LORD of the Rings film director Peter Jackson is backing a Gwent man's campaign to improve New Zealand's organ donation system.

Originally from Newport, Andy Tookey, 40, and his wife Janice, 39, moved to New Zealand six years ago with their son Bradley, who was three years old at the time.

When their second child, Katie, was born 17 months ago doctors discovered that she was suffering from a rare liver disease. If Katie is to survive she will need a liver transplant. But New Zealand is ranked among the lowest four developed world nations for annual organ donations.

Mr Tookey said: "Basically she has sclerosis of the liver and there is no cure for it. "When you watch documentaries on TV about children with disease like cancer you wonder how do families cope.

"We woke up one morning and we were that family, and it was tough. "First of all we knew nothing about the disease or about transplants. I did not know if she would survive. The liver is such a complex organ.

"But I did some research and found out that transplants are over 90 per cent successful. Then I did some more research and found that New Zealand was the fourth worst in the world for the number of transplants it has and then I tried to find out why.

"I discovered it was the system that was at fault, it's in a mess over here and I set about to try and change it."

Mr Tookey started lobbying politicians about the situation and his story appeared in the local media.

Peter Jackson, the film director, heard about the family's plight and offered his support. Without a big rise in donations the likelihood of a liver coming available for ailing Katie is very small.

This is because the organ donor programme, which operates primarily through the consent option on New Zealand drivers' licences, has not been embraced by the public at large.

"It all comes down to education, both public and professional, which is lacking due to insufficient funding," said Mr Tookey.

Despite being 30,000 miles away, the Tookey's family in Newport are right behind them. Mr Tookey said: "It's hard for my mum because she is on the other side of the world, but it's good to have the support of my family, even though they are such a long way away."

Three weeks ago the family celebrated the birth of a healthy baby boy, Gregory. They are now also celebrating the launch of a government inquiry into organ donation and how to make it easier to become an organ donor.