Tauranga Donor Centre plans new home

Facility expected to be completed late 2022

New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) is excited to announce it has approved plans for a new purpose built blood donor centre in Tauranga.

The new blood donor centre, just 220 metres from the current site on Cameron Street, will be larger and have improved facilities for both donors and staff.

The new centrally located building will be in easy walking distance of Tauranga City Centre, the University of Waikato  (Tauranga Campus) and provide easy access to major public transport hubs, as well as Takitimu Drive (SH2).

In addition to improved parking, charging for electric vehicles and bicycle parking, the new centre will allow the Service to comfortably grow to meet future needs. This includes the ability to add additional beds on the donor floor and increase collections as the demand for blood and plasma continues to grow both locally and nationally.

The approval of plans for the new Tauranga Blood Donor Centre is part of a long term project to increase the collection capacity of sites across the country so NZBS can continue meeting clinical demand.  It follows the recent announcement of plans for a new purpose built blood donor centre in Hamilton.

Commenting on the plans, Doug Gallagher, Director of Donor Services at New Zealand Blood Service, noted that while the current Cameron Street site had been a great home for the Service for the past eight years, the time is right to move to new purpose built facilities. 

 “We’re very pleased to be working alongside Wallace Development Company Ltd to help bring to life a blood donor centre that has the donor at heart,” says Mr Gallagher. “The demand for blood and blood products is continually increasing, plasma demand alone has grown by 12% every year, and this new modern facility will help give us the ability to grow and future proof our critical life  saving service.  It will also enable us to continue to meet our commitment as a Toitū carbonreduce certified organisation.”

The new facility is expected to be completed in late 2022, and the relocation will coincide with the ending of NZBS’s current lease on its existing site.  Donors are asked to continue booking appointments at Tauranga’s current blood donor centre at 154/158 Cameron Road.

With nine-fixed site donor centers open and a number of mobile blood drives scheduled around the country, new donors are encouraged to visit the NZBS website, download the NZ Blood mobile app to find the closest place to book an appointment to donate or call 0800 GIVE BLOOD.