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Published Wednesday 17 Aug 2016

People rarely think about their blood type – but what if that ‘type’ was to go missing in everyday life? 85% of New Zealanders are A and O blood types. This week sees the 'Missing Type' Campaign launched worldwide to urge more people to give blood.

New Zealand Blood Service is looking for 10,000 people to register to become first-time donors. The NZBS is seeking Kiwis between 16 and 65 years-old, to step up and register and says that A and O blood types are always the most in demand.

The world is facing dwindling numbers of first-time blood donors. This week sees the 'Missing Type' Campaign launched worldwide to urge more people to give blood. Letters — A's, B's and O's, the letters used to identify the main blood types — are disappearing from signs and even postmark stamps.

Leading New Zealand businesses, charities and celebrities are joining others from around the world in the campaign appealing to the public to "Help fill in the gaps." They are removing A and O from names, brands and logos nationwide in support of Missing Type #MissingType #NZBlood.

A survey of blood services participating in the Missing Type campaign found the number of first-time donors per year had dropped more than 27 percent between 2005 and 2015.

NZBS National Manager Marketing and Communications, Asuka Burge, says, “It is an ambitious goal but we are seeking 10,000 first time blood donors to join our life saving team.Simply by registering on our website (nzblood.co.nz) a first time donor is taking the first step to finding out their blood type and how best they can help.”

Currently less than four per cent of eligible New Zealander’s donate blood.There is no alternative for patients in need of blood or blood products. Put simply, blood donors save lives.

NZBS currently has a database of 110,000 amazing blood donors who last year saved the lives of about 42,000 kiwis. But every year around 28,000 people leave the donor registry meaning is a constant need for new donors.

"So far this year we expect disparity of around 10,000, which is the number of donors we hope to attract with this campaign.Working together we can ensure we continue to save lives now and into the future,” says Ms Burge.

With the number of partners growing by the day NZBS has created a toolkit with information on how businesses,
charities, celebrities and every day kiwis can get involved.

For more information or to register to become a new blood donor please visit www.nzblood.co.nz/MissingType.

Donors must meet the donor eligibility criteria to donate blood in NZ. This can be found on the website at www.nzblood.co.nz