Natalie Looyer

I completed my PhD in History at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington in 2025. My research explored the growth of rock climbing in Aotearoa from 1960 to 2020, using oral history as a key research method. I received a 2026 Judith Binney Writing Award to convert my thesis into a book.

I have worked as an oral historian for the Oranjehof Dutch Connection Centre at Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom in Foxton, the University of Canterbury, the Canterbury Regional Council, Engineering New Zealand, and several historical societies within the Canterbury region.

I also hold a Master’s Degree in Classics, specialising in ancient Greek literature and sport within society. I have previously worked as a curatorial assistant for the Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities at the University of Canterbury, during which time I co-curated the permanent exhibition ‘Myth and Mortals: Life in Ancient Times’, which opened in 2020.

My interests include Classics, ancient history, New Zealand history, gender history, sport history, leisure studies, and outdoor recreation.