'Both books [Harris and John Hawkes], thereby, make a very important contribution to a national conversation that is long overdue, if we ever hope to develop some long-range strategies and visions that stretch well beyond the cautious patch-ups induced by our three-year-election cycle...hopefully, these two important books will spark a debate to halt the current slide towards chronic inequality, and bequeath a better world to our grandchildren and great grandchildren.' – Tom Brooking, New Zealand Books
'This book is an ambitious undertaking. What I like most is its style — it does not present definitive answers but takes readers through the author’s thought process as he grapples with doing politics differently. It challenges and encourages readers to examine the situation for themselves and come to their own conclusions.' – Simon Randall, Tui Motu
'It is a brave book that I will undoubtedly go back to again and again, and it has rightly received significant acclaim within New Zealand and abroad. Read this book.' – Sylvia Nissen, New Zealand Sociology
'A poignant reminder that New Zealand is a journey we are all on together – Max Harris achieves a transformative narrative that gives space, visibility and consideration to others. The New Zealand Project is grounded in manaakitanga and studded with the bright ideas of young Aotearoa.' – Courtney Sina Meredith, Writer
'Voters across the world are upturning the establishment, whether in Brexit Britain, Trump’s America, Orbán’s Hungary, Kaczyński’s Poland, or Duterte’s Philippines. Max Harris offers New Zealanders an alternative to the status quo and also to the populism raging in other countries. His idealism is a breath of fresh air in a rather stale global debate.' – Ngaire Woods, Dean, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford
'A much-needed analysis of New Zealand society, our politics, and our values – and importantly, the potential for stronger connections between each of these. This book challenges us to deepen our ambitions for our country and offers insights to take our national conversation forward.' – Sudhvir Singh, Generation Zero and EAT Foundation Director
'The New Zealand Project is a timely reminder that politics is about us and the country we live in. Max Harris’s sensible, ambitious, nonpartisan approach makes you think, agree, disagree, learn and, most of all, realise what is possible with values-driven politics.' – Sam Johnson, Founder, Student Volunteer Army
'The New Zealand Project is an impressive and ambitious combination of high-minded thinking, careful analysis and practical recommendations. It is both a positive portrayal of New Zealand’s potential and a critique of our failure so far to reach it. Overall, though, there is an optimism that shines through; a sense of aroha toward fellow Kiwis that is inspiring and, hopefully, motivating.' – Hautahi Kingi, Economist
'Max Harris confesses to an unusually large mouth, helpfully pointed out by a teacher when he was eight. Luckily for us he has equally large ears and he’s put them to good use amplifying a shared vision for Aotearoa that we could all be proud of. Max has his moral compass fully stocked with care, community and creativity as he traverses some of New Zealand’s trickiest issues.' – Katie Bruce, Director, JustSpeak
'A call for a Fourth Way politics of love to repair the heart of Aotearoa. A visionary, must-read book about our future.' – Catriona MacLennan, Lawyer
'I am in awe of the constructive optimism brought to bear on Max Harris’s project. Has ever so serious a project been cause for so much hope? The New Zealand Project manages to be both wide-ranging and highly topical, as it presents a compelling case for the limitations of value free, ‘what-works’ politics.' – Nicola Gaston, Associate Professor, Department of Physics, University of Auckland
'This is more than a book of hope and ideologies. Max Harris suggests tangible steps to be adopted or critiqued that challenge the reader with The New Zealand Project: to work, think and act critically for the future of not just politics, but the present and future direction of Aotearoa.' – Julia Amua Whaipooti, JustSpeak Chair
'In my good books', Gord Stewart column in NZME regional newspapers, February 2019.
'With chapters titled ‘justice means more than revenge‘ and ‘the art of what might not seem possible at the moment: on decolonisation and constitutions‘, Max looks at (amongst other things) mass incarceration, the cult of celebrity, decolonisation, technology, and social infrastructure (health, education, and housing).' – Anna Dannreuther
'In The New Zealand Project, Max Harris calls for values-based politics and a renewed role of both the state and the wider public in politics. He calls for ‘decolonisation, people power, and the progressive values of care, community and creativity’. He talks of a ‘politics of love’, which prioritises meaningful relationships and actively overcomes the power and domination by which minorities experience an absence of love. Harris seeks to change the language around politics, and facilitate a more accessible and inclusive discussion. ' – Daniel Kleinsman, WelCom
'Harris is able to break down some of our deepest social, cultural, political, and economic problems and potential solutions in a digestible way.' – Nidha Khan, Tearaway
'Asking what kind of country we want to be, Harris (no relation) laments the hollowing out of principles and values in political debate over recent years, and pleads for "the pulse of our social conscience to start beating harder again".' – Ian Harris, Otago Daily Times
'Author Max Harris says fostering "the politics of love" will help encourage a sense of community while bridging the divide between ordinary people and the political process.' –Lewis Taylor, Timaru Herald
'[Harris] lays out a compelling and energising vision that sketches a new politics for New Zealand. It’s an ambitious project that dispenses with narrow, economic decision-making and places Harris’s ‘cornerstone progressive values’ (referred to as the three Cs), care, community, and creativity at the heart of policy.' – Thomas Coughlan, Newsroom
'A heartfelt, wide-ranging, intelligent and idiosyncratic tour de force, whereby Max distills pearls of wisdom from interviews he conducted with at least 30 deep thinkers from across and beyond New Zealand’s political, economic, cultural and social landscape.' – Māmari Stephens, E-Tangata
'It is a vision for confronting the country's challenges and calls for a shift towards progressive politics and a new framework for economic thinking.' – Radio New Zealand
Read 'A crazy little thing called tax' in The Spinoff
Read 'New Zealand must match its 'in this together' Covid rhetoric with action on basic services' in The Guardian
Read 'New Zealand must cast off its worries about government debt in its Covid recovery' in The Guardian
