Rotorua will host one of 15 nationwide marches and rallies today, coinciding with International Nurses Day.
The protests are being organised by the Nurse Florence #hearourvoice social media movement which was launched on Facebook in March.
Nurse Florence is not affiliated with any nursing organisation or union.
The movement's Facebook page is full of posts citing unsafe working conditions, short staffing and inadequate pay.
Today the Wellington march will be heading to Parliament at midday to deliver a petition with more than 30,000 signatures calling for safer staffing and better pay for nurses.
Registered nurse Tracey Sebire has been organising the Rotorua march around her shifts in surgical theatre.
She has worked for the Lakes District Health Board for three years but began nursing in 1986.
The Rotorua march will start at midday from the Village Green opposite QE Health.
It will head down Fenton St, turn right onto Arawa St, left on to Tutanekai St then left down Amohau St to finish outside Rotorua Central Mall around 1pm.
Since April 23, New Zealand nurses have been voting on whether to take two full days of strike action, as they demand better pay and working conditions from district health boards.
The vote follows members' rejection of a 2 per cent pay rise from DHBs.
An independent panel was set up last month to try to resolve issues.
If nurses agree, strike action will go ahead if the panel cannot reach an agreement.
New Zealand Nurses Organisation industrial services manager Cee Payne said last month: "The possible strike action will consist of two strikes for 24 hours each commencing at 7am. The committee has proposed a week in between the two strikes."
The ballot is open for 30 days, with postal ballots due back on May 22 and online votes due on May 25 at 5pm.
A disregard for authority could be why those attending court are thumbing their noses.