Julie Anne Genter
Quick Facts
Biography
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 serves as the party's spokeswoman on transport issues, having previously worked as a transport planner.
Early life and education
Genter was born in Rochester, Minnesota, United States, in 1979, and grew up in Los Angeles, California. She gained a BA in philosophy from the University of California, Berkeley in May 2003. 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. She obtained a Masters of Planning Practice from the University of Auckland in 2008.
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 McCormick Rankin Cagney in Auckland in 2008. She is recognised within the transportation industry as an expert on parking policy and the economic and transport effects thereof, and has advised numerous councils in Australasia on this topic. She has given many presentations at conferences on the subject matter (for example 2008 New Zealand Society for Sustainability Engineering and Science, 2008 IPENZ Transportation Conference and 2010 Local Government Transport Forum), and appeared on TVNZ's Breakfast programme and Kim Hill's Saturday Morning programme on Radio New Zealand National.
In 2010, Genter relocated to Wellington to work for the Green Party as their Political and Media Advisor.
Member of Parliament
Parliament of New Zealand | ||||
Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party |
2011–2014 | 50th | List | 13 | Green |
2014–present | 51st | List | 8 | Green |
Placed in 13th place on the Green Party list for the 2011 election, Genter entered Parliament, with the Greens gaining 14 List Members of Parliament.
Genter has announced that she will be putting her name forward for the Green Party nomination for the Mount Albert by-election, to be held in February 2017. On 12 January 2017 it was announced that Genter would indeed be her party's nominee.
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".