Te Kauhanga Marae

Property Name: Te Kauhanga Marae

Accommodation Type: Marae

Location: Peria, Northland

Product Supplied: Makers Solo Folding Rollaway Bed, Makers 150mm Foam Mattress with Waterproof & Fire Retardant Cover, Weavers Premium Sheeting – Navy, DreamGreen Waterproof Pillow, Cutler Cutlery, Cutler Porcelain, Tea Towels

“Greg has been a superstar. He took the time to understand the needs of our marae and followed up throughout the decision making process for our much awaited upgrade of bedding, linen and kitchen equipment. When we were ready, we confidently placed our order with Vendella knowing the goods would be: 1) fit for purpose, 2) top quality, and 3) available at an awesome price. We highly recommend working with Greg and his team at Vendella!”

TE KAUHANGA MARAE

Background.

Te Kauhanga Marae is a vital cultural hub located on the North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand. For generations, it has served as a gathering place for whānau, hapū, and iwi — a space where tikanga is upheld, whakapapa is honoured, and the community comes together for wānanga, tangihanga, celebrations, and shared meals. Like many maraes across the motu, Te Kauhanga is more than a venue — it is a living taonga, central to the social, spiritual, and cultural wellbeing of the people it serves.

The Project.

As the needs of the community evolved, it became clear that Kauhanga Marae’s facilities — particularly its bedding and kitchen supplies — were due for an upgrade. Many of the existing items had been in use for over 20 years, and the marae whānau wanted to enhance the comfort and experience for both residents and manuhiri.

Te Kauhanga Marae first heard about Vendella through whānau member, Nive Larkins, who works at Ngā Kete Marae in Manukau, Auckland. She had been working with Greg from Vendella to update their marae supplies and recommended both the products and the service. This set the stage for a partnership with Vendella, a supplier known for delivering quality products with a focus on hospitality, comfort, and practical durability. Greg provided samples and discussed product options that would be best suited to their needs.

“The new bedding has been a game changer. Some of our kuia and kaumatua had stopped staying at the marae because of mobility issues. Now with the addition of rollaway beds they can sleep over. Also after 20+ years, the whānau are loving the new thicker mattresses – the design can accommodate bodies of all ages, shapes and sizes and is super comfortable and easy to clean.“

How did Vendella make it easy for Te Kauhanga Marae?

“Greg has been a superstar. He took the time to understand the needs of our marae and followed up throughout the decision making process for our much awaited upgrade of bedding, linen and kitchen equipment. Greg sent us samples but also put us in touch with another marae so we got to hear feedback first hand from a real customer about items we were interested in (rollaway beds and waterproof mattresses). We highly recommend working with Greg and his team at Vendella!“

Find out more about Te Kauhanga Marae here.