Uber's free ice cream giveaway a hit at Ronald McDonald House

Oirua Rasmussen and his son Mahuta Rasmussen, 5, from Penrhyn Island in the Cook Islands enjoy some hokey pokey ice cream from Giapo. Photo / Jason Oxenham

Free ice creams delivered by Uber brought big smiles to children at Ronald McDonald House in Auckland today.

The treats from Giapo were handed out by Uber drivers in five different cities around New Zealand.

Among those to be treated at Ronald McDonald House were Oirua Rasmussen and his 5-year-old son Mahuta.

The Rasmussens, from Penrhyn Island in the Cook Islands, have been staying at the house for seven months while Mahuta undergoes chemotherapy for Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Both Mahuta and his dad showed obvious delight while they tucked in to their hokey pokey ice creams.

Uber ice cream deliveries took place in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown between 11am and 5pm today.

New users could download the Uber app on their smartphone to get $20 off their first ride, or set their location for a ride and receive a delivery of free Giapo ice cream to their door.

Existing Uber users could be delivered two tubs of ice cream for $20 by setting their location and using the code.

The promotion ran last year - but this year Uber had five times as much ice cream to be delivered.

The company's ice cream deliveries are happening around the world today in 253 cities in 58 countries across six continents.