Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Government: International Perspectives
Prof. Dr. Martin Kment, LL.M. (Cambridge), Managing Director, Institute for Environmental Law, University of Augsburg
Wednesday, 20 May 2026 5:10pm for 5:30pm - 7pm with Reception 7pm - 8pm
Wellington
RHLT2, Rutherford House, Pipitea Campus, Victoria University of Wellington or via Zoom
NZIIA Wellington Branch and the Embassy of Germany is delighted to welcome members and guests to an upcoming event "Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Government: International Perspectives".
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how governments operate, raising profound questions about efficiency, accountability, and the future of public decision-making. As states explore the use of AI in areas such as taxation, regulatory approvals, and public administration, the implications extend far beyond technology—touching on fundamental principles of the rule of law, transparency, and democratic legitimacy.
In this short keynote, Prof. Dr. Martin Kment (University of Augsburg, Germany) will discuss artificial intelligence and examine its emerging role in government decision-making processes. Drawing on international developments, particularly in Europe, he will explore where and how AI is already being applied in the public sector and what this means for legal and administrative systems. His address will also engage with deeper normative and legal-philosophical questions, including whether—and to what extent—we should permit AI to make decisions traditionally reserved for human authorities, from administrative rulings to matters of justice.
Following the keynote Prof Kment will join a panel with Paula Riano AI Strategy Advisor at Five New Zealand Consultancy, Auckland and Pedro Ramirez, Digital Strategy Practitioner – AI Work Programme, Department of Internal Affairs.
At the conclusion of the Panel and a short Q&A there will be a networking reception kindly sponsored by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
- Registrations are required to attend this event as there is limited capacity. No walk ups allowed. If in person tickets are exhausted please register to attend online.
- One ticket per person. Each ticket must contain your full first name and surname (that matches your ID), email address and phone number.
- If, after registering, you are unable to attend please have the courtesy to cancel your ticket via Humantitix to enable others on the waiting list to attend.
- In keeping with NZIIA practice, unauthorised recording of this event (either audio or video) is not permitted. Members and guests are reminded to adhere to the NZIIA Code of Conduct.
- For any queries please email: info@nziiawellington.org.nz
BIOGRAPHIES OF OUR SPEAKERS
Prof. Dr. Martin Kment, LL.M. (Cambridge)
Martin Kment is Managing Director of the Institute for Environmental Law at the University of Augsburg, and holds the Chair of Public Law, European Law, Environmental Law, and Planning Law. He founded the German Environmental and Infrastructure Law Conference, serves on the board of the German Society for Environmental Law, and is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the German Academy for Spatial Development. His research interests are wide-ranging, spanning environmental and infrastructure law, as well as energy law and artificial intelligence (AI) law. Martin Kment has published extensively across all of these core research areas.
In the AI field, his most prominent work is his 2022 monograph Artificial Intelligence and Algorithms in the Application of Law. Currently, Martin Kment holds an appointment as Visitor in Residence at Victoria University of Wellington’s Faculty of Law, where he is conducting research on the Rights of Nature.
Paula Riano, AI Strategy Advisor at Five NZ Consultancy
Paula Riano is an AI Strategy Advisor with over 20 years of experience helping organisations move beyond the pilot stage and realise the full value of artificial intelligence. With a background in electronics engineering and a career spanning agile transformation, AI programme delivery, and organisational change, she brings both technical depth and human-centred expertise to the challenge of sustainable AI adoption. Most recently, Paula co-designed AI Compass, a strategic platform helping New Zealand organisations baseline their AI maturity and build a clear roadmap from proof of concept to production scale.
Paula has led AI change programmes and engineering project delivery for some of New Zealand's and the world's leading organisations. Her particular strength lies in enabling people to own their AI journey, translating complex technical concepts into clear business language and building the organisational capability needed for AI to take root and scale.
As AI Strategy Advisor at Five NZ, Paula works with organisations across industries to assess AI maturity, align executive teams, and build measurable paths from strategy to scale.
