New Zealand Maori Tackle Blood Donation

NEWS RELEASE - 12 June 2004

New Zealand Maori Tackle Blood Donation

They've tamed the British & Irish Lions, now members of the New Zealand Maori rugby team are urging more Kiwis to become blood donors.

World Blood Donor Day takes place this Tuesday (14 June) and New Zealand Maori prop Deacon Manu is supporting the effort to encourage New Zealanders to donate blood.

"I regularly donate blood and have been doing it since I was at school. It is quite satisfying to see that other people benefit from this," Manu said.

New Zealand Maori captain Jono Gibbes said the New Zealand Blood Service did an outstanding job for the community.

Incredibly, less than 5% of New Zealanders give blood, but four out of every five Kiwis will need blood or blood products during their lifetime.

The need for blood spans a wide array of health areas, but its value is often forgotten due to the seriousness of the original ailment. Donated blood is the silent hero in disease treatment (including cancer, haemophilia and immuno-deficient patients), surgical procedures (from emergency surgery through to elective surgery) and dealing with trauma victims.

All blood types are currently needed from donors aged between 16-60, weighing over 50kg, have had no body piercing or tattoos in the past six months, and did not live in the UK between 1980-1996 for longer than six months.

Just 470mls of blood is taken per donation. The body replaces the fluid in 24-48 hours, and people are able to donate every three months.

You can make an appointment to become a donor by calling 0800 GIVE BLOOD or registering on the website at www.nzblood.co.nz.

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