Hawkes Bay protests

[MSTRS]

Right peoples. We need a thread of our own for us locals to propose, discuss and implement ideas for the fight against ACC levy rises. These ideas are open to everyone, or can be in conjunction with what other areas are doing.

But first I need to clear the air, so to speak…
An unforeseen and unfortunate situation arose with the thread we had running, which meant it had to be sent to PD, and then locked. FYI that was done at my request to stop an unpleasant situation becoming downright nasty. Sadly, there are those that may no longer support YT + I in our voluntary role as HB Co-ordinators. We don’t care who fills this role, and if anyone wants to put their hand/s up for it, they will have our support. In the absence of some-else taking over, I guess she and I are still it. Whatever, we all need to remember that we are either for or against levy rises. It’s a complex issue, one that is political in nature, but regardless of anyone’s leanings, the bottom line is ‘What will this cost me?’ And I doubt that there is a one of us who wants to pay more (than we are now). Not everyone is going to agree with any particular protest proposal, that’s fine…maybe offer an alternative? Any protest is going to inadvertently cause some public some inconvenience – can’t be avoided – the intent at all times is to put the issue/s in front of the public, in an effort to educate them, because they know so little, and what they do know is most likely the spin from Nick Smith. The national co-ordinators do not sanction protests aimed at causing maximum disruption to the public, and neither do YT + I. Such tactics may be proposed by some, but at least at this stage, they will not be supported.

Ok, we have a new thread. Let’s get this train back on it’s tracks…

Planning is in it’s early stages for another national Bikeoi. This one is likely to take a completely different form to the first, and may not even go to Wellington. Whoever is regional co-ordinator will keep us all posted as those plans progress.

Regional protests are up to each region. All the regions are autonomous in that regard, but are also watching each other for ideas/copying what is being done elsewhere. Keeping to the principle of getting noticed with minimum disruption, we can do anything we like.

What are we going to do in Hawkes Bay?

[Conquiztador]

I still recon, as a impact protest that can be done easily and quickly, have a handful of bikers parked outside the National MP's offices holding up signs with: "Honk Your Horn If You Are Aganist National Raising ACC Levis". Bikers could come and go as long as there is all the time enough to make a decent impact.

[crazyhorse]

Am happy to support this so long as I have no plans already in progress. Bearing in mind that we are also approaching the holiday season as well.

[Conquiztador]

Sadly there seems to be Xmas function for National in HB or any other functions of theirs to gatecrash...


http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=113347

[MSTRS]

I still recon, as a impact protest that can be done easily and quickly, have a handful of bikers parked outside the National MP's offices holding up signs with: "Honk Your Horn If You Are Aganist National Raising ACC Levis". Bikers could come and go as long as there is all the time enough to make a decent impact.

I like that idea!! Let's make a note of it. Wonder what the cops straight across the road from Tremain would think of it, though?

[MSTRS]

Another thread has posed the issue of us all being lumped as 'bikies'.
We know we are not. And we could have a patch to say so...

[Conquiztador]

I like that idea!! Let's make a note of it. Wonder what the cops straight across the road from Tremain would think of it, though?

Might increase the publicity...

[MSTRS]

Have a read in here (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=113903).
When Nick the Prick willingly lies in public, when the media are present, we are up against it, and we must step up the pressure.

[P38]

Firstly Masters and YT I think you've done and are doing an awesome job and you have my full support.
Well Done!

As for ideas to connect with the general public and get them onside...

How about a local Shine n Show.
Invite the public to vote for the bike they like the best.
Pass out handouts explaining the situation, our stance, how this could affect them and what they can do to help.
Have a petittion drawn up and invite them to sign.
Draw some names from the votes and pass out some spot prizes.
Announce the results of the show.
Invite media to cover the story. etc

[Conquiztador]

Firstly Masters and YT I think you've done and are doing an awesome job and you have my full support.
Well Done!

As for ideas to connect with the general public and get them onside...

How about a local Shine n Show.
Invite the public to vote for the bike they like the best.
Pass out handouts explaining the situation, our stance, how this could affect them and what they can do to help.
Have a petittion drawn up and invite them to sign.
Draw some names from the votes and pass out some spot prizes.
Announce the results of the show.
Invite media to cover the story. etc

Friendly and placid. Sadly I think the time for this is over. I recon we need to up the game a fraction. More noise, more in your face.

[Charlied1]

The Nat MPs park their cars out at the airport most weeks a constant reminder of our plight by means of a handout on the windowscreen. Minor annoyance agreed but at least it is aimed at the target. Note there are security cameras out there....

[MSTRS]

I'm thinking that this (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?p=1129548117&postcount=107) is going to be the format of the next major protest. Pop into Bikeoi 2010 if you want a say.

