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 Press 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
Sarah is currently away on maternity leave, while she will be dearly missed, her role is now being looked after by Steve. 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
Project Manager - Marine
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
Steve
Moorhouse
Explore Programme Manager (Maternity Cover)
Originally hailing from Auckland with a degree in Zoology, Steve brings a wealth of experience to the team. He's worked in the environmental sector across the world. In Canada, the UK, and here in Aotearoa. Holding roles as an educator, in aquarium management, and with MPI. Steve says the work of MTSW illustrates how passionate people can come together to make a difference.
Steve
Roni
Mohan
Volunteer Manager & 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
Freshwater Coordinator
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
Rachel
Parry
Love Rimurimu Community Science Coordinator & Marine Programme Coordinator
A passionate advocate for the synergy of education, community, and science to achieve effective conservation. Rachel has always been strongly connected to our moana and is stoked to be back home in Aotearoa getting stuck into mahi with rimurimu, conservation, and our community.
Rachel
Joe
Warmington
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
Katie
Chilton-Towle
Financial and Administration Assistant
Katie overseas everything financial at Mountains to Sea, as well as all administration for the Leadership Team and Board. She loves the variety that working for a small organisation brings and loves that her mahi is contributing to something meaningful.
Katie
Tegan
Ranstead
Events and Administration Coordinator
A nature lover that keeps everything in order behind the scenes! Guided by her passion and energy for sustainability, she loves being part of an organisation that cares for our people and planet.
Tegan
Siddharth
Ravishankar
Marine Aquaculture Lead
With a passion for experimentation, Siddharth combines scientific knowledge with technical skills by operating aquaculture facilities with the aim to cultivate seaweed species for restoration.
Siddharth
Yun Yi
Yok
Love Rimurimu Macroalgae Technician
Focused on the goal of helping to conserve and protect the marine environment, Yun Yi is researching how to grow baby seaweeds in the optimal conditions. All so that we can grow more of our own seaweeds to restore Wellingtons underwater forests.
Yun Yi
Alice
Jenkins
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
Programme Coordinator Trainee
Hannah is a past summer marine intern now training to be a coordinator in the Experiencing Marine Reserves programme. Currently finishing up her last year in Marine Biology and Environmental Science at Victoria University and planning to go into postgraduate studies next year, Hannah is dedicated to restoration, and you can catch her at any beach clean or monitoring blue penguins in Island Bay.
Hannah
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
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