We inspire community to put te taiao at its heart. We guide them to connect with and regenerate the natural environment.
We lead people on an exploration of their environment, building understanding of how land, water and people are connected and igniting passion for kaitiakitanga.
From experience comes joy From joy comes connection
What we do
Mountains to Sea Wellington delivers inspiring freshwater and marine education programmes for schools and community groups and leads restoration projects.
We're the greater Wellington regional provider for the Experiencing Marine Reserves, Whitebait Connection and Healthy Harbours programmes, which get people exploring and building connections the natural environment.
We support people to restore land and water and lead our own restoration projects, such as Love Rimurimu. Go to the Our Work page for more details.
Want to read about our work in action? Check out our News page!
They’re pretty fin-tastic. Hover over a team member to find out more!
Zoe
Studd
Co- Founder/Executive Director
Zoe is the Co-Founder and Director of the MtSW Trust and has worked with hundreds of people across the region - schools, community and many other partner organisations. For the better part of the past 13 years she has managed and delivered marine and freshwater education programmes, restoration support and citizen science endeavours.
Zoe
Sarah
Kachwalla
Co-Director/Explore Programme Manager
An organisational genius, loved by teachers and students alike. Sarah has always felt a strong pull towards the moana around Wellington and has guided countless tamariki in our local natural spaces.
Sarah
Liz
Gibson
Freshwater Manager
A powerhouse in freshwater conservation and a driving force within WBC. Always both a teacher and student, Liz leads the way for so much meaningful mahi within both education and community spaces.
Liz
Jorge
Jimenez
Marine Manager
Calm and collected, whatever the situation, Jorge remains the coolest of cucumbers. Bringing a seemingly endless dedication and an easy-going charm to all the work he does.
Jorge
Roni
Mohan
Explore Programme Coordinator
Yeehaw! An expat from the Lone Star State, Roni has dreamed about being a marine biologist since she was young. Her passion led her to pursue degrees in marine biology and marine conservation. Through her uni career she was able to get SCUBA certifications in master, scientific and cavern diving. Roni also works for Conservation Volunteers planting trees on steep hillsides or digging up weeds.
Roni
Kara
Kenny
Explore Freshwater Coordinator - Wairarapa
Tuna wrangler extraordinaire, Kara is our Wairarapa based coordinator. She has a deep emotional connection to the space and is passionate about bringing freshwater education to her kainga whenua.
Kara
Joe
Warmington
Explore Programme Coordinator
Joe brings all the soggy energy of the rain washed hills of South Wales, but don't let that fool you... he still loves nothing more than connecting folks young and old to the beauty of nature.
Joe
Alice
Jenkins
Explore Freshwater Coordinator
Alice joins us fresh off the heels of her Masters in Environmental Science degree and internship at the Porirua City Council Riparian Programme. Alice became interested in fresh water whilst doing her undergrad and was assigned a project to learn about water issues in her hometown of Carterton. She loves being in the field and getting stuck into protecting our local FW environment.
Alice
Hannah
Ryall
Explore Marine Programme Coordinator
Hannah is a past summer marine intern and is now a coordinator in the Experiencing Marine Reserves programme. Recently finishing her postgraduate degree in a Master's of Marine Conservation, Hannah is dedicated to restoration and education where you can usually catch her at any beach clean or monitoring blue penguins in Island Bay.
Hannah
Ben
Knight
Operations, HR & Admin Manager
Ben is an ocean lover and keen diver who enjoys spending time exploring the waters and coastlines of the Wellington and Kāpiti coasts.
Ben
Abbey
Huriwai
Catchment Restoration and Science Coordinator - Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Te Awa Kairangi & Te Awarua-o-Porirua
Abbey joins us after recently completing her studies at the University of Waikato, as a catchment coordinator she is able to combine her passion for community-driven change and her love for te taiao. Abbey is excited about swapping out her lab coat for gumboots and getting into the awa.
Abbey
Sam
Kearns
Restoration Science and Catchment Coordinator
Kia ora e te iwi, ko Sam tōku ingoa! I have had the privilege of growing up in te taiao, and in true Peter Pan style, I refuse to give it up. Locally and overseas I have lived and worked in farms, offshore islands, urban and suburban environments, and enjoy getting stuck into freshwater, marine, forest and farm mahi to engage with the various walks of life that inhabit those spaces.
Sam
Maddy
Glover
Catchment Restoration and Science Coordinator - Wairarapa
Happiest in/on/around/under the water Maddy has a passion for all things wai. She is excited to have the opportunity to foster love for te taiao and work with communities to expand the restoration work that is already being done around Wairarapa waterways.
Maddy
Elly
Holland
Event and Volunteer Coordinator
With a background in event production and public programming in the museum sector, Elly is keen on the arts as well as science - and is especially excited when the two come together! A keen tramper, Elly likes being in the water, as well as the mountains. Elly is excited about MTSW’s community kaupapa and enjoys working with the public and our awesome volunteers.
Elly
Our trustees
Our trusty trustees keep us ship-shape.
Zoe
Studd
Sarah
Kachwalla
Morgan
Watkins
Nick
Churchouse
Pamela
Freeman
Maureen
Hickey
Are you interested in governance? Get in touch with us to find out how you could join our board! info@mtsw.org.nz
Want to be the first to hear about Mountains to Sea Wellington news, events and jobs? Sign up for our newsletters here.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.png)
.jpg)
.jpg)
