''Whangārei is one of our best collections in New Zealand. We have an awesome response there.''
Sinclair said blood needs fluctuate and during this visit to Whangārei the Blood Service hopes to pull in as many donors as possible with O negative blood type. Nationwide, that's the current push, he said.
Only about nine per cent of the population are ''O negs'' — but they're the donors whose ''universal'' blood type can be given to very sick babies, accident and emergency cases or other vulnerable patients.
All blood types are welcome, though.
Most donated blood is processed into plasma, red cells and platelets, and has a shelf life of 35 days. Large amounts of plasma are needed to make special plasma protein concentrates.
''That's why we need constant donors,'' Sinclair said.
About 470ml of blood is taken during the process, plus 15ml for test samples.
That's about 7- 8 per cent of the blood volume of an average adult (or 1.5 cans of soft drink) and it is replaced by the body within 24 hours.
The Blood Service comes to town about every three months and as well as the ''casuals'' has always had a large number of committed regulars.
Many are getting older now, but the good news is a younger brigade of donors is stepping up to the mark.
The Catholic Women's League volunteers are always on hand to dish out the coffee, tea and biscuits to help top up the donors after their good deed.
The Blood Service is collecting at Forum North from midday to early evening until Wednesday, then at the Cobham Oval cricket pavilion on Thursday and Friday during the same hours.