Center for Advancing Law and Technology Responsibly

ALTeR

ALTeR bridges law, business, and sustainable innovation to design inclusive, forward-thinking legal and policy frameworks, create bridges and “translations” between lawyers and technologists to protect our rights, and empower future leaders to drive responsible and sustainable technological growth.

Center Co-Director, Professor Alexandra Andhov

“Technology shapes our future, but humanity must shape our technology.”

“While nations compete for digital supremacy, ALTeR recognises that true innovation must be anchored in human dignity and environmental sustainability. By bridging law, technology, and ethical governance, we strive through research, education, and continuous engagement to ensure that tomorrow’s breakthroughs serve not just economic growth but people and the planet.”

The Latest

Law, Technology, and Government Conference

ALTeR’s inaugural conference is taking place from 15–17 April 2026, bringing together leading academics, innovators, regulators, and legal partners from around the world in Auckland to explore cutting-edge research and the role of government in navigating technological change.

The conference spans three days of presentations, panel discussions, knowledge-sharing keynotes and interactive workshops, with a focus on safeguarding spaces for innovation and regulatory experimentation. Find out more and be part of the conversation shaping the future of law and technology.

Rethinking Authorship in New Zealand : Can s5(2)(a) of the Copyright Act 1994 Survive Generative AI?

Written by Tilourshita Thiagu -  Imagine typing a short prompt into Midjourney or ChatGPT and watching an artwork or poem appear instantly. The output feels creative, sometimes even impressive, yet no human actually crafted it in the way copyright law has always imagined. New Zealand's copyright framework, like many around the world, assumes that creative works stem from human skill, labour and judgment. Generative AI complicates that assumption. Section 5(2)(a) of the Copyright Act 1994 was...

Big Tech in Aotearoa: Are New Zealand’s Ex-post Competition Laws Strong Enough to Protect our Digital Markets?

Written by Philipp Drixler, a student in LAWCOM733: Special Topic: Shaping the Law in Tech Driven Era (2025); this blog summarises his longer academic essay. When you open your phone to search for a restaurant, buy a product, or message friends, chances are high you are relying on platforms owned by just a handful of global giants: Google, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon. These companies not only dominate the global digital economy – they also shape how New Zealanders live, work,...

Leaking Buildings and Leaking Code: Lessons for Regulating Technology in New Zealand

*by Professor Alexandra Andhov, Director of ALTeR --- excerpts from the speech delivered at Aotearoa AI Summit 2025, organised by AI Forum "Let me tell you a story that starts with a house. House is tangible, specific… And I will not just talk about any houses, but the kind of house you dream about building your whole life. You save up, find the perfect piece of land, and hire what seems like a reputable construction company. The contract looks solid. Good 10 reviews. The builders promise...

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