What spill? Meanwhile in NZ, an MP cycled to hospital to give birth at 42 weeks
As Australia’s politicians work hard to make as big a mess of our nation as is humanly possible, their New Zealand counterparts are politely refusing pay rises, being frank about the rigours of new parenthood AND/OR riding their bikes to the hospital to give birth … at 42 weeks gestation!
Beautiful morning for it
It seems New Zealand are doing it better – and simply getting on with the important tasks at hand – be it running the country, feeding hungry tots … or giving birth.
NZ Minister for Women and Associate Minister of both Health and Transport, Julie Anne Genter, gave us a glimpse into her pre-birth preparation sharing a photo of herself biking off to Auckland City Hospital (where PM Jacinda Ardern’s bub was also born in June) to meet her baby.
“Beautiful Sunday morning for a bike ride, to the hospital, for an induction to finally have this baby,” she posted on Instagram.
“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”
“It’s an e-bike, and mostly downhill to the hospital,” she added in a later comment. “Probably should have cycled more in the last few weeks to get the labour going!”
Read more about work and parenting:
- How parenthood continues to cost women more than men
- The terrible toll self-employment stress took on my family
- I discovered the true cost of trying to balance it all and it wasn’t working
And pregnant cycling politicians are ALSO the best, it must be said. Yesterday Julieanne shared the results of that very bumpy bike ride – a gorgeous baby son for her and partner Peter Nunns.
“We’re overjoyed to announce the safe arrival of our son at 18.03 this evening, weighing almost 4.3kg. We waited a very long time for labour to start, but when it did it was short and sharp.”
Congratulations Julie Anne and Peter.
No spills here!
Julie Anne is “planning to take six weeks off her ministerial role and three months off her parliamentary duties. Nunns will become the primary carer for six to nine months after that,” Stuff NZ reports.
And thus the families of the NZ parliament continue to normalise the balancing of work and parenting brilliantly. Not only are they all for women (and gents) doing parenthood their own way, they’re keen to illustrate that having babies does not need to sideline women, that both partners should take an active role in caring for kids and that a supportive workplace results in better outcomes for all.
Take note Australian leaders and bosses!
