Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowships in Public Policy

The Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowships in Public Policy are for outstanding mid-career professionals to research, travel and gain practical experience in public policy in New Zealand for seven months.

Established in 1995 by the New Zealand Government to reinforce links between New Zealand and the US, the Fellowships provide the opportunity for participants to gain firsthand knowledge of public policy in New Zealand, including economic, social and political reforms and management of the government sector. Three to four Fellowships will be awarded each year.

The programme has three goals:

• to reinforce New Zealand-United States links by enabling Americans of high intellectual ability and leadership potential to come to New Zealand to gain experience and build contacts in the field of public policy development;
• to help improve the practice of public policy in New Zealand and the United States by the cross-fertilization of ideas and experience in the two countries; and
• to build a network of public policy experts on both sides of the Pacific, and encourage ongoing policy exchange between New Zealand and the United States.
  

Fellows will be based at a relevant government agency in Wellington and carefully paired with a leading policy expert who will serve as their mentor. In addition, they will be expected to spend a substantial part of their Fellowship in contact with other relevant organisations to gain practical experience in their field in New Zealand. These contacts may include an extended or part-time placement.

Candidates are expected to have made contact with the organisation(s) in New Zealand they wish or expect to be placed with, prior to applying. Final decisions on placement will be made by the Fellowships Office, after full consultation with Fellows, host organisations, and the programme's expert advisors.

At the conclusion of their fellowships, before returning to the United States, Fellows will be required to submit a policy report for publication by the Fellowships Office and to participate in a report-back seminar where they make an oral presentation to an invited audience and interested members of the public.

Eligibility

You should:

• be a US citizen with at least five years of experience in your profession
• be a mid-career professional active in any part of the public, business or non-profit sector
• be a potential leader and opinion-former in your chosen field
• have an interest in learning from your experience in New Zealand and capable of putting to effective use in the US, any policy lessons learned

Entitlement

• NZ$1,500 per month if on paid leave with full salary
  NZ$2,500 per month if on paid leave with partial salary
  NZ$5,000 per month if unable to obtain paid leave
• return travel to and from New Zealand for a fellow, partner and two children up to age 18
• NZ$1,500 per month for family to accompany a fellow (provided partner is without employment, grant or fellowship)

Award conditions

• the seven month fellowship begins on 1 February and ends on 31 August
• you will be required to submit a policy report for publication by the Fellowships Office and to participate in a report-back seminar
• you may also be expected to deliver at least one public lecture as part of the Fulbright New Zealand Lecture Series (on material not previously presented in New Zealand) and deliver seminars in at least two other New Zealand higher education or research institutions
• you will also be expected to participate fully in any activities arranged by Fulbright New Zealand

Fulbright orientation

It was Senator J William Fulbright's mission to build peace through the mutual understanding of cultures. Fulbright applicants and grantees are expected to understand and support this mission. To support this understanding, American grantees are required to attend a Fulbright orientation held each February in Wellington.

Application process

In order to apply, interested individuals must complete a formal application, including a project proposal, on the application form below. Candidates should show that their proposed project will inform policy in New Zealand and the United States and contribute something of value to their policy field.

Your application must include 3 references, provided in the format outlined in the Information for Referees document below.

Further information and application details can be found in the documents below, or by contacting Fulbright New Zealand's Programme and Advising Team Leader.

Information for Candidates:

am-axford-info.doc (744kB)

Application form:

am-axford-appl.doc (1018kB)

Information for Referees:

am-axford-refs.doc (610kB)

Sponsors

The Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowships in Public Policy are sponsored by the following New Zealand government organisations and State Owned Enterprises:

• Department of Building and Housing
• Department of Corrections
  
• Department of Internal Affairs
  
• Department of Labour
  
• Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
• Housing New Zealand Corporation
  
• Mighty River Power
  
• Ministry for the Environment
  
• Ministry for Culture and Heritage
  
• Ministry of Economic Development
  
• Ministry of Education
  
• Ministry of Fisheries
  
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
  
• Ministry of Health
  
• Ministry of Justice
• Ministry of Research, Science and Technology
  
• Ministry of Social Development
  
• New Zealand Customs Service
  
• State Services Commission
  
• Te Puni Kōkiri (Ministry of Māori Development)
  
• The Treasury

Further information

More on Ian Axford Fellowships

Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowship reports

Read policy reports written by past American Ian Axford Fellows during their stay in New Zealand.