which comes first: staircase newel post or wooden floor?

[Ula NI]

Hi,
I'm getting new oak flooring put down in the hall, skirtings etc - the joiner is ready to go- however i also intend on replacing the pine stair case in the near future (newell post, spindles etc) for oak, but my question is....

can i put down the wooden floor around the current pine newel post (then get the stairs changed afterwards) OR does the old pine newel post have to come up and the new oak one go directly onto the cement floor before the wooden floor is put down?

I haven't anyone sorted yet for the stairs so is it a case of 'cart before the horse' at the moment?

Thanks

 

[ibby]

post would need to go in first.