National Blood Donor WeekMonday, 8 June – Sunday, 14 June 2026 Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) is celebrating record growth in plasma donation, but says the milestone is only part of the story. Despite more New Zealanders donating plasma than ever before, demand for both plasma and whole blood continues to put pressure on supply, creating an ongoing need for more As National Blood Donor Week gets underway, NZBS must recruit another 4,000 donors over the next 12 months to help meet growing demand for lifesaving
blood and plasma products. “More than 25,000 New Zealanders donated plasma in the past year – the highest number we’ve ever recorded,” says Sam Cliffe, Chief Executive of New Zealand Blood Service. “While this increase is encouraging to see and reflects growing awareness of the importance of plasma donation, the reality is that we still need more donors.” Plasma is used to produce up to 11 lifesaving medicines that help treat around 50 conditions, including cancer, kidney disease, blood clotting disorders and liver failure. Demand
for these medicines is projected to increase by more than 25% over the next three Meanwhile, whole blood donor numbers have declined, placing pressure on supply and increasing reliance on existing donors who are giving more frequently to help maintain stock levels. Every 18 minutes someone in New Zealand needs blood or blood products, with around 30,000 people each year having their lives saved or improved thanks to donors. As NZBS works to recruit more whole blood and plasma donors, it is also seeing a
shift in how people engage with donation, with many New Zealanders choosing to donate alongside friends, family members and colleagues. “Blood donation has always been about saving lives, but for a lot of our donors, it’s also become a way to connect with others and spend time with people they care about,” Cliffe says. “People come in to have a catch-up with their friends on the donor beds, a date night with their significant other, or as a regular team-building activity with their workmates,” Cliffe
For Christchurch donors Ash, Brendon, Steve and Simon, donating blood has become about more than helping patients – it’s also where they found friendship. The quartet, who have collectively made close to 1,200 donations, first met after noticing they were seeing the same faces at the Christchurch Donor Centre every What started as casual conversations in the donor chairs and over coffee and biscuits after donating soon grew into a genuine friendship, with the group now staying in touch through a WhatsApp chat they have
dubbed the “Blood Brothers”. Cliffe says stories like this show donor centres are becoming unexpected community hubs, where people connect through a shared sense of purpose. “At a time when so much of life happens online, people are looking for more authentic, face-to-face experiences. “Blood donation offers a unique combination of purpose and connection. Whether it’s bringing a friend along for their first donation, joining a workplace group or catching up with familiar faces after an appointment, donor centres can become genuinely social According to
research commissioned by NZBS between October 2025 – March 2026, 88% of Kiwis believe donating blood and plasma is good for society, while 76% think it’s an easy thing to do*. Yet currently only around 4% of eligible New Zealanders donate blood or Cliffe says National Blood Donor Week is an opportunity to both thank existing donors and encourage others to consider becoming part of the donor “We know many people are interested in donating but haven’t yet taken the next step. For many, the
reassurance of not going alone for the first time can help turn that intention into action. already donate blood or plasma, National Blood Donor Week is the perfect time to ask someone to come along with you and book an appointment to donate.” People wanting to donate can check their eligibility online, download the NZ Blood app, visit nzblood.co.nz or call 0800 448 325 to book an appointment. *Non-donors, people who have not donated blood or plasma in the last 12 Research conducted by About
New Zealand Blood New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) is a Crown entity and the sole organisation responsible for the collection, processing, testing, storage and distribution of all blood and blood products in New Zealand. relies on voluntary and non-remunerated blood donations from individuals around the country to provide a constant supply of precious blood and blood products used by health services to help thousands of patients. NZBS also provides cell and tissue products and related services to meet public health needs and maintains national oversight
of organ donation and distribution. Download the NZ Blood Service Donor App, visit www.nzblood.co.nz or call 0800 448 325 to book an appointment to © Scoop Media
New Zealand Blood Service, NZBS, National Blood Donor Week, plasma donation, whole blood donors, Sam Cliffe, 4,000 new donors, Christchurch Donor Centre, Blood Brothers