Justice Harvey graduated with an LLB from the University of Auckland in 1992. He commenced employment as a law clerk with Simpson Grierson in Auckland that same year, working in civil litigation including resource management issues, wills and estates, debt recovery and vendor and purchaser disputes.
In 1997 he joined Walters Williams & Co, becoming a partner there in 2000, the same year he graduated with a Master of Commercial Law from the University of Auckland. His practice at Walter Williams primarily focussed on Māori and Treaty of Waitangi issues.
In 2002 Justice Harvey was appointed a Judge of the Māori Land Court. He also sits on the Waitangi Tribunal and, from 2018, as an alternate Judge of the Environment Court. He completed a PhD in Law from AUT University in 2018.
Justice Harvey is of Ngāti Awa, Rongowhakaata, Te Aitanga a Māhaki, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa, and Te Whānau a Apanui descent.