These moments at home are interspersed between his busy schedule in Wellington and his attendance to numerous hui (meetings) as he is very much known in the electorate as an MP who meets people "kanohi-ki-kanohi" (face-to-face). He said he also liked to stay fit and, when time allowed, tried to catch a boxing class at Waikite Gym.
"I'm away quite a lot. On a normal Parliament session, I will leave on the first flight on Tuesday morning and get back on Thursday night. Then there's hui or people wanting to see you on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday.
"It's pretty full-on and you spend a lot of time travelling. It's certainly ramped up ever since I became co-leader of the Maori Party, my attention is now not just on Waiariki but the whole country," he said.
The former school principal was elected into the Waiariki seat in 2005. Mr Flavell considered his co-leader Tariana Turia as the country's best MP.
"The things she's been able to do in this country is underestimated, to change how the social services are delivered meant a monumental change and shift and you're know that it's working because the catch cry by every government social services is Whanau Ora."
Mr Flavell said that during hui and talking to Maori, he has continually tried to "paint a picture" of how Parliament worked, how it's made up and who sits where.
"I think there is a lack of understanding by the general populace how Parliament operates, who you pick and why you pick the parties. For example it's all very well for criticism thrown that we're in a coalition with the National Party - that is factually wrong.
"The Government is already National, Act and United Future, 61 per cent that's it. We support them for the Budget and we have an agree to disagree clause which allows us to disagree with the Government and we've done that on over 40 occasions."
Mr Flavell said there was still a lot of work to be done and stopping family violence would be one law he would introduce tomorrow if he could.
"We've talked about kooti rangatahi [marae-based youth court] and now there's talk of kooti whanau [marae-based family court]. There needs to be better ways to deal with violence because while the husband may beat the wife, the effect is on the children."
Mr Flavell said while the door remains open to work with National and Labour, it's been closed on another.
"We've been asked why would we not join with Mana [Movement] and the answer is because we're actually philosophically at different places and the other parties will not work with them. Therefore why would we go with them when our whole operation is to be a strong, independent Maori voice with influence."
Te Ururoa Flavell
Family: Wife, Erana, five children and a grand-daughter.
Born and bred: Born in Tokoroa but raised in the whanau home at Waetiti where he lives today.
Who is your biggest inspiration? "My family. They back me 100 per cent and I am very fortunate.
If you could make one new law tomorrow, what would it be? "To stop violence."
Who is New Zealand's best MP? Tariana Turia.
