Jude Heath

I have always loved freshwater and sea water and you will always find me near it, in it or under it.
Since 1990 I have white water rafted, kayaked my waka, snorkeled and swum many rivers in Aotearoa and overseas for work, adrenalin and adventure.

My passion for Environmental Education was formed around eight years of age, as I remember standing with my hands on my hips, giving my dad grief about throwing his rubbish into the Graham Valley River. (:

My first employment in Environmental Education was coordinating Conservation Corps at Whenua Iti Outdoor Pursuit Centre from 1992 – 1996. Students surveyed Whio ducks in Kahurangi National Park, planted natives at the Motueka Kumaras, removed old man’s beard and rubbish from rivers and low land native forests along the Motueka Awa.

From 2001 until 2006 I owned and operated a business called Motueka Inflatable River Kayaks, which ran eco adventure kayaks trips on the Motueka Awa.
Then I worked for Northland Polytechnic as a Coordinating Environmental Tutor from 2006 -2008

Following this I headed back to the South Island to train as a Primary School Teacher finishing a bachelor in primary education  in 2011. My dream was to connect students and local community working together, as citizen scientists alongside professionals to monitor freshwater and marine waterways in their own backyard. I am currently trained in Whitebait Connection and Wai Connection Delivery plus as a Community Based Freshwater Connector  through the Mountain’s to Sea’s Trust