[pipson]

This is it, this letter arrived today to my Motorcycle club I have taken there name out. It came from the Labour party's Hon Rick Barker & has to be returned by 15 February 2010. Please print out & distribute it widely to family, friends, bikers, workmates etc & return to Parliament.

[MSTRS]

Unfortunately, I'm not sure that it fits the legal requirements for a petition.
I'll get Ixion to have a look.

[Ixion]

No, not as it stands, it needs a cover sheet with sponsor's info etc. But I suspect that Mr Parker will add that once he has the sheets back.

I wonder why he is doing this.

Petitions aren't generally driven by MPs, usually the other way round.

I wonder is Labour are doing this to try to test how much support we have in the general public?

[MSTRS]

I don't actually care what their reasons are. High level support (without strings...we'll see) is to be grabbed with both hands.

[Conquiztador]

I wonder is Labour are doing this to try to test how much support we have in the general public?

They might all be closet bikers...

[P38]

I signed it tonight.

So did plenty of others at the Ulysses meeting.

As I see it we need all the help we can get, no matter where it comes from.

[P38]

Friendly and placid. Sadly I think the time for this is over. I recon we need to up the game a fraction. More noise, more in your face.

You may be right.....

But at the end of the day we need more support than just from other motorcyclists.

We need the support of the general public.

Getting in peoples face may not be the right way to achieve this.

Think how you would react if someone got in your face and made some noise.

[Conquiztador]

You may be right.....

But at the end of the day we need more support than just from other motorcyclists.

We need the support of the general public.

Getting in peoples face may not be the right way to achieve this.

Think how you would react if someone got in your face and made some noise.

I am not thinking we should be in Joe Publics face. Talking about our politicians.

[flyingcrocodile46]

This is it, this letter arrived today to my Motorcycle club I have taken there name out. It came from the Labour party's Hon Rick Barker & has to be returned by 15 February 2010. Please print out & distribute it widely to family, friends, bikers, workmates etc & return to Parliament.

:rockon: That is real good. Better than it appears.

Our continuous protests are being heard by others (incl those seeking a platform to campaign for popular votes) Our disquiet is contagious.

Keep up the protests and more platform seekers will rally to our aid like the selfless Samaritans that they are :laugh:

We gonna win this battle of wills with the Govt :wari::wari:

[MSTRS]

I am not thinking we should be in Joe Publics face.

Actually, doing just that might be a good idea. Does anyone remember the set up we had for collecting sigs for the cheesecutter petition? What about we do that again. Thoughts?

[Taserdar]

any shops or somewhere I can go lay my sig to that petition in Napier?

would like to let others know also via word of mouth .. no printer here so cant do from home.

[MSTRS]

I'll drop some off to FiveStar.

[wickle]

My printer is:2guns:so if MSTR's would like to print one and next time he's passing drop it in ,, I'll put it on the counter at work!

[MSTRS]

Thanks to all who came to the lunch today. I, for one, felt like we were being taken seriously, and that we have friends in high places. And most importantly, there is no requirement to horse-trade...
I have sent Nash a thank you from us.

Hi Stuart.
Just a quick thank you from me on our behalf. I found the 'meeting' very valuable, and I trust you and Phil got at least as much out of it as we did. I have taken on board Phil's advice about continuing with reasonable protests. However, I can't, and don't, speak for all when it comes to this side of things, so who knows where things will go? I suspect that other groups of affected people are finally getting the message, so perhaps joint protests will be the order of the day?
Thanks again
Regards

[Conquiztador]

Thanks to all who came to the lunch today. I, for one, felt like we were being taken seriously, and that we have friends in high places. And most importantly, there is no requirement to horse-trade...
I have sent Nash a thank you from us.

How did I miss that?

EDIT: Done a search and still can't find any mentioning. Clearly I am not in the crowd...:weep:

[P38]

I am not thinking we should be in Joe Publics face. Talking about our politicians.

I agree....

Any bloody Politician who supports this ridculious rourt deserves to get the big serve up.......

But at the same time we need to gather all the support we can get.
Pissing off Joe Public wont achieve this.

I wounder if Craig Foss would come out to play if a few dozen bikers turned up at his house early one morning, with their engines quietly idling :no::no::no:, just sitting watching, saying nothing, maybe holding a sign that says


Who's Next?

Come Next Election

You are !!!!
:devil2::devil2::devil2:

[Conquiztador]

I agree....

Any bloody Politician who supports this ridculious rourt deserves to get the big serve up.......

But at the same time we need to gather all the support we can get.
Pissing off Joe Public wont achieve this.

