The New Zealand Nurses Organisation and district health boards have been in talks for many months for a countrywide pay deal covering 27,000 nurses and midwives.
Last month nurses voted to reject the DHBs’ latest offer of an annual 2% yearly increase for registered nurses, midwives, healthcare assistants and community nurses, with senior nurses and midwives receiving a 4% increase for 2017 and 2% for 2018.
Staff would also receive a lump sum payment of $1050, and DHBs committed to a pay equity settlement by 2019.
"We have been prepared to tighten our belts over the years, but now we’ve had enough," she said.
"It’s not safe for us and it’s not safe for our patients."
Protests are being held across New Zealand. A similar protest is planned for Invercargill on Wednesday.
Earlier this week, the NZNO agreed to a proposal by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to try to resolve the issue through an independent panel. Yesterday it was announced former speaker of the house Prof Margaret Wilson would chair it, alongside Accuro Health Insurance chief executive Geoff Annals and former Whanganui DHB chief executive Julie Patterson.
The NZNO and the DHBs will make individual submissions to the panel before it makes draft recommendations; the DHBs are then required to make an updated offer to NZNO.
Ms Hoera said nurses felt they could not deliver the best care with current staffing levels.
"We’ve been stretched to breaking point. We have filled the gaps for so long, but we can’t do it any more. There are too many gaps."
