20/09/2026
Meet the team!
Antonia started off volunteering at the mÄra, has been part of the Kaicyclist team and now is working in our compost team - say kia ora next time you see her in the mÄra!
What excites you about your mahi at Kaicycle?
Something that really excites me in my job is seeing how the loop closes, via the food waste that I help to divert from landfill with my own hands each week! When we process our food scraps into compost each week, I feel so excited at the knowledge that Iām creating great quality soil that will one day bring someone great nutritious food.
Whatās your favourite food or recipe - why?
My favourite recipe is Imam Bayildı, which is translated as āthe fainting priestā. Itās an eggplant dish that is drowned in lots of good-quality olive oil. The story goes that when the dish was served to the local imam, he fainted at the thought of how much it would have cost to cook with all that oil! Somehow, the story got a little lost in translation when it reached my family, as my mum always told me that it was the large quantity of garlic in the dish that caused the priest to faintā¦
Tell us something you like to do in each season that is special to you.
In summer, I love to spend time swimming at local beaches and looking for crabs in the rock pools on the south coast. Autumn is usually when I get my exercise routine back on track after a lazy summer, so I love to go out for bike rides and walks up to the Brooklyn wind turbine, or down along the waterfront. I think that winter is likely my most active time, where I love to go out to music events, even when I have to brave the cold to get there! This year in spring Iām making it my goal to go for walks purely with the intention of finding and smelling the flowers blooming around the city.
What is something you are excited about?
Right now, Iām feeling really excited for spring to come (to no oneās surprise!). The mÄra is starting to look green and fresh again.
