Health New Zealand says it's committed to reaching a settlement with nurses. 

About 36,000 nurses, midwives, and health workers walk off the job between 11am and 7pm today. 

They say they're overworked and understaffed, which is threatening patient safety. 

Health New Zealand Deputy Chief Executive Mark Shepherd told Mike Hosking he's disappointed nurses are striking so early in the bargaining process. 

But he says hospitals are fully prepared to manage the strikes. 

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