It's International Volunteer Day (5th December) and the team at the New Zealand Blood Service would like to say "THANK YOU" to all our volunteers and blood donors who help save lives throughout the year.

Thanks to Otago Daily Times for this great article and for the subsequent numbers of donors who signed up as a result from it!

The Minister of Health has announced the appointment of Ian Ward to the NZBS Board, replacing the vacancy left by Anne Urlwin.

In spite of bad weather disrupting operations in the south, the New Zealand Blood Service still needs to meet its normal target of 3000 units nationally for the week.

Health Minister Tony Ryall has announced re-appointments to the New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) board.

NZBS introduced a new set of behaviour based donor deferral criteria in 2009.

The New Zealand Blood Service would like to thank all blood donors in New Zealand for being so wonderful this World Blood Donor Day.

The Christchurch Donor Centre will be closed for the rest of the afternoon, following the 5.5 magnitude earthquake at 1pm this afternoon.

The New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) will celebrate World Blood Donor Day across the country on Tuesday 14 June 2011.