More young Māori and Pacific New Zealanders needed on NZ Bone Marrow Donor Registry

22 Sept World Marrow Donor Day highlights need for younger and more diverse donors

More young New Zealanders, particularly Māori and Pacific people, are being encouraged to join the New Zealand Bone Marrow Donor Registry (NZBMDR), with greater diversity critical to improving the chances of patients finding a potentially life-saving match.

For many people diagnosed with blood cancers, blood disorders and immune deficiencies, a stem cell transplant may offer their only hope for a cure. But finding a compatible donor can be challenging because matching relies heavily on inherited genetic markers, meaning patients are often more likely to find a match from someone with a similar ethnic background.

While more than 40 million potential donors are registered worldwide, around 25 million are of European descent. In New Zealand, the Registry includes around 6,000 Māori and 3,000 Pacific potential donors, highlighting the need to grow a registry that better reflects New Zealand’s diverse population.

Carolyn Crump, Team Leader at NZBMDR, said World Marrow Donor Day is an opportunity to show young New Zealanders just how easy it is to join the Registry.

“Many people don’t realise that joining starts with something as simple as a cheek swab. If you’re aged 18 to 35, it’s a small step that could one day mean the difference between life and death for someone in need of a transplant.”

One young New Zealander who has already answered that call is 23-year-old Otago University student Lilli-Peach. She joined the Registry in 2024 and was later identified as a match for a patient in need.

Lilli-Peach said helping people has always been important to her, and joining the Registry was a simple thing to do. 

"I never really expected I'd get the call to donate, I just thought joining was the right thing to do. When I told my family and friends I was actually going to be a donor, they all said how cool it was, and that's when it really sank in. Not many people can say they've had the chance to potentially save a life at my age."

“I'd encourage other young people to give it a go. The likelihood of being called is pretty low, but the opportunity is there and, if you're a match, you could make a big difference to someone and their whānau.

“I'd also love to see more Māori and Pasifika people on the Registry. It would mean a better chance for Māori and Pasifika patients to find the donor they need when it matters most.”

While nearly 14,500 New Zealanders are currently registered as potential donors, only a small number will ever be called on to donate. In 2025, 34 people underwent additional testing after being identified as potential matches, with 11 ultimately going on to donate stem cells to patients in need.

NZBMDR is also taking its recruitment drive directly to young people, with swab events being held at universities around the country. A recent event at the University of Canterbury saw 107 students join the Registry, while a swab drive at the University of Waikato on 18 September saw more than 40 people join.

University of Waikato student completing a simple cheek swab to join the NZ Bone Marrow Donor Registry

Joining the Registry is simple and starts with a cheek swab. Eligible New Zealanders aged 18–35 can order a free swab kit, complete it at home and return it to join the Registry.

Alternatively, people can ask about joining when they donate blood or plasma at a New Zealand Blood Service donor centre or mobile drive.

To join the New Zealand Bone Marrow Donor Registry, you must be aged 18–35, meet blood donor eligibility criteria and be willing to donate to any patient.

World Marrow Donor Day is a global initiative that recognises stem cell donors and encourages more people to join donor registries.

To find out more about bone marrow donation or to order a swab kit visit bonemarrow.org.nz

About New Zealand Bone Marrow Donor Registry

The New Zealand Bone Marrow Donor Registry (NZBMDR) is responsible for searching all registries for unrelated volunteer donors for NZ patients who require a bone marrow transplant and do not have a suitable family donor. 

NZBMDR is also responsible for recruiting volunteer donors who are willing to donate their bone marrow to a matched patient anywhere in the world.

The NZ Bone Marrow Donor Registry is part of New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) and works closely with Transplant Centres nationwide.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Sandy Trigg, Network Communication, 021 231 9406, sandy.trigg@networkcommunication.co.nz

Ximena Smith, New Zealand Blood Service, 027 844 0073, ximena.smith@nzblood.co.nz