Fresh bullying allegations emerge against Green MP Julie Anne Genter, Wellington florist calls her a bully

A new bullying allegation has emerged against Green MP Julie Anne Genter, this time allegedly getting into a heated exchange with a Wellington florist.

It comes after the Green Party launched a disciplinary process over Genter’s behavior following a confrontation in Parliament last night, which has sparked multiple complaints about privilege.

“This cannot happen again,” Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson told the media at a press conference this afternoon.

speaking to news center Tonight, owner of Four Seasons Florist in Wellington, Laura Newcombe, branded Genter a “bully” after a confrontation last week.

A cycle lane was recently installed outside the flower shop in Newton, eliminating parking outside the Newcombe store.

Genter allegedly stopped by the flower shop last week and the pair got into a heated exchange over Genter’s advocacy for bike lanes. news center reported.

“She was very intimidating. She took her phone out of her, put the phone camera right in my face and I said, ‘Okay, you have to go now’ and then she started yelling and screaming at me that I didn’t care that her kids rode bikes.

“I think they should just suspend her because even though she apologizes, she’s not sorry because that’s how she behaves. She is just not acceptable, she does not deserve to be in Parliament,” Newcombe said. news center.

Regarding the new complaint, Green Party co-leader Chloe Swarbrick told the Herald The party leadership did not know anything about the incident with the florist until Thursday.

She said they had spoken to Genter about it and would not discuss the story. It would be dealt with as part of the disciplinary process that the Greens have initiated.

“We are going through a disciplinary process which means sitting down with Julie Anne and discussing the incident last night and obviously what has come to light today.”

Asked if he was surprised, Swarbrick paused and then said: “I was surprised by last night’s actions (in Parliament). “The position we are in is that we have to deal with the facts in front of us and we are doing just that.”

When asked if Genter had raised the possibility of resigning, Swarbrick said he would not comment on the private conversations that had been held.

He said he had not contacted the florist directly and did not have their contact details. “But he would be more than willing to do it.”

Genter had been informed about the disciplinary process that was being carried out for the events of Wednesday night and now the florist’s subsequent complaint was also being discussed.

“I can guarantee that we will absolutely include that in our conversations with Julie Anne. “We have told Julie Anne that we are going to go through a disciplinary process because, frankly, it is unacceptable.”

He said the party would not wait for a possible privileges committee to determine the facts before launching its disciplinary process. “We have been upfront about the fact that we are willing to do everything we can to fix this as far as Parliament is concerned.”

Genter walked across the floor of Parliament last night and waved a book at National Minister Matt Doocey. He later apologized for his actions.

Mr Swarbrick said they had spoken directly today to National’s Nicola Willis and Doocey, as well as other members of the National Party “and they made it clear that the behavior was unacceptable and we make no excuses for it”.

Premier Christopher Luxon said Genter’s behavior was “quite incredible”. He had talked to Doocey the night before.

NZ First leader Winston Peters and Labor leader Chris Hipkins have also said Genter’s actions were unacceptable.

Davidson did not answer whether Genter had displayed similar behavior in the past or violated the party’s behavioral expectations. He limited himself to commenting on the actions that took place last night.

“(Their actions) were not good and they were wrong.”

The Greens had an internal MP code of conduct and Genter had violated it.