Tauranga nurses to strike

Mental health nurses at Tauranga Hospital say they will walk off the job in a fortnight after a breakdown in pay talks with Bay of Plenty District Health Board.

Up to 90 in-patient and community mental health services nurses will strike for 24 hours from midday on August 15 and will repeat the action a week later.

Ron Dunham, the board's chief executive, said he was disappointed, especially after reaching an agreement several months ago with nurses covered by the New Zealand Nurses Organisation.

The mental health nurses are members of the Public Service Association.