Media and the ACC levy campaign

[RiderInBlack]

OK so far from what I have seen and heard via the Media has fallen badly short to the real message we have been getting at the rallies.
How can we target Media better? Yes the Public gets that bikers are upset about the Proposed Levy Hikes, but are not getting that they should be too. Maybe that is every time we gather it is as Bikers. Maybe we need to have a Media presence that makes us look more like Everyday NZérs.
We also need to use them more. I was watching Tamati Coffey, Breakfast Show roving Weather reporter, in Taihape on his Road Trip and thought we could use something like that. By know where the Media is going to be next and target they there. We would have to make sure that we don't make arses of ourselves though.

Your thoughts Dudes and Dudettes?

[avgas]

We would have to make sure that we don't make arses of ourselves though.[/COLOR]

Your thoughts Dudes and Dudettes?
No gang signs?
No "Hi Mum!"

[ManDownUnder]

OK so far from what I have seen and heard via the Media has fallen badly short to the real message we have been getting at the rallies.
How can we target Media better? Yes the Public gets that bikers are upset about the Proposed Levy Hikes, but are not getting that they should be too. Maybe that is every time we gather it is as Bikers. Maybe we need to have a Media presence that makes us look more like Everyday NZérs.
We also need to use them more. I was watching Tamati Coffey, Breakfast Show roving Weather reporter, in Taihape on his Road Trip and thought we could use something like that. By know where the Media is going to be next and target they there. We would have to make sure that we don't make arses of ourselves though.

Your thoughts Dudes and Dudettes?

Offer him a road trip by bike.

A pass the parcel for us - e.g. I show him the sights around my place, then take him to Hamilton - next person does the same, on down to Rotorua... etc?

Might be just repeating the theme though - turhning it into a "been there done that" ... which I guess raises the option of us doing it for an anchor on the competitive station?

[wingrider]

OK so far from what I have seen and heard via the Media has fallen badly short to the real message we have been getting at the rallies.
How can we target Media better? Yes the Public gets that bikers are upset about the Proposed Levy Hikes, but are not getting that they should be too. Maybe that is every time we gather it is as Bikers. Maybe we need to have a Media presence that makes us look more like Everyday NZérs.
We also need to use them more. I was watching Tamati Coffey, Breakfast Show roving Weather reporter, in Taihape on his Road Trip and thought we could use something like that. By know where the Media is going to be next and target they there. We would have to make sure that we don't make arses of ourselves though.

Your thoughts Dudes and Dudettes?

Yep. fully agree.

most of the media is not state run. It is consumer driven.

You dont buy thier goods, they go down.

If you are not happy with the level of unbiased reporting, dont buy their service.

Use one media to bash the other. Thank those who give us a fair shake and when talking to them, name those that are not giving us a fair deal.

[T.W.R]

Approach TVNZ or TV3 etc to get air time on either of the main media shows..... Close-up or Cambell live; It's a major issue that needs airing in prime time.
Get a representative that is well spoken and has some charisma that can get the message presented with some diplomacy.

[RiderInBlack]

Approach TVNZ or TV3 etc to get air time on either of the main media shows..... Close-up or Cambell live; It's a major issue that needs airing in prime time.
Get a representative that is well spoken and has some charisma that can get the message presented with some diplomacy.Definitely Yes. I'm Surprised that One of the Speakers that was at the Bikoi in Wellington hasn't done this yet (maybe they have I've missed it). Would love the Professor from Lincoln Uni to give Close-up a run for their money and get the real ACC Levy Issue out there.

[RiderInBlack]

Offer him a road trip by bike.We don't need to. He is already on a road trip of NZ, all we have to do is turn-up at his stops. He is running live, just have to time it right. He is at Dannevirke Tomorrow.

[Ixion]

Definitely Yes. I'm Surprised that One of the Speakers that was at the Bikoi in Wellington hasn't done this yet (maybe they have I've missed it). Would love the Professor from Lincoln Uni to give Close-up a run for their money and get the real ACC Levy Issue out there.

I suggested a debate with Mr McLea.

No takers.

Firstly, ACC don't want to debate with us.

Secondly, from the media POV, it's not newsworthy.

Bear in mind that our ACC levies are really of no interest whatsoever to 95% of the population. We are only newsworthy when we present a spectacle- lots of bikes, chrome, leather and so on.

I know it's an important issue to us. But it's not important (or interesting) at all to the vast majority.

The only real way we will get traction is pushing the "You're next" message. There is concern both in the general public and in the media about where the government is going with ACC. That MIGHT (only might) be newsworthy. But we are only a small part of that message, and any debate would probably be driven by someone like Phil Goff.

[MSTRS]

I suggested a debate with Mr McLea.

