Genter pregnant, still in Greens race

Women’s Minister and Green Party co-leadership candidate Julie Anne Genter has announced she is pregnant.

Genter revealed yesterday that she and partner Peter Nunns are expecting a child in August.

The pregnancy did not change her intention to stand as co-leader or to carry on her roles as women’s minister and the associative minister for transport and health.

Her announcement follow similar news from Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern earlier this year.

In fact, Genter told Ardern and Green Party co-leader James Shaw about her pregnancy on the same day that the prime minister announced she was expecting.

‘‘Clearly, there is something in the water at [Parliament restaurant] Bellamy’s,’’ Genter joked.

‘‘[Jacinda] said ‘that is amazing, let’s talk soon’. She’s a pretty good secret-keeper. I was worried all summer about how I was going to tell the prime minister and my colleagues I was pregnant but it turned out she was seven weeks ahead of me. ‘‘

Genter is now 16 weeks’ pregnant, having found out in December. This is her third pregnancy, after suffering two miscarriages earlier. ‘‘So this has been a surprise – but really welcome and exciting.’’

She is planning to take three

‘‘Clearly, there is something in the water at [Parliament restaurant] Bellamy’s.’’

Women’s Minister Julie Anne Genter on her pregnancy.

months off from her parliamentary duties but a break of only six weeks from her ministerial role.

After that, her partner Nunns will become the baby’s fulltime caregiver.

She found out about the pregnancy when she already had the Green Party’s co-leadership role in mind. ‘‘I was intending to stand for co-leader before I found out.

‘‘I did take the summer to reflect on it, and I still think it is important for me to stand. And I do believe that there is no reason a woman can’t be a mother and do that job,’’ Genter said.

‘‘Previously, when a co-leader who was male had children, he took several weeks off for parental leave.’’

Nunns had been out of contactable range on a bicycle tour with his brother when Genter first got the news, so she had to text him.

‘‘So I’m coming into Thames and I get this text and I say ‘wow, alright, it’s all on!’ – I gave her a ring back immediately,’’ Nunns said.

He was looking forward to being a stay-at-home dad. When asked what he thought his biggest parenting challenges would be, Nunns quipped ‘‘breastfeeding’’.

Genter said it was sad it had taken this long for New Zealand to be in a position where two members of the executive were pregnant.

‘‘I think it shows that women of our age have been under-represented in politics.

‘‘It’s an amazing coincidence. But it’s also fantastic for our country to be able to show progressive leadership on this.

‘‘If we’re going to close the gender pay gap and if we’re going to achieve equality for women, we are going to have find a way to support women to have families and careers at the same time.’’

Ardern congratulated Genter on Twitter yesterday, saying it was ‘‘very exciting news’’.

Marama Davidson, her rival for the co-leadership role, congratulated Genter publicly on Facebook soon after the announcement.

Shaw also congratulated Genter, saying the entire Green Party caucus was behind her.