Explore careers

Useful experience for historians includes:

• research, library, or archive work
• practical experience of Māori culture and language
• volunteer work at a museum, art gallery or historical society.

Tutoring experience is also useful for academic or teaching positions.

Historians may do some or all of the following:

• research topics they choose, or topics their clients have requested
• gather information from sources such as books and articles, fieldwork and interviews
• organise, analyse and interpret information
• prepare reports, webpages and books, or speak to the media about historical topics
• teach history
• help prepare museum displays and websites
• help identify, protect and research historic places
• advise government departments or Treaty of Waitangi claimants.

Small number of historians and few jobs advertised

Chances of getting work as a historian are low due to: 

• low turnover of historians in existing roles 
• low numbers of historian jobs being advertised
• high competition from well-qualified applicants for any job vacancies
• a decreasing amount of work processing or advising on Treaty of Waitangi claims. 

According to the Census, 147 historians worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Being flexible, with general skills, increases your employability

Your chances of securing a contract or permanent job as a public historian are best if you have:

• a track record of publication
• experience working in a team
• interest in a variety of historical areas, rather than specialising
• the ability to communicate history in an engaging way to the general public, including using public speaking and multi-media skills.

Historians mainly self-employed or in teaching and research roles

Just over 50% of historians are self-employed. 

Most other historians are employed by:

• Ministry for Culture and Heritage – working on New Zealand history projects
• Office of Treaty Settlements – advising and helping groups make Treaty of Waitangi claims
• Waitangi Tribunal – researching Treaty of Waitangi claims
• iwi who are making Treaty claims
• other government agencies, local authorities, and museums.

Historians may also work in secondary schools and universities teaching, lecturing and researching history.

Professional Historians' Association of New Zealand (PHANZA)

secretary@phanza.org.nz - www.phanza.org.nz/

Historians who work for government agencies may progress to senior historian roles or move into management.

Historians who work for universities may progress to more senior academic roles such as senior lecturer, associate professor and professor.

They can also specialise as an art historian.

Art Historian

Art historians study and write about works of art.They may also deliver lectures on art history, advise on art, look after historical and contemporary art collections, and research and present exhibitions.

Historians need to be:

• accurate, enquiring, patient and persistent
• able to keep information private
• able to make good judgements
• open-minded, with an understanding of a range of cultures
• skilled written and spoken communicators
• good at planning and organising.