Excuse me!

[Mom]

So, we now have the verdict on these levy increases. I have read that BRONZ are ok with this. Well, to be fair to BRONZ, not happy as much as lets pour oil on the water. Settle things down and wait to see what safety initiatives are forthcoming. We can always protest the levies later.

I think though for a lot of us this has morphed beyond levy increases to a deeper understanding of what is at stake here. As a motorcycling community we have been onto it enough to know from the get go this was not all about us.

"Who's Next" was our slogan from the start. I am not sure about you guys but...

I am not about to go away.

For me this is, and always has been about the long haul. Apparently we now have really got the message home, we are not facing anywhere near as big a hike as was muted. They listened/we won.

Not as far as I am concerned.

Sure they heard us loud and clear. We took it to the steps of parliament and also drove the message home all over the show. But we still face being singled out, we still face the errosion of a world class accident prevention, compensation and rehablitation scheme, although the Minister responsible for it calls it an insurance scheme. My argument is simple. ACC is not an insurance scheme. It was founded on the Woodhouse principles and frankly the powers that be have NO RIGHT to change it.


I have not read anything on here since this afternoon, so apologies if I am reinventing the wheel a bit. I am still very angry, I doubt I am alone.

[Mully]

Agreed Mom.

We need to keep the pressure on the bastards.

[Ixion]

So, we now have the verdict on these levy increases. I have read that BRONZ are ok with this. Well, to be fair to BRONZ, not happy as much as lets pour oil on the water. Settle things down and wait to see what safety initiatives are forthcoming. We can always protest the levies later.

I think though for a lot of us this have morphed beyond levy increases to a deeper understanding of what is at stake here. As a motorcycling community we have been onto it enough to know from the get go this was not all about us.

"Who's Next" was our slogan from the start. I am not sure about you guys but...

I am not about to go away.

For me this is, and always has been about the long haul. Apparently we now have really got the message home, we are not facing anywhere near as big a hike as was muted. They listened/we won.

Not as far as I am concerned.

Sure they heard us loud and clear. We took it to the steps of parliament and also drove the message home all over the show. But we still face being singled out, we still face the errosion of a world class accident prevention, compensation and rehablitation scheme, although the Minister responsible for it calls it an insurance scheme. My argument is simple. ACC is not an insurance scheme. It was founded on the Woodhouse principles and frankly the powers that be have NO RIGHT to change it.


I have not read anything on here since this afternoon, so apologies if I am reinventing the wheel a bit. I am still very angry, I doubt I am alone.

Which fairly closely sums up BRONZs position. The campaign now moves on from levies to principles. I have always said, it ends in Nov 2011. Two years away.

[White trash]

I loved Mr S Myths comment in his press conference that "car owners would have to accept a $30 per year increase to offset the amount motorcyclists weren't contributing". Cheeky little fucker.

[hayd3n]

the out come was better then proposed, but still a unfair hike against us,
next they'll be saying cheese cutters save lives

[Qkkid]

Which fairly closely sums up BRONZs position. The campaign now moves on from levies to principles. I have always said, it ends in Nov 2011. Two years away.
I agree But..............
:nono:No parking in the Caketin next time we need to jamm those streets of Wellywood so all can feel our pain.:msn-wink:

[FJRider]

Perhaps if the minister wants bikes off the road, we have a protest in cars ... not bikes. If the numbers show up in cars, that did on bikes ... imagine the traffic chaos in city centres then ...

[Mully]

I loved Mr S Myths comment in his press conference that "car owners would have to accept a $30 per year increase to offset the amount motorcyclists weren't contributing". Cheeky little fucker.

Yeah, someone needs to slap that smarmy little shit in the face. Wipe the shit-eating grin of his face.


Perhaps if the minister wants bikes off the road, we have a protest in cars ... not bikes. If the numbers show up in cars, that did on bikes ... imagine the traffic chaos in city centres then ...

I pondered that this morning actually. Take all riders and put them in cars for the day (with notices in the windows obviously).

[Toaster]

I loved Mr S Myths comment in his press conference that "car owners would have to accept a $30 per year increase to offset the amount motorcyclists weren't contributing". Cheeky little fucker.

And so they should contribute when they cause a fair percentage of biker injuries.

Why should bikers pay to cover the full cost of biker injuries when there are many other road users that actually cause the crash that brought on the injuries in the first place.:doctor:

[duckonin]

Perhaps if the minister wants bikes off the road, we have a protest in cars ... not bikes. If the numbers show up in cars, that did on bikes ... imagine the traffic chaos in city centres then ...

