Drawing on theories and concepts in ecology, higher education and its environment are perceived here as an ecosystem. Issues of collaboration versus competition, survival of the fittest versus mutualism, organisational ecology theories, and the pursuit of harmony and balance through diversity within are explored in the higher education context. New Zealand higher education system dynamics are analysed as case examples. The concluding position is that harmony and diversity are not either/or opposing forces, but can coexist and interact to achieve a state of harmonisation through diversity.