A fresh allegation of intimidation against Green MP Julie Anne Genter has surfaced, this time allegedly getting into a heated exchange with a Wellington florist.听
It comes after the Green Party commenced a disciplinary process into the behaviour of Genter after a confrontation in Parliament last night, which has triggered multiple privileges complaints.听
鈥淭his cannot happen again,鈥 Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson told media at a press conference this afternoon.听
Speaking to听九一星空无限hub听tonight, owner of Four Seasons Florist in Wellington, Laura Newcombe, labelled Genter 鈥渁 bully鈥 after a confrontation last week.听
A cycleway was recently installed outside the florist in Newtown, removing car parks outside Newcombe鈥檚 store.听
Genter allegedly stopped by the florist last week and the pair got into a heated exchange about Genter鈥檚 advocacy for cycleways,听九一星空无限hub听reported.听
鈥淪he was very intimidating. She pulled out her phone, she put the phone camera right in my face and I was like, 鈥極kay, you need to leave now鈥 and then she started yelling and screaming over me that I didn鈥檛 care about her kids cycling.听
鈥淚 think that she should just be suspended because even if she says sorry, she鈥檚 not sorry because this is how she conducts herself. It鈥檚 just not acceptable, she doesn鈥檛 deserve to be in Parliament,鈥 Newcombe told听九一星空无限hub.听
Four Seasons Florist in Newtown, Wellington, with Laura Newcombe (left) and Julie Anne Genter. Photo / Google Maps听
On the fresh complaint, Green Party co-leader Chloe Swarbrick told the听Herald听the party鈥檚 leadership had not known about the incident with the florist prior to Thursday.听
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She said they had spoken to Genter about it and would not be disputing the story. It would be dealt with as part of the disciplinary process the Greens have begun.听
鈥淲e are going through a disciplinary process which means sitting down with Julie Anne and working through the incident as of last night, and obviously what has been brought to light today.鈥听
Asked if she had been surprised by it, Swarbrick paused and then said: 鈥淚 was surprised by the actions of last night [in Parliament]. The position we are in is we have to deal with the facts that are in front of us and we are doing precisely that.鈥听
Asked if Genter had raised the prospect of stepping down, Swarbrick said she would not comment on private conversations that had been held.听
Swarbrick said she had not directly contacted the florist and did not have her contact details. 鈥淏ut I鈥檇 be more than willing to.鈥听
Genter had been told about the disciplinary process that was under way into the events on Wednesday night, and the subsequent complaint from the florist was also now under discussion.听
鈥淚 can guarantee we are absolutely including that in our conversations with Julie Anne. We鈥檝e communicated with Julie Anne about the fact we will be undergoing a disciplinary process, because frankly it鈥檚 unacceptable.鈥听
She said the party would not wait for any potential privileges committee finding on the events to undertake its disciplinary process. 鈥淲e have been forthright about the fact that we are willing to do everything to make this right as far as Parliament goes.鈥听
Genter crossed the floor of the debating chamber in Parliament last night and waved a book in the face of听National minister Matt Doocey. She has subsequently apologised for her actions.听 听
Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter confronts Matthew Doocey in Parliament on Wednesday.听
Swarbrick said they had spoken directly with National鈥檚 Nicola Willis and Doocey today, as well as other members of the National Party 鈥渁nd made it clear the behaviour was unacceptable and we make no excuses for it鈥.听
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said Genter鈥檚 behaviour was 鈥渜uite unbelievable鈥. He had checked in with Doocey last night.听
NZ First leader Winston Peters and Labour leader Chris Hipkins have also said Genter鈥檚 actions were unacceptable.听
Davidson wouldn鈥檛 answer whether Genter had displayed similar behaviour in the past or had breached the party鈥檚 expectations of behaviour. She was limiting herself to commenting on the actions that took place last night.听
鈥淸Her actions] were not good and they were wrong.鈥听
The Greens had an internal MP code of conduct and Genter had breached that.听
Benjamin Plummer is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He has worked for the听Herald听since 2022.听
This article was originally published on the NZ Herald .听
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