Was on the Auks motorway last Friday at 3pm, traffic was chaos, two and a half hours from pukekohe to Point Chev turn off, and this idiot Govt want bikes off the road FFS...Most every vehicle had one person in it Geezzzz!!!

[twotyred]

Perhaps if the minister wants bikes off the road, we have a protest in cars ... not bikes. If the numbers show up in cars, that did on bikes ... imagine the traffic chaos in city centres then ...

Inspired! This would work especially well in wellington:first:

[Skyryder]

I loved Mr S Myths comment in his press conference that "car owners would have to accept a $30 per year increase to offset the amount motorcyclists weren't contributing". Cheeky little fucker.

Can't say I'm surprised at this. Sadly there will be many cars owners who will accept this as gospel and blame us for their increase.

Which is exactly what Smith has intended. Divide and conquer, then watch the levies rise again.


Skyryder

[P38]

Yep

Now's the time to Go Hard! and not GO Home :headbang:

[Mom]

Was on the Auks motorway last Friday at 3pm, traffic was chaos, two and a half hours from pukekohe to Point Chev turn off, and this idiot Govt want bikes off the road FFS...Most every vehicle had one person in it Geezzzz!!!

This idiot government are not thinking along those lines at all, contrary to the Climate bill they have just approved and are crowing about. They are being spoon fed dodgy numbers by the people we pay to provide them. They swallow these numbers and act accordingly. As individual bikers we dont have a strong voice. Forgive me here, BRONZ has been a toothless organisation due to lack of support. I fear they may continue to be castrated. I hear the voice of reason from them loud and clear, but this is no time to sit and see, in my opinion. Onwards and upwards with a continuing message of no, this is not on, is what I would have like to see.

We got a small concession today, a very small one. I believe we rattled Myth last Monday, final nail in coffin type of rattling. He has most likely adjusted the biker increases way back from what he originally was prepared to. Power to us! However, he is on a mission.

[Skyryder]

So, we now have the verdict on these levy increases. I have read that BRONZ are ok with this. Well, to be fair to BRONZ, not happy as much as lets pour oil on the water. Settle things down and wait to see what safety initiatives are forthcoming. We can always protest the levies later.

I think though for a lot of us this has morphed beyond levy increases to a deeper understanding of what is at stake here. As a motorcycling community we have been onto it enough to know from the get go this was not all about us.

"Who's Next" was our slogan from the start. I am not sure about you guys but...

I am not about to go away.

For me this is, and always has been about the long haul. Apparently we now have really got the message home, we are not facing anywhere near as big a hike as was muted. They listened/we won.

Not as far as I am concerned.

Sure they heard us loud and clear. We took it to the steps of parliament and also drove the message home all over the show. But we still face being singled out, we still face the errosion of a world class accident prevention, compensation and rehablitation scheme, although the Minister responsible for it calls it an insurance scheme. My argument is simple. ACC is not an insurance scheme. It was founded on the Woodhouse principles and frankly the powers that be have NO RIGHT to change it.


I have not read anything on here since this afternoon, so apologies if I am reinventing the wheel a bit. I am still very angry, I doubt I am alone.


I agree but with the President of the Ulysess Club condoning the rise as acceptable the motocycling fraternity seem to now be divided and weakened

From a tactical perspective I'd go for another rally at Parliment.

The Theme?? WE WILL BE BACK. That would give BRONZ plenty of time for another rally prior to the next election.

Skyryder

[Laxi]

So, we now have the verdict on these levy increases. I have read that BRONZ are ok with this.
ive been out of the loop today.
having just joined bronze I hope thats not true caus mine will be the shortest membership in history if it is:nono:

[Hahn]

I have read that BRONZ are ok with this.

What happened to fighting to the end?

When will our next protest be?

Everyone will be heading out of the main cities soon, I bet they wished there weren't so many cars on the road:blank:

[Mom]

I agree but with the President of the Ulysess Club condoning the rise as acceptable the motocycling fraternity seem to now be divided and weakened

From a tactical perspective I'd go for another rally at Parliment.

The Theme?? WE WILL BE BACK. That would give BRONZ plenty of time for another rally prior to the next election.

