Keeping families close

Welcome to our Home: The Kitchen

If you’ve ever walked into the Christchurch House early in the morning and been met by the homely smell of carrot cake, cheese puffs, or muffins then you’ve probably encountered Janice Cannon. Janice has been part of the Ronald McDonald House South Island family since March 2019 when she came fro... Read more about "Cooking is love made visible"

Our story: Moonga Family

  In May, they were transferred to Southland Hospital and stayed in the Ronald McDonald Family Room for 50 days as the twins continued to gain weight. The ability to have her family close, including husband Jonathon and children Jay-Jay and Rebecca was a godsend. “We are forever grateful tha... Read more about The dramatic arrival of twins Rachelle and Rochelle, born at 23 weeks was one of the scariest moments for Sovinah Moonga and her family.

The life-saving power of Friendship

For the first time in his life, Levi has a friend. A best friend. “Levi’s recovery has been slow because he’s never had someone to recover with. But since meeting Hammad, he’s started fighting for his recovery, he’s started fighting for his life,” Nicole says. Levi, who has an undiagnosed conditi... Read more about As Nicole Maaka watches her son Levi zoom around Ronald McDonald House South Island’s Christchurch house with Hammad, 7, her heart melts.

Poppy's Story

Poppy’s favourite thing in the whole world is her twin sister Willow; they’ve got a special bond that is just unexplainable. Our twin girls were born five weeks premature. This was the first of what unbeknown to us, would be the first of many stays at Ronald McDonald House South Island. When the ... Read more about Hayley Harrison and her family have been part of the Ronald McDonald House South Island whānau since 2014. Hayley shares her story.

Brent Crossan and Michael Sandri have been mates since school, with a love of the outdoors, extreme sports and good food uniting them across the decades. In 2016, Brent’s daughter Hailey was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, and Brent was regularly travelling from Invercargill to Rona... Read more about

My Story: Kat and Bodhi Moses

I was very fortunate to be pregnant with my IVF miracle baby. But at 30 weeks I went into spontaneous labour and within two hours my beautiful baby Bodhi was born. Being 10 weeks early meant Bodhi had a long road of hospital care ahead, but I was very fortunate to come into the care of the Ronald... Read more about Kat Moses stayed at the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Southland Hospital for 33 nights after her son Bodhi was born 10 weeks early. She shares her story.

Our latest newsletter has landed!

Check out the stories of the quadruplets that took the nation by storm and started their journey with us, the incredible Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Social Workers who accompany so many of the families who stay with us on their journey, and the SOuthland Good Sorts who raised over $7000 by shavi... Read more about Check it out here...

Help us win

To celebrate turning 100, Archibalds are generously giving away $100,000 to charities. We are incredibly humbled to be chosen as one of 10 Canterbury charities in the running to receive a share of the $100,000. The charity that gets the most votes is gifted $50,000. The next two receive $25,000 e... Read more about #DriveForGoodNZ

Room Sponsor Spotlight

Pantry stocker-uppers, Family Dinner Programme cooks, bookshelf fillers, Christchurch Supper Club venue hosts and table buyers, Host-a-Roasters, Room 7 Sponsors… our friends at Casa Construction wear a fair amount of hats when it comes to their support for us! Casa Construction have sponsored Roo... Read more about Casa Construction

Out & About

In 2005, Lisa Deer underwent surgery for a brain tumour. Thirteen years on, the Blenheim beauty therapist has bravely lobbed off 21 inches of her hair to raise money for Ronald McDonald House South Island – the place she and her mum describe as a ‘haven’ through the 45 nights they spent here over... Read more about Fundraiser a cut above