The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Toi Mata Hauora says unless pay and conditions are protected, New Zealand will continue to lose senior doctors and dentists overseas.

Members are striking next month over the breakdown of negotiations on their collective agreement with Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand.

Executive director Sarah Dalton says Te Whatu Ora is undermining its own health strategy, including its push to increase the Maori dental workforce.

“Only about 2 or 3 percent of our medical workforce are Maori, which is terrible in trying to get a representative workforce. And I would also make the argument that as terms and conditions start to decline – and Te Whatu Ora is saying we want more Maori to become doctors and dentists – that is a very mixed message,” Ms Dalton says..

She says New Zealand can’t fill the gaps with cheaper foreign staff because Australia is snapping them up to fill its own shortages.

The union has issued strike notices for September 5, 13 and 21.