Te Ururoa Flavell on campaign trail at Rotorua business

Construction trainer George Ria and Maori Part co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell hongi. Photo/Alice Guy

Students, trainers and employees at Baia Build in Rotorua were given a lesson on the electoral system and the importance of voting when Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell visited their site.

Mr Flavell stopped in at the construction company as the Maori Party bus made its way across the Bay of Plenty today.

A team of Maori Party supporters were travelling on the bus with Mr Flavell and they brought with them pamphlets that explained the Maori Party policy.

But the key for Mr Flavell wasn't forcing a Maori Party vote but instead explaining the system and letting them make up their own mind.

"Your vote is important and you should do it," he said.

Mr Flavell explained how the general and Maori roles worked within Parliament and how the separate party votes worked.

When asked about the coalition process and who Maori Party might partner with, Mr Flavell said he would "struggle personally" to go on the same side as Winston Peters and New Zealand First.

But he said he would be happy to partner with either Labour or National as long as it didn't mean a "compromise on Maori Party kaupapa".

Baia Build is a small construction company which focuses on hiring local Maori staff.

Baia Build owner Matt De Carolis said their vision was to effectively give young people that live in Rotorua the opportunity to share in career success.

The company hires a mix of skilled and unskilled labour and give them on-site training.

"Local Maori have been among our best employees so far," he said.

"Mr Flavell has been really helpful connecting us to that community and I think he shares some of the same values as myself."

Administration worker Layla Kiel said they wanted Mr Flavell to come and share a bit of knowledge to their staff as a lot of them have never voted.

"I learnt that I can still vote for the Maori Party even if I am on the general role," she said.

"My two ticks will go to them, a reason why is that they fought to raise the age of free GP visits for kids, something that's really helped out me and my kids."