Chris Luxon says the Government would pay teachers and doctors more, if it could.
Tens of thousands of education and health workers will walk of the job, in a massive super-strike on Thursday.
They're wanting pay rises to keep up with inflation.
But the Prime Minister told Mike Hosking the Government is dealing with a limited budget.
He says if New Zealand was a wealthier economy, like Ireland, it could afford to pay its people more.
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The Mike Hosking Breakfast