Maori Party: A lesson from Professor Flavell (and his chart)

Tame Iti and Maori Party candidate Te Ururoa Flavell. Photo / Claire Trevett

Te Ururoa Flavell is campaigning at university, and it has clearly unleashed the inner teacher in him. The former teacher has bailed up four students at Victoria University, all Pakeha, and is trying to persuade them to give their party vote to the Maori Party.

He has an unusual technique - he does it by drawing a chart for them, setting out which parties will work with other parties, which won't and what it means in terms of voting.

Two of the students are a wasted effort - they've already voted for the man who rebuffed Mr Flavell last week, Labour leader David Cunliffe.

But he spends about 10 minutes with them. They even get a quiz at the end on which parties can work with which. "Can National work with Mana?" "No." "Can Dotcom work with National?" "No." He winds up his spiel with a "boom" and whacks his hand on the desk.

One of the students says he voted Labour. "If people feel they have to vote National, I'd rather they voted Maori Party, though."

It's a back-handed compliment. A few days earlier, Labour leader David Cunliffe ruled out having Maori Party MPs as ministers in any Labour government, saying it was to send a clear message that "a vote for the Maori Party is a vote for National".

But Mr Flavell is pleased when the students ask him to autograph the chart he's drawn for them.

His next stop is a lecture theatre alongside the Maori Party's recently unveiled campaign weapon, Tame Iti.

Mr Iti is there to deliver the party's justice policy. There are chuckles as he is introduced as "the man from Te Urewera, and widely known terrorist". Dapper in a three-piece suit, bowler hat and bow tie, Mr Iti is still on probation for firearms offences. Mr Flavell says Mr Iti knows a thing or two about justice. He is on the party list, but has no desire to be in Parliament - he's helping the Maori Party campaign "to help keep my friends there".

After a life of activism, Mr Iti says he's as surprised as anyone that he's now a candidate.

"I never thought I'd put myself there. For many years, I and many others have been part of 150 years of out-there headbutting. But I think this is where we have to go to."

He and Mr Flavell talk about the high rates of Maori imprisonment, and set out a policy for an anti-corruption commission to investigate miscarriages of justice, and a review of the justice system.

Mr Flavell is clearly sceptical about whether Mr Cunliffe will stick to his stance if push comes to shove; there are more laughs when he says, "I hope he doesn't end up saying sorry again."

It is his first campaign as Maori Party co-leader and while the party still has fellow co-leader Tariana Turia, this election is not the usual job share. Between cooking on breakfast television and leaders' debates, Mr Flavell is doing as much as possible in his Waiariki electorate. He can't afford to take any risks - the seat could prove to be the last stronghold of the Maori Party.

That is partly why he is spending his time talking to Pakeha students at university, because Plan B is to get enough party votes to get other MPs into Parliament off the list if it cannot win more than one electorate.

Asked if he would answer if Mr Cunliffe's number popped up on his cellphone on election night, Mr Flavell says he has manners and it would be rude not to answer a phone call from any other leader.

"Then again, I might be busy elsewhere."

The teacher grins at the thought of putting the Labour leader in the dunce's corner to sweat it out, even if just for a short time.