Nurses protested opposite Tauranga Hospital this afternoon to raise awareness of issues, including under payment and short staffing.
Signs with "We are here because we care" written in bold letters were held high and cars tooted as nurses rallied on Cameron Rd opposite the hospital between noon and 1pm.
Angela Neil of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation said Bay of Plenty nurses were physically and mentally tired of being undervalued and underpaid.
"There is no downtime for nurses and those in the health-care system," Neil said. "They want to get paid what they are worth."
Helen Tuck, a registered nurse at Tauranga Hospital, said New Zealand nurses were tired of being undervalued.