The New Zealand Nurses Organisation says its 30,000 members who work in DHBs have voted overwhelmingly to reject a second offer in their current round of multi-employer collective agreement negotiations.

This means the eight-hour strike planned for Wednesday, June 9, will go ahead affecting all public hospitals and DHB facilities.

The ballot closed today at Noon and NZNO Lead Advocate David Wait says he's pleased at the exceptionally high voter turnout and at the member unity the result reveals.

"Members are facing serious nursing workforce issues, with pay rates that do not attract people into the profession or retain the people we have, and staffing levels which stretch them to breaking point, putting them and their patients at risk.

"This second DHB offer has not significantly changed and does not address these issues. Our members are genuinely concerned that nursing shortages would increase if it was accepted, and that standards of care for all in Aotearoa New Zealand would suffer as a result."

Wait says the thing that made the rejected offer different was the inclusion of a lump sum payment of $4000 (gross and pro rata), which was a part payment on back pay that would be owed to members through the pay equity claim, which should be settled by the end of the year.

"Members know that lump sum payments do not lift actual rates of pay, which impacts on the long-term issues of a health system that values nurses and their work, attracts new people into the profession and encourages others back from overseas.

"They also find it unfair that they are being asked to wait for the pay equity process, when there is uncertainty about when this will happen or what the results will be."

He says NZNO members are resolute and further strike action can't be ruled out.

In the Bay of Plenty, the Bay of Plenty and Lakes DHBs say contingency planning meetings have been held regularly since the two DHBs received notice of eight hours of strike action by the NZNO.

Contingency planners at both DHBs are working closely with managers and clinical leaders on ensuring the continuing provision of essential emergency services including acute surgery, emergency department care, intensive care, and maternity care.

The strike is scheduled to start at 11am and finish at 7pm, meaning it will cover two nursing shifts.

All elective surgery cases and nearly all outpatient clinics are being deferred for the day of the strike.

Those people whose procedures and appointments are being deferred are being contacted individually by the BOP and Lakes DHBs.