Kelston Orchards

Property Name: Kingsgate Hotel Autolodge Paihia

Accommodation Type: Staff Accomodation

Location: Hastings, Hawkes Bay

Product Supplied: Makers MII Stacka Commercial Bunk, Makers 150mm Foam Mattress with Waterproof & Fire Retardant Cover, UrbanSteel Underbed Storage Unit, Makers Gregor PU 3 Seater Sofa, DreamGreen 400gsm Quilt Charcoal/Slate, Kitchen Appliances, DreamGreen Waterproof Pillow, Weavers Cardiff Towelling – Mocha, Cutler Kitchenware, Cutler Crockery, Cutler Cutlery

Background.

Kelston Orchards Ltd is a long-established family orchard in Hastings, Hawke’s Bay, employing seasonal workers from the Pacific through the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme. Since 2014, the company has continued expanding its facilities to improve efficiency and gain greater control over its post-harvest operations. 

As part of this growth, Kelston Orchards developed Kelston Village – a brand-new 96-bed RSE accommodation facility designed to provide high-quality, spacious, and well-equipped “home away from home” living for the seasonal workforce supporting its apple and stone-fruit operations. The development reflects Kelston Orchards’ long-term commitment to worker wellbeing, operational efficiency, and creating accommodation that supports both comfort and functionality in a demanding seasonal environment.

The Project.

Kelston Orchards required a practical accommodation solution that would perform reliably in a high-turnover seasonal setting. The focus was not simply on furnishing rooms, but on delivering durable, comfortable, and easy-to-maintain living environments that would support worker wellbeing while reducing long-term operational and maintenance costs. 

Throughout the project, careful consideration was given to hygiene, personal storage, space efficiency, and the durability of furnishings and appliances. The staged build programme required facilities to be fully operational within an active construction timeline, with the completed development accommodating up to 96 workers across the site. 

How did Vendella make it easy?

Vendella worked closely with Tony and Kylie Harrington throughout the project, with Greg regularly meeting onsite to discuss room layouts, operational requirements, and product suitability. Samples were provided for trial within the accommodation units, helping the team make confident decisions before final specifications were confirmed. 

Vendella supplied furniture, bedding, storage solutions, kitchenware, appliances, and dining furniture throughout the accommodation facility, helping equip the shared kitchen, dining, living, and bedroom spaces with practical, durable products suited to seasonal worker accommodation. 

Guidance around layout planning, cleaning efficiency, and staged delivery scheduling helped streamline the fitout process and ensured the accommodation was ready as each stage of the build was completed, supporting the successful delivery of Kelston Village as a modern, purpose-built accommodation facility for Kelston Orchards’ seasonal workforce.

Learn more about Kelston Orchards here.