The colour of pillowcases at hospitals in Canterbury is helping to reduce the risk of infection and at the same time respect Maori cultural values.
Canterbury Health Board has started using different coloured pillowcases to support different parts of patients' bodies - blue for the head, and white for the rest of the body.
It means pillows touching the body won't come into contact with the head.
The idea came from infection control staff and Komiti Whakarite, the Maori Advisory Committee.
Tahu Potiki Stirling from Maori Health Services says the head is considered to be tapu, or sacred, in Maori culture.
He says the move shows Canterbury DHB is attuned to Tikanga Maori protocols.