No takers.

Firstly, ACC don't want to debate with us.

Secondly, from the media POV, it's not newsworthy.

Bear in mind that our ACC levies are really of no interest whatsoever to 95% of the population. We are only newsworthy when we present a spectacle- lots of bikes, chrome, leather and so on.

I know it's an important issue to us. But it's not important (or interesting) at all to the vast majority.

The only real way we will get traction is pushing the "You're next" message. There is concern both in the general public and in the media about where the government is going with ACC. That MIGHT (only might) be newsworthy. But we are only a small part of that message, and any debate would probably be driven by someone like Phil Goff.

3/12. Light fuse. Stand clear.

[ManDownUnder]

3/12. Light fuse. Stand clear.

PURELY A JOKE - but to make the point...

Rig a firework so the fuse burns in 0.1 seconds instead of the usual 10
Invite Dr Smith to light said firework
Offer to take him to hospital
Jack up his ACC levy

[glegge]

I agree, A message has been sent loud and clear, but the larger issue appears to have been not reported at all. Hey its great that maybe we can get our Levy's down, but i for one would LOVE to see NZ have a system that is fair and works for all. NZ is already privatizing too much (it's the prisons now - just after the got the railways back in dis-repair), lets not do it to ACC. lets keep at least one good thing in New Zealand. no blame accident compensation which is fairly paid by ALL New Zealanders in the spirit of the original corporation.
I'd be happy to ticky tour anyone that needs ticky touring. i also would love to see they guy talking figures at the rally - on the TV in prime time, opening up the real figures for all of NZ to see.

[Pedrostt500]

So in reality we need to attack this from the perspective of Motorcyclists being a part of the larger group that is affected by the changes to the ACC system by both ACC and the Government, so maybe we should be asking for those other affected groups to ban together with us so we can have a united front, and show that Joe and Jane Public are affected in far greater numbers than just a small group of noisey Motorcyclists.
As I have said before else where in here each affected group is small in its own right, but is a large part of the Voting NZ Public.
This is a time that we need to give the Politicians of this Country regardless of the party they represent the firm understanding that they work for us the Tax payers of New Zealand, we also need to make ACC such a Hot political potato that it would be Certain Political Suicide for any political party to mess with in the future.

[Ixion]

We are already working with ACC futures , Labour and Greens .

We have to be careful that we don't appear to the public to be just a part of the Labour/left political structure.

The real problem is that ACC is boring. Joe Q , that deep and incisive thinker, doesn't understand it, and isn't interested in it.

Bear in mind, that levy rises for most people for ACC (the levy that gets taken out of your wages every week) are actually higher than our bike levy increases. Yet not a murmer from Joe Q. He's just not interested.

It's really hard to get traction on it. That's why the media have been as supportive of us as they have been and why Labour are keen on us- we are at least putting a newsworthy face on the subject of ACC.

Following that logic, we need more spectacles. More bikes, more chrome, more studs in leather (and chicks in even tighter leather) . Unfortunately, that doesn't make so much progress on sending the message. It's "Ooohh, look at all them motorbikes, cool", not "Oh, those people have some serious messgaes for me"

[NighthawkNZ]

We are already working with ACC futures , Labour and Greens .

We have to be careful that we don't appear to the public to be just a part of the Labour/left political structure.

The real problem is that ACC is boring. Joe Q , that deep and incisive thinker, doesn't understand it, and isn't interested in it.

Bear in mind, that levy rises for most people for ACC (the levy that gets taken out of your wages every week) are actually higher than our bike levy increases. Yet not a murmer from Joe Q. He's just not interested.

It's really hard to get traction on it. That's why the media have been as supportive of us as they have been and why Labour are keen on us- we are at least putting a newsworthy face on the subject of ACC.

Following that logic, we need more spectacles. More bikes, more chrome, more studs in leather (and chicks in even tighter leather) . Unfortunately, that doesn't make so much progress on sending the message. It's "Ooohh, look at all them motorbikes, cool", not "Oh, those people have some serious messgaes for me"

worked it out if all the changes go throug I will be paying around 4g a year in ACC alone if all changes go through... (and I am no on a huge wage either...) and the only dangerous thing I do is motorcycling... no car license... no sport as I am out riding anyway no jump out of planes or off bridges do I get a no claims bonus

[Pedrostt500]

So we need to publish in News papers around the country the amount that the average wage earner paid in ACC levies last financial year and compare it to what they will be paying in the next financial year, also base it on a 2 or 3 vechicle family, and the increased costs of ACC that the additional vechicles bring.
the key is not to use to larger numbers as most people dont think in Millions of dollars or Billions of dollars, those numbers are fantasy to the average working person, also talking in persentages looses most people, the numbers need to be realistic and understandable to Joe and Jane Public.
I would suggest work on the Mean NZ wage rather than the Average, as most people do not get near the average wage, break the costs of ACC down into weekly payments, and how that effects the weekly budget of families, and then project it to payments made over the full year.
Keep in mind most of us kiwis are not statistical anilists, or finacial wizz kids, we go through life one day at a time, week to week year to year trying to do the best we can for our kids and our selves.

