Winston Peters is urging nurses, and others, to be patient in their salary demands.

They have rejected an offer from the DHBs of a 9 per cent pay rise, and $2000.

READ MORE: Nurses reject pay offer, demand urgent mediation

READ MORE: Kate Hawkesby: Nurses deserve fair pay

READ MORE: Mike Hosking: Nurses need to be realistic in pay dispute

The Deputy Prime Minister, Winston Peters, told Mike Hosking nurses have had nothing for the last nine years.

He says the expectations of this Government are huge and he understands that.

"Whether you're police or teachers or nurses, whether you're the infrastructural demands or victims of neglect in the past, we can't fix it all in six months. We have had our first budget, give us a chance."

Peters says the Government will be able to do more next year - and the year after

LISTEN ABOVE AS WINSTON PETERS SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING

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