'Thank you for my yesterday, my today and my tomorrow.'

These heartfelt words are from New Zealanders whose lives have been transformed through the generosity of donors and their grieving family and whānau.

Donating organs and tissue is an incredible act of kindness which deserves all this thanks – and more. This coming Thank You Day, on 21 November 2025, we will be taking the time to express our gratitude to everyone involved in donation, and encouraging others to do the same.

Thank you to the donors, their families and whānau, the clinicians and hospital staff, laboratory technicians and scientists, the coronial service, to everyone involved in the safe transportation of the organs, and much more. You have all helped change the lives of others forever. Read their stories here.

The gift of life.

“Doctors told me I probably wouldn’t make it to my 30th birthday, but I’ve got a very stubborn streak and wanted to live my best life while I could...that surgery was the best thing I’ve ever done because it gave me back my life. Six months after the transplant, I was skiing on Mt Ruapehu and nine months after that, climbing Nelson’s mountains."

- Jess van Slooten, Transplant recipient

Read Jess' Story

“Thank you to my donor’s family, for their selfless gesture in donating their loved one’s organs. And talk to your loved ones about organ donation; it made yesterday, today, and tomorrow possible for me.”

- Amy Ng-Thomson, Transplant recipient

Read Amy's Story