WELLINGTON, March 13 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's Health Minister David Clark said on Wednesday the government is progressing legislation aimed at increasing the number of life-saving organ transplants for New Zealanders through improved donation rates.

The Organ Donors and Related Matters Bill introduced on Wednesday enables the New Zealand Blood Service to take on the role of a national organ donation service.

"While New Zealand's organ donation rates are improving, they are still relatively low compared with other countries," Clark said in a statement.

The bill also amends the Compensation for Live Organ Donors Act 2016, which gives qualifying donors financial compensation while they recuperate.

In 2018, there were 62 deceased donors who enabled 192 recipients to receive kidney, liver, lung, heart or pancreas transplants in New Zealand, and many more recipients received tissue transplants.

There were also 84 live donor kidney transplants and two live donor liver transplants, according to the minister.