Center for Advancing Law and Technology Responsibly

ALTeR

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The ALTeR Vision

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.

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Center 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.”

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Register for Legal Tech Hackathon 2025

The hackathon addresses the challenges related to navigating complex benefit systems in New Zealand

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New Zealand’s Strategy on AI: Three Fallacies

New Zealand’s Strategy on AI: Three Fallacies

Jul 20, 2025 |

New Zealand’s long-awaited AI strategy positions the country as a follower rather than a leader in artificial intelligence development.
First, by deliberately emphasising AI adoption over development, New Zealand surrenders the opportunity to create sovereign AI capabilities—while countries like Switzerland, Singapore, and Israel build their own systems reflecting their values and priorities.
Second, the strategy’s reluctance to provide clear regulatory frameworks creates the very business uncertainty it aims to avoid. Businesses need clarity, not regulatory ambiguity.
Third, the strategy ignores the fundamental question of who will control the AI systems that increasingly govern our economy and decision-making.
The upcoming New Zealand Institute for Advanced Technology offers a chance to demonstrate that commercial success and clear governance can work together—but only if we move beyond the false choice between regulation and innovation.