Among her many leadership roles in education, she's the former principal of Hato Paora Catholic Maori Boys' College and Masterton's Chanel College.

Mayor Grant Smith sees a positive future for Marshall-Lobb (Rangitane and Ngati Rangi), who is fluent in New Zealand's three official languages - English, Te Reo and New Zealand Sign.

Despite being a first-term councillor, Smith says the former Catholic school principal would bring mana to the deputy mayor's role.

"Debi's appointment is a real milestone for Palmerston North, with this triennium being the first time our city has had Maori ward councillors and the first time we have a wahine Maori as deputy mayor."

Smith said Marshall-Lobb's previous leadership and governance experience chairing the NZ National Teacher's Council and as a school principal would be assets.

"She has a passion for education and a real commitment to bringing people together and strengthening communities. Debi is the perfect fit for a deputy mayor, and I look forward to working with her."

The mother of four is currently the acting head of Maori department at Palmerston North Boys' High School.

Marshall-Lobb says the 133 ethnicities represented in Palmerston North is a real taonga.

Asked what she would like to achieve in the next three years, she says she hopes she'll be able to look back and see people were not afraid of "things Maori" and could see the Treaty partnership had benefits for everyone.

All the councillors voted in at the election were officially welcomed with a powhiri in Te Marae o Hine early last Wednesday evening.

Following that ceremony, the councillors were sworn in and the inaugural council meeting was held in the council chamber.

Marshall-Lobb's appearance in the council chamber for the swearing-in of the new council was personally poignant. Her mother was a city councillor from 1989 to 1995.

"I know my late mother, Yvonne Marshall, would be looking down and smiling as I follow in her footsteps," Marshall-Lobb says.

Source

• Stuff

Last month, the organising committee for the competition told boys-only schools they would have to swap poi routines for mau rakau - performances using taiaha.

But that change has now been revoked, following Hato Paora's protest.

The original poi ruling, just a few months out from the finals in July, was labelled "incredibly unfair" by Hato Paora College, which is in the Manawatu.

Principal Debi Marshall-Lobb said last month that mau rakau had never been part of kapa haka at the college.

She added that a poi-based routine was already being practised for the finals by Hato Paora when the change was announced.

The organising body, the Kapa Haka Kura Tuarua National Committee, said the poi changes had been supported unanimously by representatives from 14 regions.

They were aimed at making the competition more inclusive by enabling collaboration between single-sex schools.

Under the initial rule change, boys-only schools would not be marked for poi performances if they chose to include them in their routines during the finals, to be staged in Hawke's Bay.

Hato Paora College complained to the committee that it had not been directly consulted over the proposed change.

The committee sought further feedback, and said it had subsequently received views from more than 190 schools.

Then it decided to give single-sex schools the option to perform either poi routines or mau rakau.

Committee spokesman Willie Te Aho said that, of 39 competing schools, only one had objected to the substance of the original poi rule change.

While consultation did not result in "an overwhelming, clear-cut" consensus, Mr Te Aho said, the committee's decision had been welcomed and "the focus now is on hosting a great festival".

Sources

• Radio New Zealand
• Stuff
• Image: Stuff

They have taken part in the Viard Shield athletics competition at Chanel College, played against Rathkeale and Wairarapa Colleges and performed a concert.

Not only did their kapa haka concert at the Masterton Town Hall go off without a hitch, but they achieved an unexpected rugby win over Wairarapa College with a 15-14 victory on Saturday.

Hato Paora principal Debi Marshall-Lobb said the visit had been a delight.

Hato Paora College is a Catholic boarding school which in located near the town of Feilding

Source

• The Wairarapa Times-Age - Hato Paora Back in Town
• The Wairarapa Times-Age - Double delight on field and stage for Hato Paora
• Image: The Governor General