Pedro Ramirez (Biography to be updated soon)
Digital Strategy Practitioner – AI Work Programme, Department of Internal Affairs
Contact the Wellington branch
FOR ANY WELLINGTON BRANCH AND MEMBERSHIP ENQUIRIES OR WELLINGTON EVENT INFORMATION PLEASE EMAIL
info@nziiawellington.org.nzNZIIA Wellington Branch and the Embassy of Germany is delighted to welcome members and guests to an upcoming event "Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Government: International Perspectives".
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how governments operate, raising profound questions about efficiency, accountability, and the future of public decision-making. As states explore the use of AI in areas such as taxation, regulatory approvals, and public administration, the implications extend far beyond technology—touching on fundamental principles of the rule of law, transparency, and democratic legitimacy.
In this short keynote, Prof. Dr. Martin Kment (University of Augsburg, Germany) will discuss artificial intelligence and examine its emerging role in government decision-making processes. Drawing on international developments, particularly in Europe, he will explore where and how AI is already being applied in the public sector and what this means for legal and administrative systems. His address will also engage with deeper normative and legal-philosophical questions, including whether—and to what extent—we should permit AI to make decisions traditionally reserved for human authorities, from administrative rulings to matters of justice.
Following the keynote Prof Kment will join a panel with Paula Riano AI Strategy Advisor at Five New Zealand Consultancy, Auckland and Pedro Ramirez, Digital Strategy Practitioner – AI Work Programme, Department of Internal Affairs.
At the conclusion of the Panel and a short Q&A there will be a networking reception kindly sponsored by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
- Registrations are required to attend this event as there is limited capacity. No walk ups allowed. If in person tickets are exhausted please register to attend online.
- One ticket per person. Each ticket must contain your full first name and surname (that matches your ID), email address and phone number.
- If, after registering, you are unable to attend please have the courtesy to cancel your ticket via Humantitix to enable others on the waiting list to attend.
- In keeping with NZIIA practice, unauthorised recording of this event (either audio or video) is not permitted. Members and guests are reminded to adhere to the NZIIA Code of Conduct.
- For any queries please email: info@nziiawellington.org.nz
BIOGRAPHIES OF OUR SPEAKERS
Prof. Dr. Martin Kment, LL.M. (Cambridge)
Martin Kment is Managing Director of the Institute for Environmental Law at the University of Augsburg, and holds the Chair of Public Law, European Law, Environmental Law, and Planning Law. He founded the German Environmental and Infrastructure Law Conference, serves on the board of the German Society for Environmental Law, and is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the German Academy for Spatial Development. His research interests are wide-ranging, spanning environmental and infrastructure law, as well as energy law and artificial intelligence (AI) law. Martin Kment has published extensively across all of these core research areas.
In the AI field, his most prominent work is his 2022 monograph Artificial Intelligence and Algorithms in the Application of Law. Currently, Martin Kment holds an appointment as Visitor in Residence at Victoria University of Wellington’s Faculty of Law, where he is conducting research on the Rights of Nature.
Paula Riano, AI Strategy Advisor at Five NZ Consultancy
Paula Riano is an AI Strategy Advisor with over 20 years of experience helping organisations move beyond the pilot stage and realise the full value of artificial intelligence. With a background in electronics engineering and a career spanning agile transformation, AI programme delivery, and organisational change, she brings both technical depth and human-centred expertise to the challenge of sustainable AI adoption. Most recently, Paula co-designed AI Compass, a strategic platform helping New Zealand organisations baseline their AI maturity and build a clear roadmap from proof of concept to production scale.
Paula has led AI change programmes and engineering project delivery for some of New Zealand's and the world's leading organisations. Her particular strength lies in enabling people to own their AI journey, translating complex technical concepts into clear business language and building the organisational capability needed for AI to take root and scale.
As AI Strategy Advisor at Five NZ, Paula works with organisations across industries to assess AI maturity, align executive teams, and build measurable paths from strategy to scale.
Pedro Ramirez (Biography to be updated soon)
Digital Strategy Practitioner – AI Work Programme, Department of Internal Affairs
Membership
NZIIA membership is open to anyone interested in understanding the importance of global affairs to the political and economic well-being of New Zealand.