District health boards are urging junior doctors to consider a formal pay offer before voting for further strike action.
Junior doctors striking outside Wellington Hospital on 29 January this year. Photo: RNZ / Karen Brown
It's the latest twist in the impasse between DHBs and the Resident Doctors Association over pay and employment.
The association last Thursday withdrew notice of this week's four-day strike, blaming a technical problem.
DHBs made a formal settlement offer at mediation on Friday, including rises totalling 7.5 percent over three years, and lump sum payments.
They said later that day the union had indicated the offer was unlikely to be accepted, noting doctors were also now balloting for a five-day strike. It would be union members' fifth strike this year.
DHBs said this would reduce hospital services for nine days, and doctors should consider the formal written offer before they cast their ballot.
There has been little sign of compromise by either side in the row over junior doctors' expired pay deal.
A decision is also still awaited from the Employment Relations Authority on whether urgent facilitation is needed.
The RDA did not respond to requests for comment.