Primary healthcare nurses will hold rallies across the motu today demanding their pay be more in line with what their counterparts at Te Whatu Ora Health receive.
Nurses who work in general practice, Plunket, Māori and iwi, Urgent Care and Family Planning will hold rallies in Auckland, Tauranga, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch.
A spokesperson for New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) said primary healthcare nurses are calling on the Government to "urgently" provide funding to "properly value" them.
"Primary healthcare nurses will be holding rallies demonstrating the unfair way in which they are paid, particularly when compared to nurses who work for Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand."
Primary healthcare nurse in Christchurch Denise Moore said nurses are leaving primary healthcare for hospital jobs for better money.
"I don't blame nurses for leaving primary healthcare for better pay because it is hard to make ends meet on our wages."
Moore said staff leaving adds pressure to nurses who continue to work in primary healthcare.
"Staff numbers are so low and the hours are already long and arduous."
A registered nurse at a Māori Health provider in Tairawhiti Gina Chaffey said she would never leave her job because it's about the people, but she cannot understand the pay gap.
"But why is the pay gap for nurses who work in primary healthcare or for Iwi so big? The Government needs to step up and meet its obligations under te Tiriti."
The strike takes place from 12:30pm until 1:30pm today.
