In 2017, the Māori Party was voted out of Parliament - a loss which almost destroyed its former leader, Te Ururoa Flavell.

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*The views expressed in this interview are the honestly held opinion of Te Ururoa Flavell

In 2017 the Māori Party was voted out of Parliament - a loss which almost destroyed its former leader Te Ururoa Flavell.

"It destroyed me and my belief in our people" - Te Ururoa Flavell opens up to Mantangireia presenter Maiki Sherman about that election defeat and the highs and lows of more than a decade with the Māori Party at Parliament.

On the eve of the Foreshore and Seabed hīkoi in 2004 - Te Ururoa Flavell stood on the steps of Parliament.

It was a cold night and the sun had long faded.

He was with his future Māori Party MP Hone Harawira, going over the logistical details for the protest hīkoi the next day.

Looking out from the steps that evening, Flavell recalls seeing two people walking out of Parliament - one being Dame Tariana Turia.

"To see her walk out I was pretty in awe," he said.

Ms Turia had not long left the Labour Party in protest over the foreshore and seabed debate, remaining in parliament as an independent MP.

It was a loneliness, he said, that was evident that night.

"I was taken aback," he said.

"She's by herself, she's got nobody around her, nobody knows her in this place - or they don't want to know her because of her stand.

"I was sort of moved and motivated by that to think, jeez we've got to look after her and support her on this because she's by herself."

The next day, tens of thousands of people made their voices heard during the Foreshore and Seabed hīkoi.

From that protest and unity, the Māori Party was born, and Dame Tariana Turia and Sir Pita Sharples led the party into parliament alongside Te Ururoa Flavell and Hone Harawira.

It would be the start of a 12 year career in Parliament for Te Ururoa Flavell.

"Being away from home, being away from partners, from tamariki, it was huge.

"To be truthful... probably after a year I wanted to go home," he said.

It was a feeling which remained but one he would push aside in order to represent those who put their faith in him.

"I was never ever comfortable in this place if I put my hand on my heart.

"It was just hard. Just emotionally, physically hard, and the funny thing is when I finished here, it was hard to leave," he said.

One of the early challenges for Te Ururoa Flavell was the breakdown within the caucus regarding fellow MP Hone Harawira…

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details