Tens of thousands of nurses will walk off the job tomorrow.
Last-ditch talks between Health NZ and the country's biggest nurses' union have failed to stop a nationwide strike.
Health NZ estimates more than 4,000 planned procedures and specialist appointments will have to be postponed.
National Chief Medical Officer, Dame Helen Stokes-Lampard, says essential services will continue - but warns people needing non-emergency care should contact their GP or Healthline first.
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Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive