Health NZ Te Whatu Ora has missed a self-imposed deadline it gave for placing graduate nurses into the hospital system.

In June, nursing union The New Zealand Nursing Organisation claimed Health NZ was pausing the mid-year intakes of nurse entry into practice and specialist practice.

Health NZ chief executive Margie Apa denied that was the case, saying the organisation was still working through matching 535 nursing graduates to jobs in Te Whatu Ora and primary care providers.

On 21 June, she told Morning Report the aim was to complete the placements by the week ending 28 June.

"Next week we will be able to - we are aiming to - match as many of those 535 grads both in Te Whatu Ora and across our provider network."

But a statement from chief people officer Andrew Slater says that had not happened yet, and the process had taken slightly longer.

"We continue to undertake the process of matching the mid-year graduates with providers and ourselves.

"It's important we take the time to get the process right for graduates entering the health workforce."

Andrew says Health NZ would be back in touch with graduates next week about their jobs.

"We expect to be back in touch with the graduates in the week beginning July 15, and have communicated that to them."

Ellen O'Dwyer/RNZ