I made the decision to undertake a Graduate Diploma in Museum and Heritage Studies when I recognised that the course offered placements in the sector which not only allowed students to gain experience, but also the contacts required to start a career in the industry. I entered the course with a background in History and Religious Studies and have since found that both subjects have been continually been of use when working in the heritage sector. During my course of study I undertook a placement with the History Team at the Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage where I researched and rewrote the New Zealand History Online entry for the South African War. Following this, I gained a placement with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust where I wrote the online register entries for a selection of historic churches. Because of these placements I gravitated towards the heritage aspect of the course.

Towards the end of the course I decided that, rather than settle into a permanent position, I would operate as an independent contractor in order to further my experience and contacts in the heritage sector. Upon completion of the course I was hired by the New Zealand Defence Force Shared Services to catalogue and transcribe the historic soldier graffiti from the Second World War on the rifle ranges at Trentham. Making use of the contacts I had acquired on the course, I then approached the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ) and was offered contract work to assess engineering heritage features such as the Wellington Cable Car and historic bridges in Otago. Following this, I was then offered a position on the Wellington City Council’s heritage team, where I worked as an advisor on their review of heritage buildings on the district plan. I am now currently working for the Christchurch City Council’s heritage team, assisting with the Banks Peninsula heritage project.

The experience and opportunities that I gained through the Museum and Heritage Studies program have proved invaluable and have allowed me to embark on a career which enables me to engage with social and built history on a daily basis.