Peter Harrison was the President of the NZARH from 2016 to 2019, having served on the council from 2010. In 2011 he became the Editor of ‘The Open Society’, the official journal of the NZARH, he retired from this role in July 2015. In this capacity as journal editor, he promoted open, rational and objective policy in Government.
In 2012 he initiated a campaign to promote secular education in New Zealand. He has also been involved with submissions to Government on secular education in New Zealand and the call to repeal the Nelson Clause in the Education Act. In 2013 re received the Bertrand Russell Award for his role of journal editor, managing web communications and instigating the Secular Education Network.
Prior to joining the NZARH Harrison was President and Vice President of the New Zealand Open Source Society, where he was instrumental in the campaign to end software patents in New Zealand.