19 Oct 2026
Engineers improve the lives of Kiwis across Aotearoa New Zealand, and the good they do doesn’t stop at engineering. Beyond engineering is a new series sharing the ways people and workplaces across the profession give back – starting with our own team.
Four kaimahi from Engineering New Zealand Te Ao Rangahau recently went along to the donor centre in Te Whanganui ā Tara Wellington to donate plasma together. The team went during the workday, with the organisation’s support.
Three of the group were first-time donors, joined by CE Richard Templer – a regular by any metric, having donated more than 200 times since his teenage years.
CE Richard Templer, a regular plasma donor. Photo: supplied
Going as a group made it easy to lock in a time and gave the novices some company for their first donation.
Communications Manager Dewi Preece, one of the first-timers, says it was a rewarding experience to finally tick off a plasma donation, and encourages anyone who’s eligible to give it a go.
“For anyone who’s on the fence it’s a really straightforward, simple and honestly fun process (although granted, I am absolutely fine with needles!). You also get some amazing care from the healthcare staff there, who go above and beyond to make sure you are comfortable, understand what’s happening, and most importantly of all, well fed with crackers, cheese, biscuits and hot drinks!”
The benefits go well beyond the crackers and cheese. Plasma donated in New Zealand is used to create up to 11 life-saving products and can treat up to 50 illnesses, including immune deficiencies and bleeding disorders. Nearly 20,000 Kiwis were treated with plasma-derived medicines in the past year.
The team is planning another group donation and hopes more kaimahi will join next time.
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