2026 Harkness Fellow Adam Allington will divide his United States programme between Georgetown University and Harvard University, connecting democratic renewal and public management research with the practical realities of leading inside government. Adam Allington, General Manager Strategy, Insights and Performance…
HARKNESS
FELLOWSHIPS TRUST
ABOUT
The New Zealand Harkness Fellowships enable outstanding mid-career professionals to undertake immersive learning in the United States and apply that learning to leadership and public service in New Zealand. The Fellowships strengthen New Zealand–United States relationships by supporting the exchange…
APPLICATIONS
The New Zealand Harkness Fellowships are for high-potential senior leaders in any field of study or vocation (excluding health care policy and practice) to study or research in the US for between 3-6 months. Applications open 2 February and close…
2025 FELLOW
The Harkness Fellowships Trust (NZ) is proud to announce the selection of Hākopa Ashdown as the 2025 New Zealand Harkness Fellow. Hākopa Ashdown, (Te Aupōuri, Ngai Takoto, Ngāti Kahu), currently Private Secretary to the Minister for Māori Development at Te…
Latest Articles
Lessons from America: Hāpai Public article
Read Hākopa’s reflections on what NZ can learn from the US in the Hāpai Public journal Winter edition.
The Harkness Fellowship journey begins well before departing for the US
By Jacob (Hākopa) Ashdown Why I applied for a Harkness Fellowship: Legacy, service, and going all-in I was motivated to apply for the Harkness Fellowship because of the inspiring 100-year legacy built by many esteemed leaders who have set out…
Q&A: 2026 Harkness Fellow – Adam Allington
1. What is the central question behind the fellowship? My starting point is: how do public management systems shape leadership behaviour, organisational performance and state capability in practice? Put simply, I am interested in whether the current “rules of the…
The Harkness Fellowship journey begins well before departing for the US
By Jacob (Hākopa) Ashdown Why I applied for a Harkness Fellowship: Legacy, service, and going all-in I was motivated to apply for the Harkness Fellowship because of the inspiring 100-year legacy built by many esteemed leaders who have set out…
Harkness@100: Culture shock and curiosity – A Harkness Fellow’s journey across America
By Andrew Carstairs-McCarthy (former Professor of Linguistics at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch) I was awarded a Harkness Fellowship by the UK Harkness Committee in 1969. This funded me for 21 months as a PhD student in linguistics at the…
HARKNESS 