Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says a culture change, not strict consent rules, is needed to lift organ donation rates in New Zealand.
The Ministry of Health released a consultation paper yesterday, which made a series of proposals to increase the country's organ donation rate. At 11.8 donors per million, it is low by international standards.
Campaigners had called for bold changes, such as a register for donors or possibly even binding consent, which prevented families from overturning a relative's wish to donate. Those suggestions were not adopted by the ministry.
Dr Coleman said advice had consistently shown that a register on its own would not make a significant difference to donation rates.
"It's about changing the culture around organ donation," he said.