pacific Media Network (PMN) dates back to 1993, when its legacy radio station, 531pi, first hit the airwaves. It was created as a way to reach the ever-growing Pacific population in Aotearoa - a community with a long and traumatic history here in New Zealand.

With one in four Aucklanders now being born of Pacific descent, PMN needed to evolve with its audience in a highly competitive digital environment. The challenge was to not only rethink PMN's audience strategy and content delivery channels but to redefine the way Pacific media is shared in Aotearoa.

The idea was to redesign PMN's entire digital infrastructure, to futureproof the organisation and better serve the Pacific people of Aotearoa.

The all-new PMN.CO.NZ is a world-class, custom-built content platform that sits proudly in the modern media landscape. It’s a revitalised home of Pacific news across 10 languages, with the integration of two 24/7 live-streaming radio stations.

Designed for mobile first, a completely rebuilt CMS allows for seamless navigation through a range of new categories including politics, sports, business, health, arts, education, and entertainment.

Autoloading articles keeps audiences endlessly engaged, including the aggregation of PMN's vast radio and social media output. The new website also celebrates passionate Pacific-led content creation - through shows, podcasts, and performances, brought to life in PMN’s very own studio spaces. All of this is fuelled by 100% Pacific journalism.

Encompassing the rebuild is a new master brand: ‘PMN IS US’ - a unifying idea born from the truth that every person within the organization is part of the communities they serve. The new look is loud, proud, and unapologetically Pacific. It features a comprehensive design system filled with 3D iconography derived from traditional neck garlands, a vibrant color palette from Pacific flags, and bold typography. In addition, we feature an extensive range of imagery from a network of photographers, uncovering the true essence of contemporary Pacific life.

PMN’s new offering hasn’t just been embraced, it’s been championed - becoming an integral part of Pacific news consumption in New Zealand. Since launch, the platform has seen remarkable growth, with average monthly visits increasing by 14 times*. The introduction of digital audio streaming has significantly boosted live listens of NiuFM and 531pi, resulting in a 16-fold increase*.

Additionally, the platform's new advertising inventory has driven a substantial growth in digital revenue, which has increased a whopping 34 times* year-to-date and continues to rise. As engagement becomes more meaningful, so does the investment from advertisers. This ensures that PMN and its charitable trust have the ongoing resources to invest in quality Pacific journalism and new digital infrastructure for the future.

*14x increase in average monthly visits: 3,300 increased to 52,000
*16x increase in digital audio streaming: 1000 pm increased to 16,000 pm
* 34x increase in digital revenue YTD: FY 2022 figures compared against YTD (Oct 2023 - June 2024)