Family playing on the grass

What is bone marrow?

Bone marrow is the body’s blood cell ‘factory’. It is the tissue inside the bone cavity which produces and maintains a supply of blood stem cells.

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You could be the match that saves a life.

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Is your ancestry important?

A patient is mostly likely to match someone of the same ethnicity.  We are actively recruiting people with Māori and Pacific Island ancestry and ethnic minority groups.

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Who can join?

People aged 18 – 35 years old, able to meet the NZ Blood Service requirements to donate blood and willing to donate to any patient anywhere in the world.
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Real Stories

  • Pharoah
  • Tom
  • Chace
  • Liam
  • Taylor Ngakoma Harper

Pharoah

“I remember going to the gym and feeling tired but shrugged it off, until it got worse and worse”, says Pharoah

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Tom

NZBS depends on its selfless donors year-round to help those in need and NZBMDR is no different.

“There was no question about it, I was a match and the patient needed me. I said, ‘sign me up!’”, says Tom.

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Chace

Diagnosed with Leukaemia

Three days before his first birthday, Ryan and Keri Found out that a bone marrow aspirate had determined that Chace had a rare strain of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML).

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Liam

After donating blood and plasma for nearly 15 years, Liam Millard (Ngāi Te Rangi) signed up as a bone marrow donor. It was an act of kindness that has saved a life.

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Taylor Ngakoma Harper

For St. John Ambulance mechanic Taylor Ngakoma Harper, saving lives is a part of his every day life. So when he was approached about joining the bone marrow registry he didn't hesitate.

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Interested in joining the NZ Bone Marrow Donor Registry?

In New Zealand, to join the NZ Bone Marrow Donor Registry you first must meet the criteria to become a blood donor and donate blood.

Please follow the 3 steps below.

1. Check your eligibility to become a blood donor

1. Check your eligibility to become a blood donor

A quick list of the major blood donor criteria.
2. Book an appointment to donate blood

2. Book an appointment to donate blood

Use the NZ Blood Service handy online system to find your nearest place to donate and book an appointment.
3. Ask to join the NZ Bone Marrow Donor Registry

3. Ask to join the NZ Bone Marrow Donor Registry

Ask the NZ Blood Service staff when you donate that you would like to join the NZ Bone Marrow Donor Registry.
Start the process

(You'll be directed to NZ Blood for eligibility)