The Employment Relations Authority is readying to wade into a dispute between nurses and DHBs.

The Nurses' Organisation and DHBs have reached a stalemate over pay after both parties failed to reach an agreement in negotiations.

Now it will be up to the ERA to resolve their differences.

The ERA says it's granted the application for facilitation and will begin the process on Thursday.

The Nurses' Organisation and DHBs have both agreed not to comment until facilitation is done and dusted.

Nurses are technically still able to strike during this process.