The nurses' union says it's disappointed with Health Commissioner Lester Levy's comments on under-funding

Health New Zealand's finances went from a half-a-billion dollar surplus to a 1.4 billion dollar deficit in April -- it's now expected to blow out to 1.76 billion dollars.

Lester Levy says the agency will be able to increase productivity while turning around its deficit.

Nurses' Organisation Chief Paul Goulter is worried the commissioner is more concerned about a budget than health results.

He says putting more nurses in hospitals is now being considered a negative thing.