New Zealand Harkness Fellowships are for emerging New Zealand leaders in any field of study or vocation (excluding health care policy and practice) to study or research in the US for a minimum of twelve weeks. One New Zealand Harkness Fellowship worth NZ$30,000 will be offered in 2015 (for travel in 2016), to a person who is currently employed in a public sector* organisation in New Zealand.

Applications for the 2015 Fellowship have now closed. The next round  of applications will be advertised in April 2016.

The New Zealand Harkness Fellowships were established in  2009 by the New Zealand Harkness Fellowships Trust Board to reinforce links between New Zealand and the US and to enable emerging leaders in the public and private sectors to benefit from study and travel in the US. Their purpose is to enable appointed Fellows to gain first-hand knowledge and build contacts in their chosen field of endeavour that will be highly relevant to the NZ context and future NZ/US links. The Trust Board is working in partnership with the Leadership Development Centre, which is acting on behalf of the NZ Government.

The programme has four goals:

·       Reinforce New Zealand-United States links by enabling actual or potential leaders and opinion formers in New Zealand to benefit from new ideas, practices and new contacts in the US;

·       Increase the Fellow’s ability to bring about change and improvements in New Zealand;

·       Help improve the cross-fertilisation of ideas and experience between New Zealand and the United States; and

·       Build a leadership network on both sides of the Pacific, encourage ongoing exchange between New Zealand and the United States and establish enduring relationships offering reciprocal benefits to both countries.

Successful candidates will be based at a US host organisation. The Fellow should utilise their US contacts and the assistance of their host organisation to source appropriate US and New Zealand connections.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must:

·       be a New Zealand citizen who  is currently residing in New Zealand;

·       be an early to mid-career professional active in any part of the public sector;

·       be a potential leader and opinion-former in your chosen field;

·       have an interest in learning from your experience in the US and  be capable of putting to effect  in NZ,  relevant lessons learned.

Entitlement

·       A fellowship valued at up to NZ$30,000 is offered in 2015 (for an award start date in 2016). New Zealand Harkness Fellowships are intended to contribute towards travel costs (international and domestic), accommodation and per diem expenses. The funds are not intended for the purchase of equipment or any other research costs. Additional costs in excess of NZ$30,000 must be met by the Fellow and/or their New Zealand employer.

·     A basic health benefit plan covering a maximum of US$50,000 per sickness or injury.

Award conditions

·       The period of your award is a minimum of 12 weeks from 1 January 2016

·       You must travel on a NZ passport, and US immigration documentation must be completed from within New Zealand;

·       You will be expected to take the opportunity to deliver seminars or speak with various groups as opportunities arise;

·       You may be required to fulfil some Harkness media requirements before your departure for the US, during your exchange and/or on return to the NZ;

·       You must provide Harkness (via Fulbright New Zealand) with copies of any articles or research papers resulting from your Fellowship. A final report must also be completed before you depart from  the US.

Application process and forms

DOWNLOAD: Harkness Application Form

DOWNLOAD: Harkness Fellowship 2015 Selection Process

·       You must complete and submit the application form below by the application deadline. Candidates should show that their proposed project will inform their field in New Zealand and the United States and be applied to the New Zealand context to effect a particular outcome(s);

·       You must also submit all required support documents along with the application form by the application deadline in one PDF file;

·       You must arrange for up to three references to be submitted by the application deadline, in the format outlined in the application form.

·       Interviews will be held in Wellington on 22 October 2015

* This includes the State Services, tertiary education institutions, State-Owned Enterprises and Crown companies, agencies that operate as part of the Legislative Branch of Government, and local Government