Good caught up with Kate Hall aka @ethicallykate ahead of Kate and her husband Tim’s sustainable living Q&A Session on Wednesday April 2 on Waiheke Island, which is happening as part of EcoFest 2025 in Auckland.
What first inspired you to start your journey towards living more sustainably?
I grew up in a pretty sustainably minded family. Large rubbish bags of secondhand clothes from the neighbours next door were like Christmas, my Mum hates shopping malls, we’ve always had a compost bin, and I spent a lot of time in the garden with Dad. But it wasn’t until August 2015 that I watched a documentary called The True Cost that really kicked me into aligning my values with my actions in a big way. The documentary depicted the huge impact the fashion industry has on people and planet, so from that moment onwards I started investigating and understanding my impact – from clothes, to food, to water, banking, transport.
Who are your favourite role models in the sustainability space?
Is it cliché to say my parents? Without overtly pushing values on me, they’ve taught me to use up what you have, repair what you can, and focus on experiences rather than ‘stuff’. Second to them, my role models are everyday people who are trying their best. There’s no celebrity or Instagrammer that can replace the impact of individuals who are trying to reduce their waste and have a positive impact on the planet. It’s so hard to align your values with your actions, but I’m constantly inspired by staying at people’s homes and seeing the different ways they do what they can to benefit papatūānuku.
Are there any businesses or brands you’re particularly excited about right now in the sustainability space?
I’m always excited to see what Solid Oral Care gets up to, especially with their recent launch into New Worlds and more of their toothpaste refills popping up in stores (I love when brands make sustainable living more accessible to the mainstream). Incrediballs are launching shortly and no doubt they’ll shake up the drinks industry.
You and your husband Tim have been house-sitting for several years now, what’s the biggest thing you miss about being at home, and what’s the biggest thing you’ve learned on your house-sitting journey?
We’ve been away from our home for over 2 years now and gosh I miss it! Especially with my growing bump and impending child, the things I usually miss… I miss A LOT because they’re all to do with nesting! I miss being able to buy end of season produce from places like Perfectly Imperfect to process and store in my deep freezer; like the time I bought 5kgs of tomatoes at the end of March so I didn’t have to buy canned tomatoes throughout the rest of the year. I miss brewing my own kombucha, growing my own food, and tending to our fruit trees. I’m a very visual person and having my own colours and textiles around me is a feeling I miss deeply too.
The biggest thing I have learnt while housesitting is to rely on myself as a grounding point, not a place. With over 2 years away from home, I still have moments where I sway and feel incredibly unsettled in myself. But doing things like yoga, sitting in silence, spending time with Tim, remembering why we are away from home (to have more time together and less commutes!), and doing simple routine things like cutting my nails and washing my hair all help me remember that I can be self-sufficient anywhere.
What’s been your favourite thing about being on your recent tour around NZ?
Too many to pick! Witnessing the variety in climate and land that our country has to offer always blows me away. Spending quality time with Tim. Meeting hundreds of my online community in person and giving them big hugs! Plus, we are lucky to be driving in a sponsored ID.5 and ID.Buzz from Volkswagen which are both incredibly comfortable for our long trips – I’ve never had a car with flash technology and it’s such a treat.
Will you be attending any other events at this year’s EcoFest? If so which events are you most excited to attend?
After watching EcoFest happen every year, I’m super excited to finally be part of it this year. I also hope to finally attend my local repair cafe which is part of EcoFest this year. The Street Art Bike Challenge is right up my alley too; I know some good street art spots I plan on cycling to and snapping pictures.
What are your top three tips for someone who’s embarking on their sustainability journey?
1. Don’t buy anything before you learn a little more. Most people have a knee-jerk reaction to learning about sustainability and end up wasting a lot of money on ‘sustainable items’ that they forget to use or don’t work for their lifestyle. You cannot buy your way into a sustainable lifestyle. Read books, talk to friends and family about how they approach life and listen to podcasts.
2. Compost! Around 50% of a household’s rubbish bin is organic matter that could be composted. If you tackle this waste solution, you’re cutting your rubbish in half and learning about a brilliant circular waste system. This may look like finding the right compost solution for your own home, sharing your scraps with others who have a compost bin, or utilising a service who will collect it from you.
3. Do not do it all at once. After learning and exploring sustainability, slowly focus on small changes that you can make one at a time; making sure each change is instilled as a habit before moving onto the next one.
What’s your favourite motivational quote related to sustainability?
Socrates said “I go to the market to see all the things I do not need”. It’s a great reflection on mindful consumption and appreciation without ownership.
To find out more about this year’s EcoFest visit ecofest.org.nz.
