September 27, 2017
Flavell proud of gains he made for Maori
Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Favell says he regrets not being able to complete some projects, but he can look back at his political career with pride.
Mr Flavell lost his Waiariki seat on Saturday to Labour's Tamati Coffey, ending the Maori Party's 12-year run in parliament.
He says driving the Napier Taupo road this week on the way to a tangi he was able to reflect on how much he had done in his three years as Minister for Maori Development.
"When you actually know there are whanau who have benefited from the mahi you have done – thinking about the St Joseph's (Maori Girls Boarding School) reunion, we gave some money to that kaupapa, that is going to be good. Things like whanau ora and small businesses like Patu on the coast. That's just on one trip and it's probably what I am going to do for a while, just think about the projects that are up and running and are away," Mr Flavell says.
It would have been his last term anyway if he had won, and the job has taken a toll on his family.
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