I wounder if Craig Foss would come out to play if a few dozen bikers turned up at his house early one morning, with their engines quietly idling :no::no::no:, just sitting watching, saying nothing, maybe holding a sign that says


Who's Next?

Come Next Election

You are !!!!
:devil2::devil2::devil2:

I LIKE!! + 10char

[chanceyy]

Thanks to John & Janet for the invite, .. :scratch: why is it the furtherest travelled are the only ones on bikes?? :laugh: but must say it was worth riding in the rain for :yes:

I think some really really good information came out of todays meeting & its something I will be raising with the others down this way on sunday .. I have a weee plan formulating :blip:

[pipson]

Thanks to John & Janet for the invite, .. :scratch: why is it the furtherest travelled are the only ones on bikes?? :laugh: but must say it was worth riding in the rain for :yes:

I think some really really good information came out of todays meeting & its something I will be raising with the others down this way on sunday .. I have a weee plan formulating :blip:

It was good to see you in Napier & not Manfeild. I am glad you made it home ok. It was good to be listened to by a MP & not fobbed off like the last one we spoke to in Hastings.

[MSTRS]

How did I miss that?

EDIT: Done a search and still can't find any mentioning. Clearly I am not in the crowd...:weep:

There is no 'in crowd'. I put out a request for anyone interested, in the other thread. The one that got derailed. I got no response that I can recall (I was trying to deal with the fallout in that thread) so I PM'ed all I could think of. Obviously I missed you, so my sincere apologies for that.

[Conquiztador]

There is no 'in crowd'. I put out a request for anyone interested, in the other thread. The one that got derailed. I got no response that I can recall (I was trying to deal with the fallout in that thread) so I PM'ed all I could think of. Obviously I missed you, so my sincere apologies for that.

Accepted. But I recon that if I was in the "in crowd" you would not have forgotten me... ;)

[MSTRS]

The petition form posted up by Pipson (thanks) is fine to use. I am going to put a few here and there for the public to sign. Since the forms will just be lying on a counter somewhere, they need explanation. I have come up with this, BUT AM WAITING FOR APPROVAL from Ixion as chief co-ordinator.

In October of this year, motorcyclists learned that they were to pay up to 400% increases in their ACC levies on registrations. Obviously this was unwelcome news, and we immediately began protesting, and to investigate the reasoning behind such a huge increase. Very quickly, it was found to be based on grossly distorted statistics and actual lies. Soon after, we found that ACC had many other user groups in their spotlight for big increases. We began warning the country with the “Who’s Next?” campaign. ACC and the minister, Nick Smith, countered this with repetitive falsities in an attempt to discredit and marginalise motorcyclists and their protest. But we won’t be quiet.
Slowly the public is becoming aware of just how much extra is going to be taken in all areas of ACC collections. For most earners, this will be in the nature of $400-500 EXTRA every year, just on your wages. Plus, your car registration will jump by about $150, and your annual petrol bill will increase by around $220. And all the while, at the entitlement end, there are to be cuts. We agree with removing payouts to those injured in a criminal act. But that’s it.
You may have heard that ACC is broke? It’s not. After all expenses last year, they posted a profit (surplus) of $1.2 BILLION. Coupled with a record $11 BILLION in reserves. All these increases and entitlement removals are for one reason only – to prepare ACC to be sold to private, offshore insurance companies. Privatising, in other words. Nobody will be better off. Except big business. And the lawyers, due to the inevitable court cases that we currently avoid under the system we’ve had since 1974.
But don’t take our word for it. Do some investigating of your own.
Contact your local MPs. All of them. Ask the direct questions.
Otherwise, to add your voice to the calls for a stop to this nonsense, please sign the petition.

I will advise as soon as I have answer as to whether it strikes the right tone and covers the bases.

[P38]

There is no 'in crowd'. I put out a request for anyone interested, in the other thread. The one that got derailed. I got no response that I can recall (I was trying to deal with the fallout in that thread) so I PM'ed all I could think of. Obviously I missed you, so my sincere apologies for that.

I would also have attended if I had known.

Maybe next time.

[MSTRS]

I have come up with this, BUT AM WAITING FOR APPROVAL from Ixion as chief co-ordinator.

I will advise as soon as I have answer as to whether it strikes the right tone and covers the bases.

The consensus is that it's got too many words. So I'll send it in that form as a Letter to the Editor.
Back to the drawing board for a coversheet...

[grantnz]

The petition form posted up by Pipson (thanks) is fine to use. I am going to put a few here and there for the public to sign. Since the forms will just be lying on a counter somewhere, they need explanation. I have come up with this, BUT AM WAITING FOR APPROVAL from Ixion as chief co-ordinator.

