New Zealand Minister Cycles To Hosp For Childbirth

A New Zealand lawmaker has made an extraordinary commitment to the environmentalist approach of her party.

Greens MP Julie Anne Genter chose to ride on a cycle to a maternity ward to give birth. She ditched the car, saying there "wasn't enough room in the car" and cycled her way to the hospital.

Cycling All the Way

On 19th August, Genter, 42 weeks pregnant, took to Instagram to share a picture of covering kilometers from her suburban home to Auckland City Hospital. She was accompanied by her partner, Peter Nuns.

She wrote, "Beautiful Sunday morning for a bike ride, to the hospital, for an induction to finally have this baby. This is it, wish us luck! (My partner and I cycled because there wasn't enough room in the car for the support crew, but it also put me in the best possible mood!) #42weekspregnant #cycling #bicyclesarethebest.”

The post received many congratulatory and positive comments. Some even labelled her as a "legend" and a "wonderful role model".

Party Supports

This initiative perfectly brings together Genter's roles as Minister for Woman and also Associate Minister for Transport and for Health.

The Green Party also shared Genter’s unique bicyle ride on Twitter. They tweeted that Genter's pregnant cycle ride was "the most onbrand thing ever".

Green Party co-leader James Shaw said, “I’m proud to be living in a country where two members of the country’s executive are able to have children as part of their job.”

Not the First Time

US-born Julie Anne Genter is a cycling enthusiast. In February, while announcing her pregnancy, she posted a picture on Facebook of a couple on bikes with a baby. She wrote, "We’re going to have to get an additional seat for the bikes."

Recently, Labour Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made headlines after giving birth to a baby girl at the same destination as Genter's .

Ardern made a record becoming the first world leader to take a six weeks maternity leave. She returned to work earlier this month.

Ardern said, "I hope for little girls and boys there's a future where they can make choices about how they raise their family and what kind of career they have based on what they want.” She added, “Julie Anne has been exercising, so it's totally on brand".

Genter will take three-months leave from her ministerial duties. She is expected to return in early November.

Picture Credit: Stuff.co.nz

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Megha Thadani is an Intern with Shethepeople.tv