The Harkness Fellowship Values

The New Zealand Harkness Fellowships are founded on five enduring values that shape the Fellowship experience before, during, and long after the time spent in the United States:

1. International exchange

Harkness is built on reciprocal international exchange. Fellows are expected not only to learn from the United States, but to actively contribute New Zealand perspectives, experience, and insight to US-based institutions and networks, strengthening long-term relationships across the Pacific.

2. Curiosity and ideas

The Fellowship values intellectual curiosity, openness, and exploration. Fellows are encouraged to test assumptions, engage across disciplines, and explore emerging ideas, practices, and system approaches — not simply to validate existing solutions.

3. Bringing back change to New Zealand

A defining feature of the Harkness legacy is the expectation that learning leads to action. Fellows are selected for their ability to translate insight into change, and to apply what they learn to improve policy, practice, and system performance in the New Zealand context.

4. Activated alumni

Harkness Fellows join an active and enduring alumni community. The Fellowship is not a one-off experience, but a lifelong connection to a network of leaders committed to ongoing exchange, mentorship, and contribution — supporting future Fellows and strengthening public leadership over time.

5. Service and contribution

At its core, the Fellowship is an act of public service. Fellows are expected to contribute their learning generously — through speaking, writing, mentoring, and leadership — in service of the public sector and the communities it exists to serve.