Skyryder

The President of the Ulysess club does not speak for me. I know they have a big membership but they may get stuffed talking on my behalf! Good on them if they are happy to get shafted for levy increases this year, because it wil happen again next year, and the yar after till we are paying the same as the BULLSHIT that was proposed recently. Hells teeth, if they felt that was ok they should have said so in the first place.

Sorry, they dont speak for me at all.

[Mom]

What happened to fighting to the end?

When will our next protest be?

Everyone will be heading out of the main cities soon, I bet they wished there weren't so many cars on the road:blank:

Try weekend after next. Read the ACC forum, sticky will follow no doubt.

[crazyhorse]

I am not about to go away.

For me this is, and always has been about the long haul. Apparently we now have really got the message home, we are not facing anywhere near as big a hike as was muted. They listened/we won.

Not as far as I am concerned.




I agree with you wholeheartedly. Yes it's decreased, but not enough and not for the right reasons :headbang:

[Mom]

I have always said, it ends in Nov 2011. Two years away.


Some of us are prepared to take it further than that if required.

[Ixion]

Some of us are prepared to take it further than that if required.

Well, the reason for that date is fairly obvious. And if it needs to go beyond that it would have to be a very different fight , because there will not be an ACC to fight about .

So Nov 2011 is by definition the end of this campaign. Either it is won then or there is nothing to fight for.

[Mom]

Well, the reason for that date is fairly obvious. And if it needs to go beyond that it would have to be a very different fight , because there will not be an ACC to fight about .

So Nov 2011 is by definition the end of this campaign. Either it is won then or there is nothing to fight for.

I hear you. You are preaching to the converted here. Lets hear you tell the media that.

[Ixion]

I hear you. You are preaching to the converted here. Lets hear you tell the media that.

The media already know that. Why do you think they are calling todays figures a "victory" , and a "backdown" by the Minister.

Because , if Mr Smith can't push through the increases that Mr Judge demands , then they cannot privatise it. They don't mean that it was a victory for us, in that we got everything we wanted. They mean it was a victory because we (and the others who have been fighting) forced an admission that the country will not stand for the levy increases needed to privatise the scheme. Even after extending the funding date to 2019!
Unless of course, they go the other way and cut enittlements (and thus reduce costs). Since Mr Smith has admitted his inability to force through the necessary levy increases (because of those damned bikers), it's an easy guess what his next step will. Yep, cut entitlements.

We have, not of our choosing , been caught up in something far bigger than just how much bikers pay to register their bikes. That is (largely) why the media have been so fascinated by us : they don't actually give a damn how much rego costs us, but they do realise the implications of the fight.

[mikeey01]

That is (largely) why the media have been so fascinated by us : they don't actually give a damn how much rego costs us, but they do realise the implications of the fight.

Name that media, I better go back and re read their articles, I appear to have mis-read the bull shit they previously wrote, or am I confused with the bullshit I've just read?

[mikeey01]

I'm sorry Les but up to this point mate, you've done a dam fine stirling job and most are proud how far you and a shit load of other people have got us too at this point.

This whole thing sticks and it ain't roses we're smelling fella!

[StoneY]

I am accepting NO levy increase

I will not accept 140$ more on my bikes
I will not allow that fucker Nick Smith to say shit like 'despite bikers refusing to accept....'
I will not roll over and be raped when ACC is not broke, broken, or even in financial straits (coz it aint)

This is a purely NZ system that WORKS and is in good shape, is not broken or broke in either sense of the metaphor

I had the priveledge of sitting down for lunch today with no less than the CEO of a major Govt dept who actually set the rules as to how other govt dept's operate

He says this is wrong...and to keep the protests up coz we ARE making a difference

FUCK NS and fuck accepting 140 instead of 500, I accept NO increase, nothing less and the war continues, I do not care who I offend with this stance

There is more than 140$ per bike at stake here, there is the underlying principles of being a Kiwi, and living in a democracy where the government are MEANT to listen to the people

Roll on Febuary Nick, you aint seen nothing yet

[Laxi]

I am accepting NO levy increase

I will not accept 140$ more on my bikes
I will not allow that fucker Nick Smith to say shit like 'despite bikers refusing to accept....'
I will not roll over and be raped when ACC is not broke, broken, or even in financial straits (coz it aint)

This is a purely NZ system that WORKS and is in good shape, is not broken or broke in either sense of the metaphor

I had the priveledge of sitting down for lunch today with no less than the CEO of a major Govt dept who actually set the rules as to how other govt dept's operate

He says this is wrong...and to keep the protests up coz we ARE making a difference

FUCK NS and fuck accepting 140 instead of 500, I accept NO increase, nothing less and the war continues, I do not care who I offend with this stance

There is more than 140$ per bike at atake here, there is the underlying principles of being a Kiwi, and living in a democracy where the government are MEANT to listen to the people

Roll on Febuary Nick, you aint seen nothing yet

now thats the bronz stance i expect to hear:headbang: onya stoneY

[mikeey01]

If it's not them mp's to hassle at meetings, work or even on their holidays then it's off to the local ACC offices, give them some too.

