WELLINGTON: New Zealand’s Minister for Women Julie Anne Genter has taken the cycle of life to a whole new level, biking her way to hospital for the birth of her first child.

Genter, a Green MP and keen cyclist, chose pedal power for Sunday’s one kilometre (0.6 mile) journey from her home to Auckland City Hospital for the delivery.

“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!” she posted on social media alongside a picture of her with her bike.

Genter is 42 weeks pregnant, and said in the post that she was going in to hospital for an induction.

She is not only Women’s Minister but Associate Transport Minister in New Zealand’s centre-left government, advocating for sustainable travel.

Her Green Party colleagues tweeted that the bicycle trip to the delivery ward was “the most #onbrand thing ever”.

A party spokeswoman said the baby had still not arrived by late afternoon Monday.

The impending birth comes just weeks after New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern returned to work after having her first child, daughter Neve, in June.

Ardern, who was elected last year, became only the second world leader to give birth while in office after Pakistan’s Benazir Bhutto in 1990.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2018