More than 36,000 nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants represented by the New Zealand Nurses Organisation began strike action at 9am yesterday as contract talks with Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora became deadlocked.
After a morning march, six nurses travelled to Tomahawk Smaills Beachcare Trust.
Nursery manager Nicole Bezemer said the volunteers helped plant tī kōuka (cabbage trees) in the Ocean Grove Reserve.
Archie Auchinvole said using part of the day of strike action to plant trees was a way to contribute to the welfare of the community
Industrial action was stressful and he knew the day of strike action meant he lost a day of clinical practice time and administration.
"I’ve got so much work to do, but at the same time, if we don’t do this activity, then it just gets harder and harder over time."
Emergency department registered nurse Ollie Alexander said the hospital and emergency department was a stressful place to work.
"So getting connected with nature and giving back is my way to kind of de-stress a bit."
The pressure on the emergency department was constant.
Clear staff-to-patient ratios and more nurses were needed, and seeing people come in and not get the care that they need or deserve was really hard.
When the hospital was full, patients could remain in the emergency department for more than 24 hours.
"Sometimes, you know, that might be a bed in the corridor or in the hallway that they are left in, which is unsafe for the patient and a horrible situation to be in."
Professional nurse adviser and union representative Michelle McGrath said the strike action was less about wage increases and more about having enough nurses to provide clinically and culturally safe care.
Short-staffed, nurses would often end up choosing to do more hours because they would put patient care ahead of their own health.
"Research shows that when you are short of nursing, there is a direct correlation with patient incidence.
"So where patients fall or get infections, or there is an increased mortality."
Health New Zealand chief executive Dr Dale Bramley said the organisation estimated about 4300 planned procedures and specialist appointments had to be postponed as a result of yesterday's strike.
Health New Zealand was disappointed the New Zealand Nurses Organisation chose to take strike action when it believed there was a fair offer on the table.
