Work a flower in with the Maori convert (9)
I believe the answer is:
proselyte
'convert' is the definition.
(term for a religious convert)
'work a flower in with the maori' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'flower' could be 'rose' (I've seen this in another clue) and 'rose' is located in the answer.
'work' could be 'ply' (to ply a trade is to work at it) and 'ply' is found in the leftover letters.
'the' could be 't' (the is pronounced as a 't' sound in some dialects) and 't' is found in the answer.
A single letter 'e' remains which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for proselyte that I've seen before include "recruit" , "Religious convert" , "One now thinks differently" , "Convert to a religion, particularly Jewish" .)