Up to this point things have been kid gloves, I reckon it's time for them gloves to come off now, if only a little bit, for now anyway.

Something stinks about this Les, it ain't roses I'm smelling either fella!

[StoneY]

I agree but with the President of the Ulysess Club condoning the rise as acceptable the motocycling fraternity seem to now be divided and weakened


He speaketh not for mew mate the battle continues


The President of the Ulysess club does not speak for me. I know they have a big membership but they may get stuffed talking on my behalf! Good on them if they are happy to get shafted for levy increases this year, because it wil happen again next year, and the yar after till we are paying the same as the BULLSHIT that was proposed recently. Hells teeth, if they felt that was ok they should have said so in the first place.

Sorry, they dont speak for me at all.

A FUCKIN MEN Mom, your my no 1 runner for PM right now


I agree with you wholeheartedly. Yes it's decreased, but not enough and not for the right reasons :headbang:

Bro, damn right well said

[Kennif]

The President of the Ulysess club does not speak for me.

I've been a Ulysses Club member since 1997 (yeah I know!!) But the President of Ulysses doesn't speak for me either. In fact, I'm buggered if I know WHO he is speaking for except, perhaps, for himself. If he IS only speaking for himself then he should have made that clear in his TV statements. (Accepting that he may have done so and had them edited out.)

Right now I am one very pissed-off U-Sillian!!!!

[BoristheBiter]

I am accepting NO levy increase

I will not accept 140$ more on my bikes
I will not allow that fucker Nick Smith to say shit like 'despite bikers refusing to accept....'
I will not roll over and be raped when ACC is not broke, broken, or even in financial straits (coz it aint)

This is a purely NZ system that WORKS and is in good shape, is not broken or broke in either sense of the metaphor

I had the priveledge of sitting down for lunch today with no less than the CEO of a major Govt dept who actually set the rules as to how other govt dept's operate

He says this is wrong...and to keep the protests up coz we ARE making a difference

FUCK NS and fuck accepting 140 instead of 500, I accept NO increase, nothing less and the war continues, I do not care who I offend with this stance

There is more than 140$ per bike at stake here, there is the underlying principles of being a Kiwi, and living in a democracy where the government are MEANT to listen to the people

Roll on Febuary Nick, you aint seen nothing yet


He speaketh not for mew mate the battle continues



A FUCKIN MEN Mom, your my no 1 runner for PM right now



I can see a new party being formed.
"MOM FOR PM, STONEY FOR VPM"

all we need now is a war plan.
oop's sorry a nice sit down chat.

[grbaker]

The president of Ulysses Club almost pissed me off as much as Nick the Dick did... "A good outcome", what an arse-wipe. :2guns:

Had a thought tho... the last BIKOI had poor coverage from the media (Prime's wasn't too bad)... but Greenpeace got much better coverage of a single person failing to visit John Keys.... ya think we could get Lucy Lawless to ride in the next protest (or someone other media draw card)?

[glegge]

Go to the national party web site, read the media releases back as far as early this year, late last year. what Smith is upto and the use of words like insurance, fully funded etc are all clearly there.
the problem seems to be that no one in the larger community seems to see the problem leaving Mr Woodhouses founding principles behind.

http://www.national.org.nz/MediaReleases.aspx?AuthorId=14 for nicks media releases.
they make an interesting read - you can see what he is trying to do, it seems that no one is trying to stop him, except us! stick to principles, i hope we can win.

[duckonin]

I agree but with the President of the Ulysess Club condoning the rise as acceptable the motocycling fraternity seem to now be divided and weakened

From a tactical perspective I'd go for another rally at Parliment.

The Theme?? WE WILL BE BACK. That would give BRONZ plenty of time for another rally prior to the next election.

