Junior hospital doctors have voted to strike for a fifth time this year, now that bargaining with the district health boards has stalled this month.

Photo: RNZ / Karen Brown

Members of the Resident Doctors' Association will strike for four days, from 15 April - but not in Canterbury, because of the terror attacks.

Union advocate David Munro said they voted overwhelmingly to strike, though with natural reservations.

"Nobody becomes a doctor to have to go on strike, they become doctors because they want to help patients and make a contribution to the world, so it's something they find very difficult indeed."

Mr Munro said the doctors will have another session of mediation with the district health boards next Friday.