By RNZ
Rallies of nurses are under way in 20 locations around the country calling on political parties to address staff shortages.
The Nurses Organisation said it was calling on its 57,000 members to unite against unsafe staffing levels and an under-valuing of the work they do.
Nurses are being joined by midwives, health care assistants and kaimahi hauora working in hospitals, aged care, primary health care, Plunket and hospices as well as those involved with Māori healthcare.
The organisation’s spokesperson for Auckland, Kerri Nuku, said the rallies were about highlighting the crisis.