Stay
With Us
Rānui is a ‘home-away-from-home’ for families who travel to Christchurch for life-saving medical treatment.
We offer accommodation and support to patients and their whānau from across New Zealand and the Chatham Islands.
Our families often have to travel hundreds of kilometres to Christchurch for various lifesaving medical treatments such as chemotherapy, bone marrow transplants, heart surgery, high-risk pregnancies, neonatal care, kidney transplants, dialysis, general surgery, and a host of other serious illnesses and accidents.
No matter what your age or treatment type, all patients and their whānau are welcome at Rānui.
If patients are well enough, they can spend time with their families at Rānui returning to hospital for treatment when required. Patients who are having outpatient treatment i.e. radiotherapy, home dialysis, pregnancy, and some bone marrow transplants can stay at Rānui while the treatment is carried out with daily visits to the hospital. `
Rānui means ‘big warm house’ and that is exactly what we provide. Warmth and care for babies, children, young people and adults while they undergo medical treatment in Christchurch.
We are a charitable trust founded over 30 years ago and funded by the people of New Zealand.
Rānui offers 80 purpose-built rooms and apartments across our Rānui House and Rānui Apartments complexes, which are both located just minutes from Christchurch Hospital, opposite Hagley Park. We provide families an apartment with comfy beds, ample living spaces including a kitchen or kitchenette and laundry (just like you would have at home), along with an onsite carpark and generous communal spaces.
Our team are on hand to take care of the practical things, giving families the time and space to focus on their treatment. Rānui is a true home-away-from-home – a place of rest and respite for the families we serve.
FAQs at Rānui Christchurch
Is there Wi-Fi?
Yes, Wi-Fi is available at Rānui for a weekly charge of $10.00 per apartment. Visit our team at reception for access to Wi-Fi.
Covid-19
The health and safety of the patients who stay with us, and all those working in this space is important to us as an organisation, we ask that you respect our House Rules in relation to Covid-19
Masks are no longer mandatory at Rānui, however it is recommended and encouraged that masks are to be worn due to the number of vulnerable patients staying with us. Masks are available all around Rānui for use and we have PPE available if it is required.
We ask that everyone sanitises their hands regularly, there are sanitising stations available throughout Rānui. In addition, Rānui is sanitised by our team twice daily.
If you, someone in your family, or someone you have been in contact with has tested positive for Covid-19 in the past 7 days or have been told by a healthcare provider that you should self-isolate due to potential Covid-19 exposure, or that you are suspected of having Covid-19, you will not be able to stay at Rānui.
If you are staying with us and you or your caregiver test positive for Covid-19 we will ask you to leave the House – our facilities are not equipped to support Covid-19 positive patients. Our team will work with you and your support team to determine how your family will be supported and transported home or to a suitable off-site facility. Our team understand this can be a challenging time for the families we serve and will manage this situation with empathy and care.
Who can stay?
Families come to Rānui from across New Zealand. They travel hundreds of kilometres to Christchurch for various lifesaving medical treatments such as chemotherapy, bone marrow transplants, heart surgery, difficult pregnancies, neonatal care, kidney transplants, dialysis, general surgery and a host of serious illnesses and accidents. We offer our accommodation to the patient and their caregiver/family member, additional guests will incur a per person/per night cost and children 18-years and younger are welcome to stay free of charge (bearing in mind maximum room capacity).
Patients of all ages, from all hospital departments are welcome to stay at Rānui. If patients are well enough, they can spend time with their families at Rānui, returning to the hospital for treatment when required. Patients who are having outpatient treatment i.e. radiotherapy, home dialysis, are pregnant and some bone marrow transplant patients can stay in Rānui while the treatment is carried out with daily visits to the hospital.
Rānui means ‘big warm house’ and that is exactly what we provide. Warmth and care for babies, children, young people, and adults while they undergo medical treatment in Christchurch.
If the accommodation is not funded by the Ministry of Health’s National Travel Assistance, there will be a charge per night per apartment. Should residents wish to have a guest stay overnight there will be a cost per additional person per night.
Sorry, no pets allowed on premises although service animals are welcome – please advise our team prior to arrival and provide confirmation of service animal status.
How do we know if we are eligible to stay?
Families are referred to us through their doctor, district health board or social worker.
In order to stay at Rānui while you or your loved one has treatment in Christchurch, we would need to receive a referral (booking) for you from Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand’s National Travel Assistance office.
National Travel Assistance covers the cost of your travel to Christchurch and home again, as well as a subsidy for accommodation with us. The balance of the accommodation costs is generously donated by supporters of the Bone Marrow Cancer Trust, which is the charity that owns and operates Rānui.
Here’s a link to see the Ministry of Health eligibility criteria for National Travel Assistance.
After checking this link, a next step would be to contact the Patient Travel Administrator at your regional hospital, as they will be able to confirm your eligibility and explain the options to you.
If you are not eligible for funding you can still book in and pay privately. Please enquire directly to Rānui phone (03) 377 2515 or email info@bmct.org.nz
How do we book a room at Rānui?
Your Patient Travel Coordinator or Social Worker will generally arrange your first visit, but subsequent visits may be booked directly with our reception team Rānui. Please note, completion of this form does not guarantee your booking. All requests for accommodation will be confirmed in writing and are subject to availability until then.
Keys, Safety & Security
Both Rānui House and Rānui Apartments are gated facilities with secure access.
- Rānui House residents receive a key to their apartment and a security key tag for entry, an intercom system allows visitor access.
- Rānui Apartments residents are provided with a keycard for entry.
- After-hours security patrols are in place for resident safety.
- CCTV monitoring ensures added peace of mind for the families we support.
