Understanding organ donation
Support for whānau and loved ones
Last reviewed: August 2026
ODNZ donor coordinators support donor whānau and loved ones before, during and after donation. They stay in contact for as long as the family wants, sometimes for years.
What support will we have during the donation process?
A donor coordinator supports your family through every step and will often meet the family before the donation takes place. They gather the medical information, organise the donation, and keep whānau informed throughout, so you know what to expect.
Will we hear how the recipients are doing?
Yes, if you want to. Your family will receive a letter of thanks that includes general information about the recipients; for example, 'the heart was transplanted to a man of middle age'. You can contact the donor coordinator at any time to ask about the recipients' progress. Some families do this for many years; others choose not to. Both are okay.
Can we write to the recipients, or hear from them?
Yes. Recipients can write an anonymous letter of thanks to the donor family, and donor families can write to recipients in the same way. These letters are passed on through Organ Donation New Zealand, and only if you wish to receive them. Confidentiality is maintained; donor families and recipients never learn each other's identities.
What other support do families receive?
The donor coordinator provides information and ongoing support after the donation. Families receive a booklet covering brain death, organ donation, transplantation and the grief process. For some families, contact with their coordinator continues for months or years.
What are the annual thanksgiving services?
Each year in May, a service is held in Auckland to recognise those who have donated and given the gift of life to others. A second service is held in alternate years in Wellington and Christchurch. Donor families, recipients and their families, and health professionals are all invited.
We donated years ago and heard very little. Can we still get support?
Yes. Follow-up for donor families has grown over the years, and we know some families who generously donated in the past received little acknowledgement or information at the time. If you would like information or support now — or at any time — please contact us.
