The rate of organ donations in New Zealand is now well behind that of Australia, after a drop in the number of donations last year.
Organ Donation New Zealand says 31 people donated organs after death in 2008, down from 38 the year before.
Donor co-ordinator Janice Langlands says it is difficult to determine the exact reasons for the decline.
She says the donor rate is eight people in New Zealand per million of population, compared with 12 in Australia.
