New Zealand needs at least 40,000 more blood donors as the demand for blood plasma grows by about 10 percent every year.
As a part of National Blood Donor Week, New Zealand Blood Service is putting the call out to Kiwis to pull up their sleeves and donate blood to help save lives.
New Zealand Blood Service's national marketing and communications manager Asuka Burge told AM in the last five years its donor database has only grown by 9000 people.
Burge said the service has lost donors for various reasons and is now asking Kiwis, who are able, to donate.
"Demand has grown by 10 percent, in order for us to meet our blood and plasma needs we need 40,0000 more donors to join the panel."
She said there are currently about 170,000 donors on the list, but they need more help.
"They're the ones who are providing all the blood and plasma for New Zealand and they need help."
Burge said blood lasts 35 days and then expires, while plasma can be frozen for up to two years, but more is needed.
"We need more plasma in order to meet that demand and if we don't meet that demand then we may potentially have to look into the global market which will be very challenging for us."
She said the increase in demand is because of a growing population and an ageing population, as well as Kiwis who need plasma weekly.
Plasma receiver Vicky O'Connor gets plasma every Tuesday, following treatment for a rare condition.
"I had a form of chemo for that and after that treatment, I was left with no b-cells, my b-cells never recovered."
O'Connor said the plasma is "really important" to her living and is "grateful" and "humbled" by those who donate.
"Before I started the transfusions, I was sick in bed all the time watching my children play outside with my husband and just watching life pass me by," she said.
"When I started having the treatment it was like the difference between night and day, I got my life back. I could be a mum, I could be a wife, a daughter, I could work."
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