District health boards will know by late October if junior hospital doctors will accept a new pay offer.
The two sides completed two days of talks on Wednesday and the DHBs are understood to have offered the doctors a pay rise of 2% under a variation to their existing contract.
Neither side will comment on the proposal.
Radio New Zealand's health correspondent reports this would give both sides at least five months to resolve wider employment issues.
It is also understood that the Resident Doctors' Association will recommend to its members members they accept the offer.
The union has until 20 October to respond.
