About us

Ronald McDonald House South Island is an independent charitable trust that provides free accommodation and support to families who must travel to Christchurch and Invercargill for their child’s medical treatment. Each year we provide a home-away-from-home for more than 1,200 families.  By removing the stressors of everyday life, families can focus on what matters most – their child.

We operate three programmes in the South Island – Ronald McDonald House in Christchurch (27 bedrooms), and two Ronald McDonald Family Rooms, one at Southland Hospital (4 bedrooms) and the recently-opened three-bedroom Ronald McDonald Family Room, Christchurch Hospital.

We are part of a global network RMHC (Ronald McDonald House Charities) which has Ronald McDonald Houses in 40 countries worldwide.

Ronald McDonald House South Island relies on generous donations from the community to keep our doors open to each and every family who needs us. This comes in the form of generous donations from Trusts and Foundations, businesses, community groups, regular donors and generous individuals. We also have an army of volunteers who are the absolute backbone of our charity.

Our Mission

To create, find and support programmes that directly improve the health and well-being of children and their family/whanau.

Our Vision
Provide access to a family-focussed environment and support services for all family/whanau with a child needing health care.

Our Values
• We lead with compassion
• We focus on the critical needs of children
• We celebrate the diversity of our programmes and of our people
• We operate with transparency and accountability
• We value our heritage

How we help families

• We’re a home away from home: We’ve created an environment that is truly welcoming and provides respite from the hospital. Warm rooms, fully stocked kitchens and areas to be a family make our facilities feel just like home.
• Peace of mind: when a child is ill, nothing else should matter. We help to relieve everyday financial and emotional stress like paying for accommodation or worrying about having a meal at the end of the day. And our facilities are close to hospitals, meaning parents are only moments from their children.
• Supportive staff: We understand that each family deals with their challenges differently – our experienced Front of House Team offer comfort and support to families facing medical crises.
• Understanding friends: House guests support one another. Being amongst families who empathise with each other provides a level support only those facing similar situations can understand.

Our Team Members