The nurses' strike has begun with 30,000 nurses walking off the job after rejecting the latest pay offer from the district health boards (DHBs).

 

Hospitals across the country are running at the minimal capacity to save lives and cope with emergencies.

Up to 70 percent of the health sector's frontline staff have walked off the job in today's nurse's strike.

DHB National Contingency planning coordinator Anne Aitcheson told Larry Williams the plans are in place to keep everything running today.

"People are prepared, they are very, very conscious to have services available for those who have no choice but to come to or be in hospital today."

LISTEN ABOVE AS ANNE AITCHESON SPEAKS WITH LARRY WILLIAMS