Porirua musician Pati Taii has recently become a donor. Content creator Leasha Anthony needed lifesaving blood and plasma transfusions after the birth of her second child. Both will be at a free night market at Porirua’s new donor centre on Thursday 29 October.
New Zealand Blood Service is hosting its “Bloody Good” Night Market at 3 Heriot Drive from 5pm to 7pm, bringing food, drinks and entertainment together with an opportunity for residents to find out more about blood and plasma donation.
Regular and first-time donors, as well as other people whose treatment has depended on donated blood and plasma, are expected to attend. Visitors will be able to explore the new centre and speak to New Zealand Blood Service staff about why more donations are needed.
The market celebrates the community’s response since the centre opened on 5 October. The facility gave Porirua its first permanent place to donate plasma, meaning local donors no longer need to travel elsewhere in the region for plasma appointments.
Porirua previously relied on mobile blood collection drives. Its new centre operates five days a week and has room for around 215 plasma donation appointments and 75 whole-blood appointments each week.
The expansion comes as demand for treatments made from donated plasma continues to rise. Nearly 20,000 New Zealanders received plasma-derived medicines in the year to June 2026, and New Zealand Blood Service says around 5,000 blood and plasma donations are needed nationwide each week.
The night market is free to attend. Anyone interested in donating can make an appointment through the New Zealand Blood Service website, its donor app or by calling 0800 448 325.