Anaesthetic technicians at Rotorua Hospital will strike for five days this month, after a breakdown in talks with the Lakes District Health Board over their pay and working conditions.

The Anaesthetic Technicians' Union, Apex, said the board had also withdrawn support for adequate rest breaks between certain shifts.

A Union spokesperson, Luke Coxon, said the technicians wanted a pay rise of 15 percent, but were offered a 6 percent initial increase, rising to 17 percent over time.

Mr Coxon said they were at breaking point.

The strike means any elective surgery in Rotorua between the 18th and the 22nd February will be delayed.