Maeve Platts has had a love for history from the age of eight, when she discovered the Horrible Histories book series. However, it wasn’t until taking Classical Studies at St Andrew’s College that she realised she could pursue history as a career. “Mr Faulls had such a love for Classical Studies that it made me realise that I too could pursue a career I was passionate about.”

After leaving St Andrew’s in 2010, Maeve studied Classics, History, and Archaeology, and later a Master of Arts in Archaeology. She then worked as an artefact specialist for a freelance archaeologist, and was the Collections Cataloguer at Riccarton House Museum, where she discovered her love for historic research.

Maeve is currently a local and family history library assistant at Tūranga, where she is pursuing her passion for historic research as well as helping others. “It is such a rewarding job as all of our customers are so appreciative. It’s easy to love.” Maeve is also studying towards being an archivist, which would combine her love of history and research with helping to preserve historic items for future generations. “It’s been a long road, but I feel like I have finally found a career that ticks all the boxes.”