Dame Tariana Turia has started off her first Whanganui District Health Board meeting by reminding the board of their cultural duty.
At the WDHB meeting a proposal was put forward to attend a two day conference on patient centred care.
However when board member Harete Hipango pointed out that the day falls on the birthday of Tahupōtiki Wiremu (TW) Rātana there was some talk of continuing the conference anyway.
Dame Tariana reminded the board of their cultural responsibility.
"Can I just say that part of the responsibility of the board is to know and understand the cultural days, and I would have thought the Ratana 24th, 25th would be known, so it is my surprise that you would think of having the training on that particular time."