ICON-S Australia & New Zealand Chapter Conference 2026
The ICON-S Australia & New Zealand Chapter Conference is an academic gathering focused on public law, hosted in Wellington, New Zealand. This event serves as a platform for scholars and practitioners to delve into contemporary issues and developments within the field, particularly those relevant to the region. Participants engage in discussions, present research, and foster collaboration on critical public law topics.
Committees & topics
Topics
He Mahi Raranga: The Infusion and Diffusion of Australasian Public Law · The Law That Was Always There: Weaving First Nations and Pasifika Knowledges into the Law Curriculum · The Automated State: Algorithmic Government and Public Law · New Directions in Constitutionalism · Judicial Dialogue: The Judiciary in an Age of Distrust · Public Law: General Stream
Why it matters
This conference is significant for several reasons. Primarily, it provides a crucial forum for legal experts from NZL to engage with complex public law challenges specific to their jurisdiction and the broader Oceania region. The discussions often revolve around constitutionalism, administrative law, human rights, and the role of the judiciary in modern governance.
Secondly, the event facilitates the exchange of ideas and research findings among academics and legal professionals. This intellectual cross-pollination is vital for advancing legal scholarship and informing policy debates. By bringing together diverse perspectives, the conference helps to identify emerging trends and develop innovative solutions to pressing legal questions.
Finally, the conference highlights the unique perspectives and challenges faced by public law in the New Zealand context. It offers an opportunity to examine how global legal trends intersect with local legal traditions and societal values, contributing to a more nuanced understanding of public law in the region.
How to prepare
To effectively engage with the discussions at the ICON-S Australia & New Zealand Chapter Conference, participants should undertake thorough preparation. Begin by reviewing the conference themes and identifying areas where your expertise or research aligns. This will allow for more targeted contributions and meaningful engagement with other attendees.
Consider how different legal frameworks and constitutional principles might influence the topics presented. Understanding the nuances of public law in NZL is crucial for contributing to the dialogue. Preparing concise summaries of your own research or perspectives on relevant topics can also facilitate productive exchanges.
Engaging with the "Engagement Strategies" lesson can provide valuable insights into how to effectively participate in academic discussions and network with peers. Additionally, applying principles from "What Is Stakeholder Mapping?" and the "Stakeholder Mapping Workshop" can help in understanding the various actors and interests at play in public law debates, allowing for a more informed and impactful contribution.
Country perspectives
Where the most-relevant 1 countries stand on the core issues in play. Click through for the full country profile.
Topics & background
The background behind each topic and the actors that shape it.
He Mahi Raranga: The Infusion and Diffusion of Australasian Public Law
Key players
AustraliaFederal constitutional system; post-Voice debates on Indigenous recognition
New ZealandUnwritten constitution anchored by Te Tiriti o Waitangi and NZBORA
United KingdomSource of inherited Westminster and common law traditions
FijiPacific constitutional jurisdiction shaped by and reshaping regional public law
SamoaSamoan customary-statutory hybrid informing Pasifika legal pluralism
The Law That Was Always There: Weaving First Nations and Pasifika Knowledges into the Law Curriculum
Key players
- Australia
Post-Mabo native title regime and ongoing curriculum reform debates
- New Zealand
Tikanga Māori increasingly recognised as part of the common law (Ellis v R, 2022)
- Fiji
Constitutional recognition of iTaukei customary law
- Samoa
Fa'a Samoa and the village fono within the formal legal order
Papua New GuineaUnderlying Law Act 2000 mandating use of custom by state courts
The Automated State: Algorithmic Government and Public Law
Key players
- Australia
Robodebt aftermath and reform of Commonwealth ADM
- New Zealand
Algorithm Charter and Privacy Act 2020 framework
- United Kingdom
Comparator jurisdiction; Horizon/Post Office and ADM judicial review
CanadaDirective on Automated Decision-Making as regulatory model
United StatesAlgorithmic accountability litigation and AI Bill of Rights blueprint
New Directions in Constitutionalism
Key players
- Australia
Post-Voice constitutional recognition debates
- New Zealand
Treaty Principles Bill and unwritten constitution under pressure
South AfricaLeading model of transformative constitutionalism
IndiaBasic structure doctrine and contested judicial independence
- United States
Originalism, Supreme Court legitimacy and democratic backsliding debate
HungaryParadigm case of abusive constitutionalism in the EU
Judicial Dialogue: The Judiciary in an Age of Distrust
Key players
- Australia
High Court navigating immigration, climate and Indigenous cases
- New Zealand
Supreme Court engaging tikanga and Treaty jurisprudence
- United Kingdom
Post-Miller Supreme Court and prerogative review
- United States
Supreme Court legitimacy and ethics debates
Israel2023 judicial overhaul and reasonableness doctrine litigation
- Canada
Comparator on appointments, notwithstanding clause and dialogue theory
Public Law: General Stream
Key players
- Australia
Federal public law system with limited entrenched rights
- New Zealand
Unwritten constitution and parliamentary sovereignty under Te Tiriti
- United Kingdom
Westminster comparator and source of common law public law doctrine
- Canada
Comparator on Charter rights, federalism and Indigenous law
- South Africa
Transformative constitutional comparator influencing global public law
Resources
News, lessons, and country profiles to prep for ICON-S Australia & New Zealand Chapter Conference 2026.
Lessons
Bite-sized lessons to build the basics
Courses
Guided courses that go deeper on the topic
The states in play, with the data that shapes their stance
Related conferences
By committee
- He Mahi Raranga: The Infusion and Diffusion of Australasian Public Law
- The Law That Was Always There: Weaving First Nations and Pasifika Knowledges into the Law Curriculum
- The Automated State: Algorithmic Government and Public Law
- New Directions in Constitutionalism
- Judicial Dialogue: The Judiciary in an Age of Distrust
- Public Law: General Stream