A nationwide 24-hour strike by more than 36,000 nurses, midwives, and healthcare assistants will go ahead on Wednesday morning, after Health New Zealand failed to meet union demands over safe staffing levels.

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation confirmed the strike will proceed from 9am Wednesday until 9am Thursday, following the breakdown of eleventh-hour mediation talks.

NZNO Chief Executive Paul Goulter said Te Whatu Ora did not present a new offer for members to consider.

“Disappointingly, Te Whatu Ora refused to meet our urgent claim to recruit into roles identified as being necessary for safe staffing,” he said.

Goulter said the union had consistently raised concerns about chronic and ongoing staff shortages throughout the collective agreement negotiations, which began in September last year.

He said union members were determined to take a stand to improve conditions for both staff and patients.

“This strike is just the beginning,” he said.

“At their request, members at Auckland City Hospital’s Cardiothoracic and Vascular Intensive Care Unit and Whangārei Base Hospital’s Ward 4 are balloting on a week-long redeployment strike next month.”

“In Christchurch, also at their request, members are balloting on a two-hour full strike for workers in Theatre, Post-Anaesthetic Care Unit and Radiology at Christchurch Hospital.”

Goulter said if Health New Zealand was serious about safe staffing, it needed to ensure there were enough nurses and healthcare workers to meet patient needs.

“If Te Whatu Ora truly values nurses, as it claims, it will ensure they are not under-staffed, under-resourced and overworked.”

The strike will affect every Te Whatu Ora facility across New Zealand. However, life preserving services will continue to be provided.

A spokesperson for Health NZ said, “We value the hard work and dedication of our nursing staff and we are disappointed that the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) is taking strike action when there is a fair offer on the table.”

“We are concerned about the impact strike action will have on patients who are waiting for planned care.”

The 24-hour strike, set to begin at 9am, is expected to result in the postponement of 4,300 planned procedures and specialist appointments.

While emergency departments will remain open, most clinics will be closed and planned care appointments rescheduled.

Health NZ said, “We sincerely thank the nurses who will be delivering life preserving services and all the volunteers who will be supporting our clinical services during the strike period.”

The agency also responded to concerns raised by the union over staffing levels, saying, “While we are aware of NZNO’s commentary in recent weeks we would like to reassure New Zealanders that Health NZ is completely committed to safe staffing.”

“For us safe staffing in a busy hospital environment includes the skills mix of the staff, the way care is provided, strong clinical judgement, flexibility and thoughtful decision making from our experienced leaders on the frontline. We take responsibility for operational and patient safety decisions seriously as we are accountable for the safety of patients who access our services.”

Health NZ said it remains committed to working with the union “on our approach to ensuring high quality health outcomes for patients and a good working environment for our nurses, midwives and health care assistants.”

The agency defended the pay offer on the table, saying, “We believe the offer we have made to the union is a fair one given our current financial constraints.”

They said the rejected offer would have seen “a new graduate nurse on $75,773 gain a total pay increase of $8,337 (or 11%) by the end of June 2026 once step progression is included. A registered nurse on the highest step with a base salary of $106,739 would see their pay increase by $3,224 to $109,963 by the end of June 2026.”

“The average salary for both senior and registered nurses, including overtime, PDRP allowance, and penal rates, is $125,662.”

Health NZ said it had agreed with NZNO on life preserving services during the strike period, and that hospitals and emergency departments would remain open.

“All patients impacted by the strike will be contacted directly by hospital staff. Any appointments that are deferred due to the strike will be rescheduled for the next available opportunity.”

Their advice to the public is that emergency departments will remain open for acute care, hospital patients will receive safe care, and people with non-urgent issues should contact their GP or Healthline on 0800 611 116.