Julie Anne Genter

Julie Anne Genter MP (/ˈdʒɛntər/; born 17 December 1979) is an American-born New Zealand politician who is a member of the House of Representatives representing the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand. She served as the Minister for Women, Associate Minister for Health and Associate Minister for Transport during the first term of the Sixth Labour Government.[1] She holds dual citizenship of New Zealand and the United States.[2]

The Honourable

Julie Anne Genter

MP
Genter in 2017
15th Minister for Women
In office
26 October 2017 – 6 November 2020
Prime MinisterJacinda Ardern
Preceded byPaula Bennett
Succeeded byJan Tinetti
Member of Parliament
for Green party list
Assumed office
26 November 2011 (2011-11-26)
Personal details
Born (1979-12-17) 17 December 1979
Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
Political partyGreen
Domestic partnerPeter Nunns
Children1
Alma mater
WebsiteGreen Party profile

Early life and education

Genter was born in Rochester, Minnesota, United States, in 1979, and grew up in Los Angeles, California.[3] She gained a BA in philosophy from the University of California, Berkeley in May 2003.[4] She then moved to France and in July 2005, she obtained a post-graduate certificate in International Political Studies from Institut d'études politiques in Paris.[4] She obtained a Masters of Planning Practice from the University of Auckland in 2008.[5]

Professional life

Genter has worked as a transportation planner since coming to New Zealand in 2006. She was initially employed by Sinclair Knight Merz in Auckland (2006–2007) before starting with MRCagney (formerly McCormick Rankin Cagney) in Auckland in 2008.[4]

She is recognised within the transportation industry as an expert on parking policy and the economic and transport effects thereof,[6] and has advised numerous councils in Australasia on this topic.[7] She has given many presentations at conferences on the subject matter (for example 2008 New Zealand Society for Sustainability Engineering and Science,[8] 2008 IPENZ Transportation Conference[9] and 2010 Local Government Transport Forum[10]), and appeared on TVNZ's Breakfast programme[11][12] and Kim Hill's Saturday Morning programme on Radio New Zealand National.[7]

Member of Parliament
New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2011–2014 50th List 13 Green
2014–2017 51st List 8 Green
2017–2020 52nd List 3 Green
2020–present 53rd List 4 Green
Genter in 2017

In opposition, 2011–2017

Placed in 13th place on the Green Party list for the 2011 election,[13] Genter entered Parliament, with the Greens gaining 14 List Members of Parliament.[14][15]

In July 2015 Genter became the third ever female MP to hold a finance portfolio, alongside the Transport and Youth portfolios.[16] The departure of long-standing Health Spokesperson Kevin Hague in September 2016 led to her taking on the Health portfolio, keeping Transport, Youth, Auckland Issues, and Associate Finance.[17]

As an MP, Genter criticised the Fifth National government for spending billions of dollars on motorways,[18] called for a nationwide mental health inquiry,[19] and questioned Health Minister Jonathan Coleman on his use of a Coca-Cola funded study.[20] In January 2017 Genter criticised former Green Party issues director Laila Harré, stating that the reason Harré gave for resigning from the Greens was not factual. Genter quickly apologised to Harré stating "regret any slight to your integrity".[21]

In late 2016 Genter announced that she would be putting her name forward for the Green Party nomination for the Mount Albert by-election, to be held in February 2017.[22][23][24] On 12 January 2017 it was announced that Genter would indeed be her party's nominee.[25] Genter came second in the election, with 1,564 votes.[26]

Genter stated that she rebuffed an approach by Gareth Morgan to waka-jump to his The Opportunities Party (TOP) in July 2017, though TOP denied any "formal" approach had been made.[27] At the 2017 election, Genter was re-elected to parliament via the Green Party list.[28]

In Government, 2017–present

Following the formation of a Labour–New Zealand First coalition government in October 2017 with the support of the Greens, Genter was appointed Minister for Women and Associate Minister of both Health and Transport.[29][1] Genter chose to take her oath to the Crown in the Māori language, along with other members, for which she was praised by political colleagues and members of the public.[30]

On 24 May 2018 Genter (as Associate Minister of Transport) was given responsibility for Civil Aviation after Transport Minister Phil Twyford violated civil aviation law by making an unauthorized phone call on a domestic flight during takeoff.[31][32]

During the 2020 New Zealand election that occurred on 17 October, Genter was re-elected to Parliament on the party list.[33] Based on full results released on 6 November, the Greens captured 7.9% of the popular vote (226,754).[34]

On 9 November 2020, Genter was granted retention of the title "The Honourable" for life, in recognition of her term as a member of the Executive Council.[35]

After relinquishing her ministerial roles Genter was named Green Party spokesperson for Building and Construction, COVID-19 Response, Customs, Energy and Resources, Finance, Infrastructure, Local Government, State Owned Enterprises, Transport, Urban Development.[36]

