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PAULA Wells is living proof that a busy life is a healthy life, as she looks forward to a new role with Netball New Zealand.

Recently appointed as an umpire for the Perry Foundation National Championship the most senior representative netball competition in New Zealand Paula is set to see her busy schedule shift up a gear in the coming weeks.

She has a fixture every weekend through to September, and then week long tournaments during the school holidays.

Add to this her commitments as an English teacher and the Year 13 Dean at Inglewood High School, and you might think she's somehow managed to find an extra three or four hours in the day.

But it seems that time is no issue when you are passionate about everything you are doing, and Paula certainly would not have it any other way.

"I'm an advocate for happy and healthy families," Paula said, "meaning, having family involvement in sports, and having a mum at work who finds time for her own interests."

Without doubt, Paula's interest in netball makes her more than a little bit happy, as she looks forward to the upcoming challenge of umpiring national championship matches.

"I really love it, its so good to be part of a match. There's a lot of running, and you really have to look after yourself. You need to have a high level of fitness and keep an eye on your nutrition."

For Paula, an additional challenge as an umpire is maintaining high levels of professional knowledge and practice.

"Learning is part of umpiring too."

"Umpire assessors watch what you are doing, share some ideas with you, and then expect to see changes put in place the next time you take a match."

However, the thought of being assessed does little to diminish the huge pleasure Paula takes in her on-court role.

"It's great being an umpire because you feel you are contributing positively to a match it's a real thrill."

It seems positive contribution is what Paula also loves about her day-job too.

"I absolutely love teaching I really enjoy getting to know my students and I actually love nothing more than chatting with them outside of school too; getting to know me better. It's inspirational to be part of it all."

Paula was raised in Stratford, going on to complete a Bachelor of Arts in English, before seven years as a banker as part of the BNZ Graduate Programme.

Drawn to teaching, she completed her teaching diploma extramurally, eventually finding herself teaching at Inglewood.

"I have an enormous feeling of personal satisfaction actually. I had set some goals, which I had originally thought were lofty, but now they've all culminated together really well."

"I'm really looking forward to it."