About us

It’s got to be good enough for Mum and Dad!

In 1983, Ryman’s co-founder Kevin Hickman was called in to investigate a fire at a rest home. What he found left a lasting impression.

“There were four people to a room with shared toilets down the corridor. The people running the rest home were nice and did a good job in as much as they were expected to. But to me, it was crazy. The standards were so poor. But that’s how rest homes were in those days,” he recalled.

That moment stuck with him, sparking a thought that wouldn’t go away. “What would I want for Mum? I’d want a single room with an ensuite, for a start.”

Finding the perfect business

A few years earlier, Kevin had met accountant John Ryder when he left the police to start a private investigation business. The two hit it off instantly and realised their skills were a perfect match - Kevin had an eye for detail, and John was great with numbers.

After Kevin’s unsettling experience at the rest home, they both saw a way to make a real difference. They wanted to create a place where people could age with dignity, in comfort and with excellent care.

They found a block of flats on River Road in Christchurch and transformed it into Riverside, their first rest home. That’s where Ryman, named by combining Ryder and Hickman, began.

Their approach was simple but effective: find the best locations, design and build to the highest standards, and ensure excellent care was always at the heart of everything they did.

A legacy of excellence

Four decades on, Ryman’s ethos hasn’t changed. Every decision and detail are still guided by the notion that: “Everything we do must be good enough for Mum - and Dad.”

Today, Ryman Healthcare operates 49 retirement villages across New Zealand and Australia, providing exceptional care and support to over 14,000 residents.