Is there parking?
Yes, we provide one complimentary parking space per apartment for patients and their families, subject to availability.
For visitors, Rānui House has two free 10-minute parking spaces directly in front of the House on 1 Cambridge Terrace. These are public parking spaces and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
There is no visitor parking onsite at either Rānui House or Apartments, however there is street side and numerous parking buildings close by.
Can I bring my pets?
Sorry, no pets allowed on premises although service animals are welcome – please advise our team prior to arrival and provide confirmation of service animal status.
As an aside, we know that when families are away from home they miss their furry friends. We do have regular visits from the Hato Hone St Johns Pet Therapy team, our visiting doggos are Luna and Hugo – both are super cuddly and love meeting new people.
What types of accommodation are available at Rānui?
We offer Studio Rooms and One and Two-Bedroom Apartments, each with a separate lounge. All accommodations include:
- A fully equipped kitchen (oven, microwave, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, kettle, toaster, crockery, cutlery) or kitchenette (small fridge, toaster, kettle, cutlery, crockery and microwave)
- A private bathroom with a toilet, shower, towels, heated towel rail and hairdryer
- Laundry facilities with a washing machine, clothes dryer, iron and ironing board (drying racks available on request)
- All bedding and linen provided
- Entertainment – SMART TV at Rānui Apartments and Rānui House television with DVD player
- Heating – Rānui Apartments heat pump and/or wall heater, Rānui House underfloor heating and wall heaters
- All rooms offer spacious balconies
Other amenities at Rānui?
- Fully equipped communal kitchens with refrigerators and freezers for your use
- Lounge with television and Sky TV
- Library of books, DVDs and puzzles to borrow
- Pushchair, portacots, highchairs and *rollaway beds (*at Rānui House only)
- BBQ & outdoor tables and chairs
- Outdoor clothesline
- Undercover bike shed
- Mobility scooter
- Electric wheelchair
- Rānui car (available for short trips to pick up groceries or medical appointments)
- Access to Elevate Gym at The Kind Foundation (next door to Rānui House cnr Cashel St/Cambridge Tce)
What do I need to bring?
We provide a comfy room or apartment, all you need to bring with you is:
- Personal toiletries
- Clothing
- Communication devices
- Food (groceries can be purchased locally)
Can I cook and how do I get my groceries?
Yes, both Rānui House and Rānui Apartments have fully equipped communal kitchens for residents to use, with fridges, freezers and cupboards available for food storage.
Grocery Stores & Supermarkets:
- New World and Woolworths offer Click & Collect and delivery services to Rānui.
- Pak’nSave and FreshChoice are also nearby.
- Riverside Market is an easy 10-minute walk offering a variety of fresh produce, specialty foods and dining options.
Dining Options:
- The Antigua Boatshed Café is opposite Rānui House and has a delicious menu offering and generous cabinet food, plus their coffee is excellent!
- Atawhai Café at The Kind Foundation (corner of Cashel St and Rolleston Ave) offers specials for Rānui guests.
- Oxford Terrace and the central city are just a short walk away, with many restaurants, cafés, and shops – check out ChristchurchNZ’s dining guide
Transport:
The Rānui car is available for guests to use for hospital visits, medical appointments, or grocery trips – we ask that a koha (or top up the petrol while you are out and about) is made for use of the car, bookings for the Rānui car can be made direct with our team at reception.
Our team is always happy to help – please don’t hesitate to ask!
Can visitors come to Rānui House and Rānui Apartments?
Yes, visitors are welcome and we encourage visitors, as Rānui is your home-away-from-home.
All visitors must sign in (at reception) on arrival and follow our House Rules, which include sanitising hands.
Many of our guests are undergoing treatment or have loved ones who are immunocompromised. To protect their health, we ask that you do not visit if you:
- Have been exposed to COVID-19 (please check our COVID-19 restrictions for details).
- Have had vomiting, diarrhoea, or flu-like symptoms in the past 48 hours.
We appreciate your understanding and support in keeping our residents safe.
How can we keep in touch with friends and family?
Every room has a phone. Your friends and family can call you directly on this phone number 03 377 0501.
If staying at Rānui House – your phone extension will be the same as your room number.
If staying at Rānui Apartments – please dial ‘3’ followed by the room number
You are welcome to ask your family and friends to send parcels and mail for your attention to our street address:
- c/- Rānui House, 1 Cambridge Terrace, Christchurch, 8013
- c/- Rānui Apartments, 508 Selwyn Street, Christchurch 8011
or to our mailing address:
- PO Box 1833, Christchurch, 8104
We clear our mailboxes daily.
Is there disability access?
Yes, shared areas at Rānui are fully accessible. Several apartments at both Rānui House and Rānui Apartments are designed to be fully accessible, including purpose-designed wet floor showers. Please inform us at the time of your booking if you have any special requirements. Both Rānui House and Apartments have elevators.
Contact Us
Rānui provides accommodation for patients and their whānau who must travel to Christchurch for medical treatment.
For more information go to www.bmct.org.nz
Rānui House
1 Cambridge Terrace
Christchurch, 8013
Reception open 8.30am – 5.00pm Monday to Friday
Phone 03 377 2515
Email info@bmct.org.nz
Rānui Apartments
508 Selwyn Street
Christchurch, 8011
Reception open 7.30am – 5.00pm, 7 days
Phone 03 377 2521
Email info@bmct.org.nz
Postal Address
Bone Marrow Cancer Trust & Rānui
PO Box 1833
Christchurch, 8140
After hours and weekend calls please phone 03 377 2515 and leave a message.
Email info@bmct.org.nz
Rānui is a smoke, vape and drug free environment.