If your ancestors were Maori, Pacific Island, Thai, Middle Eastern or any other New Zealand ethnic minority  we need your help... you could be the match that saves a life like Margot's

NZBMDR are appealing to people who are aged 18 - 40 who have ancestry which includes Middle Eastern or Thai to help Margot find a match of Read more...

What is bone marrow?

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

What are stem cells?

Stem cells are immature blood cells which mature into:

  • red blood cells (which transport oxygen)
  • white blood cells (which fight infection)
  • platelets (which clot blood to stop bleeding)

Stem cells normally rest inside the bone marrow until they are mature enough to circulate in the blood stream.  The mature cells are then released into the blood stream to perform their various functions.  Only a small number of immature stem cells circulate in the blood stream.

On any given day, thousands of men, women and children are searching the International Bone Marrow Donor Registries for life-saving donors.

If your ancestors were Maori, Pacific Island or any other NZ ethnic minority group, please consider joining the Registry.  It could mean the difference between life and death to someone needing a bone marrow transplant.  With your support, more patients can access the treatment they so desperately need.