Becoming a live organ donor
Deciding to become a live organ donor is a big decision. To be able to donate an organ you will need to have medical tests and checks to make sure this type of surgery is suitable for you.
Organ donation and becoming a donor
To donate an organ:
- you do not have to be a New Zealand citizen
- you may be able make a donation if you live overseas.
There is assistance for eligible donors including:
- financial assistance for travel and accommodation
- compensation for loss of earnings after surgery.
Your district hospital donor liaison coordinator supports you through the whole donation process.
Who you can donate to
You can donate a kidney to a member of your whānau, a friend or a person you do not know.
Directed donation
Directed donation is when you donate to someone you know, like a whānau member or a friend. It is called this because you 'direct' that your kidney goes to a particular person.
Altruistic or non-directed donation
Altruistic or non-directed donation is when you donate to someone you do not know. In this case, you cannot say who receives your kidney. The kidney will be given to the next best-matched patient on the kidney organ waiting list.
Directed live liver donation
Directed live liver donation usually involves a parent donating part of their liver to their tamaiti (child). Live liver donation is much less common than live kidney donation because of the higher risk of complications to the donor.
For this reason, non-directed live liver donation is not supported in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Getting started
Follow these steps to apply to be an organ donor.
1
Contact your local donor liason coordinator
To find out more about organ donation and it if it is right for you, contact your local donor liason coordinator.
What to expect
The donor liason coordinator will be your first point of contact for:
- answering any questions or concerns
- arranging tests and checks
- applying for compensation (filling out forms) if you are able to donate a kidney or piece of your liver.
They will also talk to you about:
- any general laboratory or specialised tests required
- the eligibility criteria that apply to your situation
- whether financial help is available for travel and accommodation costs and loss of earnings while you recover from surgery.
2
Register for National Travel Assistance
If you have to travel for specialised tests, you may be eligible for some financial help to meet your travel and accommodation costs.
A National Travel Assistance coordinator can answer any questions you have, and help you complete the registration form and a claim form to apply for assistance.
3
Receive confirmation as a donor
Once all tests are completed, the donor liaison coordinator will let you know whether or not the donation surgery will be suitable for you.
If you can donate a kidney or piece of your liver you:
- will receive a date for when your surgery will take place
- can register for financial compensation or loss of earnings — your donor liaison coordinator can help you with this.