New Zealand lawmaker cycles to hospital to give birth

August 19, 2018 12:26 AM

SUSANNAH CULLINANE, CNN

Posted: August 19, 2018 12:26 AM

Updated: May 24, 2021 9:12 PM

by SUSANNAH CULLINANE, CNN

New Zealand lawmaker cycles to hospital to give birth — AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 26: Green candidate for Mt Roskill Julie Anne Genter arrives in typical Green style as New Zealanders go to the polls during the 2011 General Election on November 26, 2011 in Auckland, New Zealand. John Key of the National Party looks set to be returned as Prime Minister; with more than 98 per cent of the votes counted the National Party has received 48 per cent of votes. Labour has suffered a large loss compared to the previous election, picking up just 27 per cent of the national vote. The Greens have increased their representation in Parliament after gaining more than 10 per cent, and New Zealand First will be a part of Parliament after gaining more than five percent of the vote. (Photo by Shane Wenzlick/Getty Images)

A New Zealand lawmaker made her own way to a hospital to have her baby, covering the kilometers from her suburban home to a maternity ward on a bicycle.

The move neatly ties together Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter’s roles as Minister for Woman and Associate Minister for Transport and for Health.

Genter, 42 weeks pregnant, posted a photo on Instagram of her ride to Auckland City Hospital Sunday morning local time.

“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,” she wrote.

The Green Party tweeted that Genter’s pregnant cycle ride was “the most onbrand thing ever.”

Genter is a strong cycling advocate. Announcing her pregnancy in February, she posted an image to Facebook of a couple on bikes with a baby saying “we’re going to have to get an additional seat for the bikes.”

U.S.-born Genter moved to New Zealand in 2006 and has been a member of the country’s Parliament since 2011. Her left-wing Green Party supports the current coalition government led by the Labour Party.

Labour Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern recently made world headlines after giving birth at the same hospital that was Genter’s weekend cycling destination.

Ardern was the first world leader in nearly 30 years to have a child while in office and took six weeks maternity leave before returning to work earlier this month.

Genter has said she will take three-months leave from her ministerial duties following the birth of her baby.