Winston Peters says it'll take two or three more Budgets before the Government can pay nurses what they deserve.

The Acting Prime Minster told Mike Hosking that by then, there'll be more money to get them closer to what Australian nurses are being paid.

But he says there's simply not any more money in the coffers for this year.

"This is a low wage economy. This is a case where Australians are between 25 and 35 per cent in wages better off than all manner of professions than our own."

LISTEN TO WINSTON PETERS TALK WITH MIKE HOSKING ABOVE