RRA New Zealand ????

[Ozzie]

OK, Sick of the rant and rave, now a call to action.

An idea, or seed if you will. A result of constant consideration since Thursday nights meeting.

Responsible Riders Association of New Zealand.

An incorporated co-operative of New Zealand Motorcycle entusiasts and Motorcycle clubs, working with Government for the improvement of Safety and the general betterment of Motorcycling in New Zealand.

Key Iniatives:

1. Representative of all Motorcycle fraternaties in New Zealand, including on Road, off road, motor cross, and track racing.
2. No membership fee, welcoming all riders to make an input.
3. Monthly closed meetings, by annual meetings open to the general public.
4. Representatives on all local government and national government motoring related boards.
5. Representation alongside MoT, AA, ACC in a National Road Safety board.
6. Beginer rider education packs and courses, free if possible.
7. Regular supervised learner rides, where speed restrictions are absolutely adhered to, and best practise is taught and monitored.
8. Motorcycle specific services and specials eg. low cost insurance, low cost loans, rider equipment.
9. Rider assistance services, such as recovery, home assistance if injured in an accident.
10. Public awareness seminars, including representation of the real killers, statistical based analysis of road incidents (independant of government), educating drivers and driving bodies of our story.
11. Charitable runs, working with the community at specific times of the year for toy runs etc. Sponsored joy rides for fundraising, such as disaster relief.
12. Annual donations to a reputable cause eg. Auckland first response services.
13. AA like used bike inspections.
14. Bike reviews, learner recommendations.

How?

Well, on summary thoughts;
1. Approach insurance companies for cheaper rates (eg. honda riders club), claiming a commision on refered policies.
2. Approach lending providers, claim a finders fee, or brokerage charge on refered business.
3. Sponsorship from motorcycle dealers, clubs, magazines, apparell manufactures (eg. Shoei, dryrider).
4. Government input.

Why?

Many reasons, but to name a few;
1. To take a proactive step for motorcyclists to be taken seriously, not just as a bunch of critical hoons.
2. To actively be part of the solution to the road toll and other public issues, thereby increasing our credibility.
3. To ensure we that are experienced do everything we can to ensure safe and responsible riding for those that are not, or those wishing to become motorcyclist.
4. Make it less inhibiting to study, qualify and achieve a motorcycle licence.
5. Provide improved services to our kin, bulk buy, mass incentives, tapped market for insurance people, and loan providers.
6. A consolidated front for consultation by government when issues such as we are facing now arrise.
7. Boost our public image.
8. Subsidise or divert some of the public cost and therefore criticality of us, by providing some volanteer rescue resources for our own fleet.
9. Provide substance to the fact that Bikers are contributers to society that enjoy riding, nothing more, nothing less, and absolutely not a drain on resources.
10. Provide a force of reason in the motorsport industry, including such things as track design of raceways etc.
11. Basically, stop ranting and raving, do something possitive, and be acknowledged for it.

So, who is with me?

I don't for a second think I can pull this off on my own, I don't have the skills or the contacts (not all of them anyway), and I need everyones help here.

Don't like my ideas, fine, make a start at contributing, lets make this work.

Unless we do something, it wont be a cager I need to worry about, I will stress myself to death with how much we are set to be shafted.

First action, come to an agreement, second action, get the info we need for Safe As to run a series of our own workshops. This needs to be sooner rather than later, or it will be too late.

PS. I am immotional, and can't spell at the best of times, forget the spelling and embrace the initiative.

Corey (AKA Ozzie)

[candor]

ARM - Association of Responsible Motorcyclists. ARMANZ (Aotearoa / NZ)
... or Advocates for...

[Brian d marge]

Isnt that how MAG started in uk ??

Clear goals , clear objetives . and small steps

Put me down for any help needed , though I aint in NZ

Stephen

[Ozzie]

ARM - Association of Responsible Motorcyclists. ARMANZ (Aotearoa / NZ)
... or Advocates for...

I like it,!

I've never been good with names.......

[Wasp]

We should start our own government party - if we get the 4,000+ members of kb to vote for it then we might get a few seats!

[Jantar]

I do believe we are united in our aims. I may disagree a bit on strategy and tactics, but that can be easily worked through.

[candor]

http://www.community.net.nz/How-ToGu...ates/Trust.htm

Link provides a Trust Deed you can adjust to purposes. Forms quite easy to fill out, takes minimum 2 trustees and say $20, and if you get onto it you will be registered by end of consultation. With luck.

Its fastest way into business. There is another structure but its more hassle and need 15 to vote it into being.

So far as suggesting a National Board - there is one. And its invite only, and not for outsiders. Its the Nat Road Safety Committe which is running the workshops jointly with MOT. It was set up at World Banks insistence and structured almost to their advice. Except some people like Public Health recommended to be in it were booted out to an advisory panel only. Which gave LTNZ and Police more power.

This board oversees the road safety committees attached to councils which now deliver fragmented road safety services and supposedly build bridges to community. HA Ha - they did real well advising community of this round.

But if you do a rush job with the paperwork on that link you just insert your objectives and do any tweaking you want then register it with companies office (free from memory) then you are an entity.