[Ixion]

Media already done that. Joe Q yawned and turned to the racing results. He'll bitch of course when the pay clerk gives him his adjusted pay slip next year. But by then it's too late.

How many people on here know exactly how much extra ACC plans to hit them for , apart from the bike levy ?

And we are a lot more clued up than Joe Q.

[glegge]

So we need to publish in News papers around the country the amount that the average wage earner paid in ACC levies last financial year and compare it to what they will be paying in the next financial year, also base it on a 2 or 3 vechicle family, and the increased costs of ACC that the additional vechicles bring.
the key is not to use to larger numbers as most people dont think in Millions of dollars or Billions of dollars, those numbers are fantasy to the average working person, also talking in persentages looses most people, the numbers need to be realistic and understandable to Joe and Jane Public.
I would suggest work on the Mean NZ wage rather than the Average, as most people do not get near the average wage, break the costs of ACC down into weekly payments, and how that effects the weekly budget of families, and then project it to payments made over the full year.
Keep in mind most of us kiwis are not statistical anilists, or finacial wizz kids, we go through life one day at a time, week to week year to year trying to do the best we can for our kids and our selves.


this is the way to go for sure, get it out there how much the increase will actualy in real life cost them...

eg.
family - 1 car, 1 wage earner.
family - 1 car, 2 wage earners.

family - 1 car, 1 bike, 2 wage earners etc.

- hope there are some good mathematicians out there.. cause i'm not!

[Pixie]

Offer him a road trip by bike.



He's a nice guy,But I'm not sure I would like to have him behind me on the bike...or anywhere else if you get my drift.:buggerd:

[candor]

8000 made the ride. Need to strike while hot and momentium up plus at critical time. Reports on ACC accounts and options etc due early next year. I'd target some boxing day publicity - media are actually looking to line up stories for quiet period. I deal with them sometimes, and have got stories lined up by ones who lately called - just as they were prepping for the quiet time mid December on.

Failing direct approaches to pitch them something newsworthy eg bikers swim cook strait to get Nicks attention.... a dollar each gets you maybe a couple full page ads in Herald / Dom post to tell it how it is. There are hundys of reporters - just phone and pitch. Forget about Campbell live - a Police/LTNZ therefore ACC puppet.

BTW with the motor vehicle account heading from 1.7 billion in 02 (6.7B now) up to 13.5 by 2014 per ACC I guess some one here might like to estimate a projected rise for car drivers that will leave bikes one in the dust... then go out and fear monger?

[gwigs]

Could we get through to Joe Q through some sort of email campaign ?
Asking to forward on to friends, family. etc.
Just a thought..

[What?]

An e-mail campaign might have some impact, as might radio advertising (which is heaps cheaper and more effective than newspapers).
But what message to give? - that is the question.

How about something along the lines of:
"Would you like to pay $50 to ACC every time you play your favourite sport? Let National and ACC continue on their current path and you will have that opportunity!"

[pete376403]

The newspaper ad might be the best choice - maybe that is why ACC did publish that quarter page ad, perhaps their spin doctors / PR agency told them this is the best way to get a simple, repetitive message in front of people who have the attention span of a butterfly. And of course the cost was irrelevant in their case.

We need a high roller to fund a big ad in the national papers (if I win lotto tonight I'll do it) showing the public what it's going to be costing them in future.

Would need to show in simple steps how much less they will have to spend because of the ACC levy rises. Liberties can be taken with accuracy - ACCs ad has already show that is acceptable

[MSTRS]

The newspaper ad might be the best choice - maybe that is why ACC did publish that quarter page ad, perhaps their spin doctors / PR agency told them this is the best way to get a simple, repetitive message in front of people who have the attention span of a butterfly. And of course the cost was irrelevant in their case.

We need a high roller to fund a big ad in the national papers (if I win lotto tonight I'll do it) showing the public what it's going to be costing them in future.

Would need to show in simple steps how much less they will have to spend because of the ACC levy rises. Liberties can be taken with accuracy - ACCs ad has already show that is acceptable

No. That is their trick. We need to be 'squeaky clean'. We can be economical with the truth, but at all times, accurate.
After all, if we are attacking ACC's figures and calling them lies, how can we then do the same?