The country's three top health directors have resigned - including Dr Ashley Bloomfield.
The triple exodus from the Ministry of Health comes as the Omicron outbreak peaks in some regions, and healthcare workers say they're struggling.
On Wednesday the head of the nurses' organisation Anne Daniels told Morning Report nurses are overwhelmed.
Corin Dann asked Minister of Health Andrew Little if he would have preferred the departing directors had stayed on to oversee the looming nationwide health reforms.