Skyryder

Peter Mac spoke for himself "only"...... He needs to stand down from being the "president" of Uylsses for being so weak Uylsses needs a strong leader who can at least inspire and rally the troops to move on a more acceptable solution...That being no increase at all anything but that is not acceptable..:no:

[Mr Merde]

"Another change requires holiday pay to be used first before ACC payments are made..."
http://http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10614692
Has the country woken up to this little snippet in the announcement?

[Nasty]

"Another change requires holiday pay to be used first before ACC payments are made..."
http://http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10614692
Has the country woken up to this little snippet in the announcement?

This was mentioned in the changes ... and xp@ hammered this one home as well ...

[Mom]

http://kiwiridermagazine.blogspot.com/2009/12/mom-bikers-are-appeased.html

[StoneY]

Peter Mac spoke for himself "only"...... He needs to stand down from being the "president" of Uylsses for being so weak Uylsses needs a strong leader who can at least inspire and rally the troops to move on a more acceptable solution...That being no increase at all anything but that is not acceptable..:no:

IF I were a Ulyssian, Howard would be a man I would follow happily
:)

[duckonin]

IF I were a Ulyssian, Howard would be a man I would follow happily
:)

Yes and and quite a few others who have the life skills required !!

[Flip]

Ulysses is firstly a motorcycle club for over 40s, like Hog and Rat to name a few, they organise rides and social events for their members. I do not believe many of these MC clubs would have a mandate to act as lobbyist. The fact that the media stick a camera in Peter from Ulysses face and ask his opinion is only that the media want to make press and sell papers. I am a member of Ulysses and it is a big club, I am not happy with the way the good name of Ulysses has been tarnished and used by the government for political gains.

BRONZ is really the only MC lobby group in NZ. BRONZ is mandated by its members to lobby the government, talk to the media, get in the face of MPs, pick on ACC, LTSA and Tranzit.

The Nat-Act government at the moment has a clear majority and can put through any right wing legislative changes they want, they don't need our permission to tax us off the road. We are a minority, all be a vocal one and the government has a majority.

The effectiveness of what we all have been doing cannot be under stated. Have you ever seen a government place large adverts in papers telling their side of a story? Hell a few bikers have put the whole govts spin doctor press core to shame.

I do not think tricky Nicky wanted to back down about this. IMHO it was more likely that the PM did not like to see a sea of black leather clad Bikers protesting at Parliament messing up his grounds and being interviewed by the media. Big vocal demonstrations are not good news for elected governments.

Well I don't like being taxed in this way especially when the govt promised we were going be paying less tax. I also don't like what the govt is trying to do to ACC it stinks. I was personally pleased and somewhat surprised that the ACC increases were so relatively small. I believe government wants us to go away now and not drag this out until the election. I'm not going to do what they want, it is in our best interests to keep the pressure up and force this to become an election issue.

Our real enemies here is the insurance industry lobby group that is trying sucessfully it seems, to get the govt to sell ACC to them.

[BMWST?]

very good points that man!

[Mom]

I for one would be very happy for this issue to still be in the foreground leading up to the next election. Imagine how fast they will have to back off once they realise that the public of NZ are not very happy with them and will vote them out of a job. Bring it on I say! Gives us plenty of time to gather support from all the other affected parties and really stick it to the man.

[ST4s]

Ulysses is firstly a motorcycle club for over 40s, like Hog and Rat to name a few, they organise rides and social events for their members. I do not believe many of these MC clubs would have a mandate to act as lobbyist.

Ullysses Club Rules:

"1.3.1The objectives and purposes of the club are to:
...
(b) promote among government, regulatory authorities, manufacturers, media and other relevant bodies the interests of older motorcyclists in particular and motorcyclists in general"

As a Ulysses member for almost 10 years, primarily to support this objective, I'm not happy about the apparent acceptance of Smith's tactics, although I do believe that the club has played a positive role prior to this.

I do know there are other Ulyssians similarly unhappy at the backdown, and I expect (hope for?) the club to return to the struggle.

As the largest motorcycle organisation, and one with a generally positive public profile, due to in part to charitable activities, i believe that Ulysses can and should make a valuable contribution to the ongoing campaign.

James.
Ulysses # 4931

[Swoop]

I do know there are other Ulyssians similarly unhappy at the backdown
As they bloody well should be!

[Sis]

I don't think that Peter was portrayed on TV in the manner that he wanted.
They had a National Committee meeting today and ACC was in the agenda.
Just keep an eye out. You will hear what they are up to soon.