[John Banks]

I would be in - while I respect the work BRONZ does, something with a clear and simple aim can be so much more effective, and there's no reason not to work beside BRONZ. While I'll hold judgment on any of the ambitions involving money, a politically/lobby focused group could work. I'll get in touch on anything I can do to help.

[Ozzie]

While I'll hold judgment on any of the ambitions involving money, a politically/lobby focused group could work. I'll get in touch on anything I can do to help.

The money thing was to fund the group and enable donations, without trying to charge fees, thereby encouraging maximum involement.

[candor]

"put up or shut up" you say Ozzie. Patience! I'm hearing support from some. The Hamilton turnout speaks volumes. After a night out I'm thinking clearer. I just think your aims are too wide as stated. Its a political battle here. Your group need not be a new club with all the trimmings at outset. Offering that makes people question current memberships /loyalties etc. Stay focussed. Its a big task just the political work ahead - and necessary it looks for riders to act decisively before they screw ya' too. Not knowing bike issues but just going on you KBers alarm at proposals.

Probably most effective is to mimic that MAG grp. Short or long term.
Which requires going thru the consultation process first - even do workshops with their statistics off site and dippy questions (so you can say you did try). Then do a big publicity stunt. The media would love it - and this Govt detests embarrassing scenes that show cracks in their veneer. It is embarrased right now by both traditional constituencys of workers / maori and even mainstream all saying they are no longer for them. This govt is amorphous - a shapeshifter. It only cares about looking good for the media (its friends) in order to stay in power. It is imho and experience absolutely lacking in integrity - so use that to advantage.

If you embarrass MOT Helen will yank them in her office, strip them down and demand a political face saving even if it means doing deals with a bunch of bikers. I know my local MP fears his boss. She has ego - she thinks she is good for us. Rebellion will get her interest. The road toll - environmental issues - all good to push. Push that their plans will up not down risk to bikers. Safety worries (even if uncool to some) are very PC and every one sympathises. Look how far the dog bite dad went with a few soundbites.

If not all those interested here want to go the fulll 9 yards why not keep on with engaging in consultation - advise other bike groups. And at same time se if they want to join a political group with realisticly solely political aims - do it as either a charitable trust or as a political party (?cost 500$) . But if it a trust a trust must not have PRIMARILY political aims so you need a first string to your fiddle eg club is to help educate young riders plus to provide political advocacy.

Then when it comes time for protest action you should have the numbers. Even if only 10 from here - if you can get 10 from each of those other groups
roped in. And ride on parliament... whatever.

I'd be real happy if you did to be honest. As then I could maybe work in too and do my own protest so the MOT would be getting shot at from 2 directions. As I want to protest - 2010 road danger policy and advocate zero vision policy instead with an emphasis on their drug driving inaction (relates as its hard to get it under a 2010 policy see). I have a protest planned but the more the merrier I think. If it all went off together it could be the big theme is incompetency re the road toll and 2 issues highlighted - bikes / drugs

Or even if I protest in morning before parl sits then you all did your thing at lunchtime or after when MPs at home - 2 related protests in one day...?
Call me crazy. But I can see it. The logistics aren't too tricky really.

If you going to do something get it clear what I say - then put up some new explanatory thread here and in those other groups next maybe and see what turns up.

[scumdog]

Make sure you're not 're-inventing the wheel' - i.e. duplicating what BRONZ is already doing, NZ is big on having parrallel organisations trying to do the same thing - while in reality only splintering what could be orchestrated into a single cohesive force.

My 2cents.

[Ozzie]

My view.....

There is no point creating another group that is going to conduct protests and push for change externally.

I see this as an opportunity to form a group primarily for the interests of the biker community, such as training, support services, and other similar things. The goal being, we build credability through demonstrating that we are focused on making biking safer and are willing to be part of a solution, hopefully leading to the opportunity to be on these boards and so on to provide input at the grass roots level.

The two groups, and Candor's could work quite effectively together, sharing resources and working sepparately for a common goal.

eg. this group conducts a number of safeas workshops, putting logical suggestions forward and asking for consideration and inclusion in the decision making process. Then, on any level that we are not having the desired effect, BRONZ can initiate an approach in their typical way.

Many on here have expressed that they do want to have their say, but not as an activist, here is a suggested way we can do that.

[Hellraiser]

At the end of the day you need to get issues into the public arena hence why people protest so that the press gets involved and tells your side of the story. The press (love em or hate em) also have the ability to ask the questions straight to Aunty Helen. e.g.. 1000+ bikes showing up at one of these workshops may get the media's attention so would a slow ride over the harbour bridge at peack hour, by law you only have to maintain a constant speed of 40km/hr on the motorway.

[The Pastor]

e.g.. 1000+ bikes showing up at one of these workshops may get the media's attention so would a slow ride over the harbour bridge at peack hour, by law you only have to maintain a constant speed of 40km/hr on the motorway.

I think that ride would be a good idea, If it doesnt work that well on the first day, do it for a week. (but it peak hour your lucky to get 40kph's.....)

[Ozzie]

Whangarei this Friday, who's going?

Would be nice to swamp them, could do a slow ride over the harbour bridge to sort of announce our departure.

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