The University of Waikato
Hamilton, New Zealand
5 – 8 July 2005
 

The ALTA 2005 conference was hosted by the Waikato Law School, Hamilton, New Zealand on July 5^th-8^th. The conference itself took place in the WEL Energy Trust Academy of Performing Arts in the pleasant surroundings of the University of Waikato Campus. The theme of the conference for 2005 was the controversial topic of ‘One Law For All?’ which was specifically chosen for this year’s conference, as it was held at New Zealand’s only bi-cultural Law School in the shadow of a divisive New Zealand election campaign.

This year’s conference proved to be a truly multi-national event with over 200 delegates from across the South Pacific region and the globe. The substance of the conference was organised around a series of plenary sessions examining the theme from a variety of New Zealand, Australasian and global angles. These brought together academics and practicing jurists from many jurisdictions in a series of panels with lively participation from the delegates. We were particularly honoured to have Dame Sian Elias, Chief Justice of New Zealand and the Rt Hon Margaret Wilson, the Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives amongst our speakers.

As is traditional in ALTA conferences the heart of the conference was the many and varied interest group sessions which provided lively discussion over a myriad of topics some of which even related to the conference theme! A selection of these papers will appear in forthcoming editions of the New Zealand Yearbook of Jurisprudence and the Waikato Law Review.

Although the academic substance of the conference was a highlight in itself, for most, the abiding memory of the conference will probably be the social events, particularly the performance of a local school Kapa Haka group at the conference dinner. Few can forget Brian Thompson of the University of Liverpool being subjected to a traditional challenge as the only British and Irish Lions supporter in the room!

Overall the conference was a huge success with largely satisfied delegates melting away on Friday afternoon to leave an exhausted conference committee to finally relax. To all those who were involved in this success, the sponsors, the Law School, our conference organisers, the plenary speakers and the delegates themselves, the conference committee offers heartfelt thanks. 

Now we wearily hand the baton to our colleagues at Victoria University, Melbourne. I trust we looked after it well. Kia Kaha! 

The ALTA 2004-05 Conference Committee