Get to know us

About Us

TimeOut is a New Zealand not-for-profit charity that connects families facing terminal illness with free holiday accommodation stays — offering a break away together at a time when it is needed the most.

Thanks to the generosity of our holiday homeowners and accommodation providers, we’ve built a growing network of over 160 properties across the country. Each year, this community helps us create invaluable, restorative experiences for many recipient families.

Supported by a passionate team of volunteers, and working closely with healthcare providers and partner charities, we’re dedicated to bringing moments of peace, connection, and joy to those who need it most.

Why TimeOut

Each year in New Zealand, we estimate around 24,000 people — and their families — are affected by a terminal illness.

Beyond the immense grief and emotional toll these diagnoses bring, they also impact our most precious resource: time.

At TimeOut, we help families spend precious moments together by providing access to donated holiday accommodation — spaces where they can relax, reconnect, and make special memories away from hospitals and routines.

With around 50,000 holiday homes across New Zealand, we’re on a mission to get kiwi donors on-board, so we can all lend a hand to those who need it.

Our Story

Our story began in 2013, when TimeOut founder Ronda Amende was diagnosed with a rare cancer and given 12 months to live.

Ronda was determined to fight her illness and began a three-year battle with chemotherapy, beating her cancer into remission.

With so much heartbreak and uncertainty during this trying time, a kind gesture from a work colleague provided much-needed relief - some time away at a family holiday home on the beautiful Coromandel.

Ronda and her family were given the opportunity to escape, put time on hold and share precious moments together, creating memories that would last a lifetime.

Inspired by the gratitude she felt, Ronda wanted other families in need to have this experience and the idea for TimeOut was born.

In 2016, the charity was formed; a not-for-profit organisation, connecting generous holiday homeowners with people with terminal illnesses, providing gifted experiences like the one Ronda was given.

Today, we’re grateful and proud to have over 160 holiday homes on offer from generous kiwis, giving people in need and their families the chance to create special memories together.