Personal life

On 18 February 2018, Genter announced that she was pregnant,[37] having previously revealed publicly that she suffered a series of miscarriages.[38] On 21 August, Genter gave birth to a baby boy, announcing the news on her social media.[39] She made international headlines after she—accompanied by her partner—cycled to Auckland Hospital to be induced.[40] In early 2019, Genter and her partner, Peter Nunns, moved to live in Wellington.[41]

References
  1. Mann, Britt (4 March 2018). "Julie Anne Genter: Minister for Women, mother-to-be, full-time feminist". Stuff. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  2. "Genter, Julie-Anne". Hansard Reports. New Zealand Parliament. 27 May 2014.
  3. "Greens buoyed by prospect of having 15 MPs". The New Zealand Herald. 5 November 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  4. Genter, Julie Anne (2010). "Julie Anne Genter" (PDF). www.julieanne.co.nz. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  5. "Julie Anne Genter". julieanne.co.nz. Archived from the original on 20 November 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  6. "Julie-Anne Genter information". Living Streets Aotearoa. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  7. "Saturday Morning". Radio New Zealand National. 13 November 2010. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  8. Genter, Julie Anne (2008), "How minimum parking standards underpin car dependence: the new parking management paradigm" (PDF), New Zealand Society for Sustainability Engineering and Science 2008 Conference, New Zealand Society for Sustainability Engineering and Science
  9. Genter, Julie Anne (2008), "The Missing Link: Parking as the integration of transportation and land use" (PDF), 2008 IPENZ Transportation Conference, Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand
  10. Genter, Julie Anne (2010), "The real cost of parking – Impacts on transportation and land use", 2010 Local Government Transport Forum, Local Government Transport Forum, archived from the original on 4 March 2016
  11. "Julie Anne on TVNZ's Breakfast". julieanne.co.nz. Archived from the original on 22 December 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  12. "Breakfast: Wednesday December 9". TVNZ. 9 December 2009. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  13. "2011 election candidates". Green Party. Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
  14. Trevett, Claire (27 November 2011). "National soars as Labour put to the sword". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
  15. "Big batch of new MPs for Parliament". TVNZ. 28 November 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  16. "Greens: Portfolio reshuffle sees third-ever woman finance spokesperson". Stuff. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  17. "Greens reshuffle their lineup: New MP and new finance and health spokespeople". Stuff. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  18. "When the National Govt tries to claim... – Julie Anne Genter MP | Facebook". Facebook. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  19. "Mental health system crying out for help". Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  20. "Green Party criticises health minister's stance on sugary drinks tax". Stuff. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  21. "Green MP Julie Ann Genter apologises for criticising Laila Harre, regrets slighting her integrity". The New Zealand Herald. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  22. Nicholas Jones (23 December 2016). "Green Party to contest Mt Albert byelection against Labour candidate Jacinda Ardern". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  23. "Green Party decision on Mt Albert by-election" (Press release). New Zealand Labour Party. Scoop (website). 23 December 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  24. "Green Party to stand against Labour in Mt Albert by-election". stuff.co.nz. 23 December 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  25. Jones, Nicholas (12 January 2017). "Mt Albert byelection: It's Jacinda Ardern v Julie Anne Genter". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  26. "Mt Albert - Official Result". Electoral Commission. 12 August 2020. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  27. Small, Vernon (7 July 2017). "Senior Green MP says she rebuffed TOP party call for her to jump ship". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  28. "2017 General Election – Official Result Successful Candidates". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  29. "Ministerial List". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  30. Roy, Eleanor Ainge (26 October 2017). "Jacinda Ardern sworn in as New Zealand PM, promising 'empathetic' government". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  31. Watkins, Tracy; Moir, Jo (24 May 2018). "Minister Phil Twyford apologises for Civil Aviation breach". Stuff. Archived from the original on 13 February 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  32. Bennett, Lucy (24 May 2018). "Grounded: Phil Twyford offers to resign, stripped of role after phone call on plane". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  33. "2020 General Election and Referendums - Official Result Successful Candidates". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  34. "2020 General Election and Referendums - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  35. "Retention of the title "The Honourable"". New Zealand Gazette. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  36. "Green Party Announce Portfolio Reshuffle With Talented And Energised Caucus Team". Scoop. Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  37. "Greens MP Julie Anne Genter pregnant – baby due in August". The New Zealand Herald. 18 February 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  38. "Green MP reveals miscarriage". Newshub. 13 March 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  39. "Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter becomes a mum for first time". Stuff.co.nz. 22 August 2018.
  40. "Pregnant Julie Anne Genter's cycle to hospital makes world-wide headlines". The New Zealand Herald. 20 August 2018.
  41. Henger, Karyn (6 March 2020). "Minister for Women Julie Anne Genter says adjusting to motherhood has been a roller coaster". Now To Love.}}
Political offices
Preceded by
Paula Bennett		 Minister for Women
2017–2020		 Succeeded by
Jan Tinetti
Preceded by
Phil Twyford		 Minister for Civil Aviation
2018–2020		 Succeeded by
Michael Wood
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