Health Minister David Cunliffe has lashed out at the leader of the junior doctors' union saying he will never cave in to their "unrealistic" demands.
Mr Cunliffe said thousands of people would suffer from delayed surgery and medical appointments due to the two-day strike next week.
He laid blame for this suffering at the feet of Resident Doctors Association (RDA) general secretary Deborah Powell and questioned whether junior doctors were on the same planet as everyone else.
Junior doctors have resumed plans for strike action after negotiations with district health boards broke down yesterday.
Mr Cunliffe said this was due to the unrealistic bargaining position of the RDA which had only modified its claim for a 20 percent pay rise over two years to one of 30 percent over three years.
"They want more than any other health sector group. They have been offered, I have been advised, a similar increase to their fully qualified senior colleagues, yet they have rejected it.
"57,000 other employees in the health sector have ratified agreements in line with what has been offered to junior doctors.
"In short it is hard to see what planet this group is on."
The number of people who would have appointments disrupted was not clear.
Yesterday he said more than 6000 would be affected directly and this would have flow on effects.
Today Mr Cunliffe said 8000 people would be affected.
Asked who would take responsibility for those who suffered due to delayed medical treatment, Mr Cunliffe replied "In two words, Deborah Powell."
Mr Cunliffe said he would not fold to "Deborah Powell's union" for demands in excess of others in the health sector.
"It doesn't matter whether this strike lasts two days or two months - this Government is not going to fold in the face of such unrealistic demands."
Mr Cunliffe said Dr Powell was responsible for much trouble in the health sector.
"I am advised that over 80 to 90 percent of strike action in the health sector between August 2005 and February 2007 has been related to the negotiations run by Contract Negotiation Service, a company run by Deborah Powell. They represent 7 percent of health sector employees."
Mr Cunliffe said the average first year house surgeon earned $88,000 in their first year, plus 6 percent superannuation, with six weeks holiday, plus two weeks study leave and free meals.
"Many workers would consider that a reasonable package for a first year graduate."
Dr Powell said she was disappointed by the district health boards rejecting her latest offer.
"This was a compromise on behalf of junior doctors and we felt we had come up with a new strategy that would benefit both parties."
The proposal would have assisted with the retention and recruitment crisis, she said.
"We thought this offer would be a valuable step forward in recruiting and retaining our resident doctors although we also had to acknowledge that it was a compromise and would not solve the problem."
