Organs campaigner gets star treatment

A NEWPORT man was among the first people in the world to see the latest Lord of the Rings film.

Film director Peter Jackson has backed Newport-born Andy Tookey's battle to improve the organ donor system in New Zealand.

He discovered his adopted country had one of the lowest donor rates in the developed world after being told his daughter Katie, now aged two, would need a life-saving liver transplant for a condition known as Biliary Atresia.

As well as attending the glittering world premiere of Return of the King, Mr Tookey spoke at some related events in Wellington.

He received good news about his campaign just hours before he was due to address a function, where guests included the Prime Minister.

Mr Tookey petitioned the New Zealand Parlia-mentary Select Committee, who held an inquiry into the donor shortage earlier this year.

Last week they released their findings which backed Mr Tookey - to his delight and surprise.

"The report was 100 per cent in my favour, which is highly unusual as I would have expected the government members on the committee to follow the party line but they didn't.

"Though we have won that battle, we haven't yet won the war, as the government can choose to ignore the committee's report."

He added that the government were due to respond by February. In the meantime, Mr Tookey is hoping to put together an education package for schools and is currently looking at the James Redford Institute educational program. James is the son of actor Robert Redford and has the same disease as Katie.

Mr Tookey said his daughter continues to be well. "Most children with Biliary Atresia need a transplant by age one, Katie has now turned two - just as well as the wheels of justice turn very slowly."

He said Peter Jackson had been wonderful in his support and the premiere had been an unforgettable experience.

He is hoping that the money raised at the functions will go towards paying for TV air time for an organ donor advertisement made by talented young film maker Cameron Duncan.