New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) is holding a mobile blood drive at Rolleston College auditorium from 8:30am to 1:30pm on Thursday 19 June 2025.

We encourage our learners into a lifetime habit of donating blood and making a worthwhile contribution to the community.

The Care of Children Act 2004 allows people 16 years and over to make their own decisions about whether or not they wish to give blood. Our learners can choose to donate blood at this session.

NZBS recommends that learners discuss becoming a blood donor with their whānau/family.

If families have a particular objection to a learner choosing to donate blood, please make this known to the learner and to the school before the drive on 19 June. More information about blood donation will be available on the day.

Parents and caregivers are also welcome to come to school and donate at the blood drive.

NZBS respects the privacy of all donors and recommends that conversations about blood donor eligibility are carried out sensitively. If you require further information, call 0800 GIVE BLOOD (0800 448 325) or visit the website.

Learners who wish to donate blood on Thursday 19 June can sign up on their Advisory Classroom.

Year 11 learners over the age of 16 should email Mrs Hoy to sign up.

Becoming a blood donor

Age (for first time donors): 16 to 70 years old.
(For existing donors): Up to 80 years old, subject to approval.

Height/weight: Donors need to weigh at least 50kg. First time donors under 25 years old must also meet the height/weight criteria. You can use the calculator on the NZBS website to find out your eligibility.

Health: You must be in good health.

You cannot donate if you have a cold, fly, sore throat, core sore, stomach bug, or any other infection.

You must wait three months following a tattoo or piercing before you can donate. If a piercing was performed by a registered health professional (GP, pharmacist, etc.) you may be eligible to donate after 12 hours.

If you have recently visited the dentist, you must wait at least 24 hours following a minor procedure (cleanings, fillings, or braces) or until you have recovered before donating blood. For complex procedures, such as tooth extraction, please wait at least seven days after your procedure and any antibiotic treatment.

If you have been overseas recently, please refer to the Donating after Travelling tool on the NZBS website to find out when you can donate.

You must have eaten some food in the four hours prior to donation.

Identification: You need to bring suitable identification with you. Examples of acceptable ID are driver's licence, birth certificate or passport. A student ID card is acceptable if it features full name, date of birth and a photograph. With your consent, NZBS may also ask the school to confirm that you are at least 16 years old.

Important facts about blood

There is no substitute for human blood. Healthy donors are the only source of our blood supply.

Around 30,000 patients are treated with blood or blood products in Aotearoa New Zealand every year.

A blood donation is separated into different components, each of which is used to treat many different patients—accident trauma, patients undergoing surgery, people with leukaemia, transplant patients and many others. Blood products are also used for immunisation, to help prevent diseases such as hepatitis A and B, tetanus and chicken pox.

Each donation can help save up to three people—blood donors are literally life savers!