Start 2026 With A Lifesaving Commitment: NZ Blood Service Has 4000 Waikato Appointments To Fill Before Summer Ends

As Aotearoa settles back into routine after the Christmas and New Year break, New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) is calling on the Waikato to kick off 2026 with a powerful, life-saving resolution to start - or continue - making regular blood or plasma donations before the end of summer.

NZBS has 4000 appointments to be filled in the region before the end of February to ensure it can continue to meet the growing demand for blood and blood products nationwide.

NZBS Donor Relations Team Leader Rachel Bowman says New Zealanders know how to make the most of summer, which can have an unintentional impact on blood and plasma collections.

“Summer is all about enjoying the sun, taking trips, and spending extra time with family and friends. This can make it easy for regular donations to be put on the back burner. But there are around 30,000 people in Aotearoa who rely on lifesaving blood products every year and demand doesn’t take a holiday when we do.”

Bowman explains that because people's movements change over the holiday period and into January, it can be challenging to accurately predict demand. This makes it important to plan ahead and build stocks up, ensuring NZBS is prepared for whatever the summer season brings.

“Every day is a good day to donate blood or plasma, and booking an appointment over summer, when stocks can be under extra pressure, helps ensure lifesaving blood and plasma products are available when people need them most.”

New Zealand is currently facing higher demand than ever for blood and blood products, particularly plasma, which has seen demand rise more than 10% year-on-year.

Linda Wallace understands the need for plasma better than most.

In 2024, after years of struggling with energy levels and slowly declining health, Linda was diagnosed with myasenthia gravis (MG), a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes fluctuating weakness in voluntary muscles.

“I went from living a very active life to eventually struggling to walk for more than just a few minutes. At the end of 2024, I was so weak I could only walk two or three steps before becoming breathless.”

“I cried when I picked up my first wheelchair, it was a reminder of how much my life had changed and the things I can no longer easily do. I used to be a celebrant, a keen geocacher and had plans to cycle and travel with my husband, Alan, who retired shortly before my diagnosis.”

Linda relies on regular Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatments to help manage her symptoms, and says each treatment gives her a boost of energy that allows her to live, rather than just exist.

"Every day I’m so thankful for the plasma donors who allow me to do things that once seemed impossible. So much has been possible with their generosity, from simple tasks like lifting an empty saucepan to traveling to the South Island at the end of last year for my mother’s funeral.”

“Life may have slowed down but MG hasn’t taken away my curiosity, creativity or determination. With the unwavering support of Alan every day, and the generosity of donors who make treatment possible, I know there’s still so much life ahead.”

Plasma can be donated every two weeks and can make up to 11 lifesaving treatments for up to 50 illnesses, including cancer, liver failure and immunodeficiency disorders. In comparison, whole blood can be donated every three months, with every donation having the potential to save three lives.

There is a fixed donor centre in Hamilton where both blood and plasma can be donated, and NZBS will be hosting more than 25 mobile blood donation drives across the Waikato between now and when we wave goodbye to summer at the end of February.

As New Zealanders wrap up their holidays, return to work and ease into new habits for the year ahead, the addition of regular donations to their 2026 schedule is a straightforward way to start the year on a positive note.

"Every week, more than 5,000 donations are needed nationwide to help patients who rely on blood and blood products,” says Bowman.

“If you’re still looking for a meaningful New Year’s resolution, making time for regular blood or plasma donations is a straightforward act that will change lives.”

To find your nearest donation location, check your eligibility or to book an appointment to donate download the NZ Blood Donor App, visit www.nzblood.co.nz or call 0800 448 325.

About New Zealand Blood Service

New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) is a Crown entity and the sole organisation responsible for the collection, processing, testing and storage and distribution of all blood and blood products in New Zealand.

NZBS 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 donate.

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