Auckland District Health Board says it froze all new appointments for two days this week, but is now recruiting again.
The DHB says the temporary hold was put in place on Wednesday and Thursday week while it investigated a $400,000 blow-out in staffing costs for February.
It says an investigation revealed it had 68 more full-time equivalent, temporary or agency staff than it had budgeted for.
The board says the freeze was normal business practice and recruitment has been tightened so it remains within budget.
It says permanent staff and services aren't affected.
But the senior doctors' union says it was a panic response and the DHB is under financial pressure.
The Labour Party says the action was unprecedented from a health board.