I will advise as soon as I have answer as to whether it strikes the right tone and covers the bases.

Thanks for the invite to yesterdays meeting. It is comforting to know that we have the support of people in higher places on our side ( even if they are only doing the job they are paid to do as the opposing Party, and that is to Oppose). Phil Goff as a motorcyclist semed to be a genuine, straight up sort of character.
What I got out of yesterday was that we are now, not only the small minority group being unfairly targeted for increased levies, but the first in a line of groups who will be targeted in the future. So, we have been given the dubious honour of saving ACC. We are too small to do this alone. ( Don't you feel like Frodo and you've just been handed the Ring?)The 'Who's Next" message, along with educating the public about Nick's Myth is where our focus needs to be. Your explanation for the petition is great.
Thanks for the effort you two put in, it is much appreciated.

[MSTRS]

Ixion's seal of approval......
If you want to print some petition forms and start circulating them, print one of these for each place you leave the forms at.

[P38]

Ixion's seal of approval......
If you want to print some petition forms and start circulating them, print one of these for each place you leave the forms at.

Cheers for this MSTRS.

Just started my petition efforts today.

My goal is to get at least 100 non biker signatures and as many biker signatures as I can by the deadline.

My Sons going to pass it round his mates.... all of whom will be first time voters in 2011.

Got two non bikers to sign already only 98 to go.

By the time the rest of the family signs over christmas I'll almost be there. :yes:

[MSTRS]

Saw this (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?p=1129556884&postcount=71)
Chris Tremain and Craig Foss would love to get some, I'm sure.

[pipson]

I LOVE IT. We should get every Motorcyclist to send one to there local National MP with a copy of the petition for them to sign & return.

[P38]

Awesome Chrissy Card.

I love it.

I believe I should deliver mine in person to "Chris n Craig" ............ :yes:

Wonder if they'll send one to me?

[MSTRS]

NZ Post are delivering mine as we speak. Fuck the expense of 2 stamps...

[P38]

Got over 30 Non Biker sigs on my petition so far and I really havent tried yet..... been way easier than I expected. :yes:

Might need to revise my original target of 100 non biker signatures.

[pipson]

NZ Post are delivering mine as we speak. Fuck the expense of 2 stamps...

I wonder how many stamps it would take to equal one ACC increase. My two will be in the post tomorrow, I am taking the card & petition to the club meeting to night.

[MSTRS]

I won't be there tonight. Was waiting for some info to divulge...didn't arrive.

[pipson]

I won't be there tonight. Was waiting for some info to divulge...didn't arrive.

The next one is second Tuesday in January 2010

[MSTRS]

I guess many (all?) of you will have seen this unwelcome news (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=114641)
I've already responded to Nick the Prick and to Key, Tremain and Foss.
Tremain has replied with the party line...."Levies are lower - see, we have been listening. But unsustainable etc".
Barring petitions, I think Xmas is now too close to organise anything, so what are we going to do once we're all back from our holidays?

[Bald Eagle]

I guess many (all?) of you will have seen this unwelcome news (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=114641)
I've already responded to Nick the Prick and to Key, Tremain and Foss.
Tremain has replied with the party line...."Levies are lower - see, we have been listening. But unsustainable etc".
Barring petitions, I think Xmas is now too close to organise anything, so what are we going to do once we're all back from our holidays?

Go back to Parliament and repeat the message but this time with 20000+ ..not just bikers but all the joe and joette public as well.

[yungatart]

Go back to Parliament and repeat the message but this time with 20000+ ..not just bikers but all the joe and joette public as well.

Absolutely!
Plus, get that petition signed...imagine how many signatures we would have if every KBer got 100 signatures!

Letters/emails to MP's, letters to papers, and keep talking to every non motorcyclist you meet.
We must keep the pressure on....

[P38]

Very predictable outcome .... But nothings changed as far as I'm concerned.

My goal is still to collect 100 non biker signatures on the ACC petition over christmas and as many Biker signatures as possible.

Still gonna send our MP's their christmas cards.

Still gonna ride in the next Bikeoi.

Still gonna make my displeasure known.

We should see this as a backdown... a bilnk in a the Stare down....a chink in the armour.... the first signs of weakness.

This is the time for us to exploit this weakness, GO Hard and Never, Never Back Off!!!!!

[96 sporster]

well It really doesnt matter as the buggers have done what they wanted in the end any way. I guess it is time to put rego on hold and pay a fine if stopped. Probably work out cheeaper

[Dodgey Dave]

No the answer is put the Rego on hold but still renew WOF as that halves the possible fines. Or just don't bother stopping for the filthy bastards!!