NZ minister for women cycles to hospital to give birth

A pregnant politician in New Zealand has chosen to cycle to hospital while 42 weeks pregnant to give birth to her first child.

Minister for women Julie Anne Genter, a Green MP and keen cyclist, rode the 1km (0.6 mile) from her home to Auckland City Hospital for the delivery.

She posted a photo on Instagram showing her bike and her bump and wrote: "Beautiful Sunday morning for a bike ride, to the hospital, for an induction to finally have this baby.

"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"

Ms Genter 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 local time on 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.

Ms 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.