The national junior doctors strike kicks off this morning with more than 200 outpatient clinics and 40 surgeries postponed at Hawke's Bay Hospital.
District health board doctors who are members of the Resident Doctors Association are striking for 48 hours, from 7am today until 7am on Thursday.
The junior doctors said they were having to work 12 consecutive days with some of the shifts being up to 16 hours long, which was unsafe for patients and too tiring for them.
A spokeswoman for the country's 20 DHBs has said the 12 days comprise five week days, a weekend and the following five week days.
The DHBs are willing to give two days off on week days but the junior doctors want to be paid for them, which is effectively a pay rise.