Get to know us

About Us

TimeOut is a New Zealand charity that offers free stays to people living with incurable illness and their families.

A few days away can give families the chance to step away from everyday life and spend quality time together – without the cost of accommodation.

TimeOut Stays are made possible by generous holiday homeowners and accommodation providers who donate the use of their properties, along with the support of volunteers, healthcare professionals and our wider community.

Today, more than 260 holiday homes across New Zealand are part of the TimeOut community, helping us offer more families the opportunity to take some time out together.

Why TimeOut

When someone is living with an incurable illness, everyday life can quickly become focused on appointments, treatment and the many demands that come with being unwell.

TimeOut gives families the opportunity to take a break for a few days and enjoy spending some quality time together, away from home.

A TimeOut Stay might mean relaxing at a favourite spot, exploring somewhere new, or simply having the space to be together without the usual pressures of everyday life.

With around 50,000 holiday homes across New Zealand, there is an incredible opportunity for more holiday homeowners to join our community and help us give more families the chance to take some time out together.

Our Story

TimeOut Charity began with one powerful act of kindness.

In 2013, our Founder, Ronda Amende, was diagnosed with a rare cancer and given just 12 months to live. She spent the next three years undergoing chemotherapy, eventually receiving the news that her cancer was in remission.

During those years of heartbreak and uncertainty, a kind gesture from a friend gave Ronda and her family something they really needed – some time away at their family holiday home. They were given the chance to escape for a short time, put time on hold and simply be together. They made special memories that would stay with them long after they returned home.

Inspired by the gratitude she felt, Ronda wanted other families facing incurable illness to have that same opportunity. And so, the idea for TimeOut Charity was born.

In 2017, Ronda turned that vision into reality, establishing TimeOut as a charity that connects generous holiday homeowners with people living with incurable illness and their families. Through donated stays, TimeOut gives families the opportunity to step away from everyday life, reconnect and spend meaningful time together.

Today, we’re incredibly grateful to have more than 260 generous holiday homeowners across New Zealand donating stays through TimeOut.