Riders Are Voters - Time for Action.

[MAG-NZ Inc]

MAG-NZ, along with its international associates, recognises that BIKERS have the OPPORTUNITY, the RIGHT, and the RESPONSIBILITY to INFLUENCE policy.

It is important to note that this time next year, election campaigns will be in full swing across the country. RIGHT NOW candidates and potential candidates will be thinking about what they will do and say, as well as making their contributions to the overall manifesto of their respective parties.

NOW is the time to get our voices heard and make the politicians of our great country sit up and listen to what we want. There are in the region of 90,000 registered motorcycles in New Zealand so in theory this is the number of BIKERS who are VOTERS.

That is no small number. Look at recent elections both regional and national and the slim majority votes that put whoever from where ever in power. Just think what it would mean for the biker community if we made our stand now and supported those who best support us.
MAG-NZ maintain that we and our officers will never attempt to influence individual member’s party political vote. However, being politically neutral does not equate to being politically neutered.

So, its time to take ACTION and with this in mind MAG-NZ will:

Approach each political party to obtain a firm, policy statement from them as to what it will do with ACC, road safety, equity and the rights of BIKERS to ride and enjoy our roads and highways

Actively identify political candidates sympathetic to our views.

At the same time identify candidates unsympathetic, who may currently be lurking, undeclared and who could prove to be a detrimental influence in local and national government

MAG-NZ have already put in place plans to step up the RIDERS ARE VOTERS campaigns, for example

Motorcyclists occupying parking spaces at public meeting venues where the likes of ACC or Transport ministers are speaking

Quietly and peacefully distributing accurate leaflets describing ministers intentions towards bikers.

Tracking the movements of our ACC Minister and others to ensure bikers are at every public or party meeting from here on in.

The key for us is to be prepared, to be non violent and more adult in public perception than those who will be against us, and most of all, just to be VISIBLE wherever our political friends and foes may gather.

But we cant do this alone…..

We need you, the members and non-members of MAG-NZ to join with us and support this initiative. We need your ideas, we need your feedback on any public meetings in your area that need targeting, we need you to have your eyes and ears open to make sure nothing goes on in the political world relevant to BIKERS that we don’t know about.

In short, we want you to join us in this campaign and take the necessary PERSONAL, LOCAL and NATIONAL action that will see BIKERS get the best possible result from the future elections.

NO time to waste, get your ideas, suggestions, feedback and support into us now by emailing us at nzrav@mag-nz.org and help PRESERVE and PROTECT motorcycling in New Zealand


We encourage everyone to download the "NZ Riders Are Voters" flyer and to distribute it to as many riders as possible. The flyer is available for download from here (http://www.mag-nz.org/images/PDF/RAVFlyer.pdf)

[Milts]

I'm pretty sure that you mean "non partisan" rather than "politically neutral".

Regardless, great post and I'm with you all the way (as soon as assessment is over and I get around to signing up).

Already emailed the new Mayor in Wellington asking about her policy towards motorcyclists. I suggest others do the same, getting involved at the local government level can be helpful as well. And now is an excellent time to see where people stand given the recent change in leadership in a number of main centres.

[Old Steve]

Had plotted out a letter to Simon Bridges (MP for Tauranga) telling him I'm a Bike rider and I only voted for him last election to get Winston peters out, and I'd rather vote for Anne Pankhurst next election than vote for him again if National continue to support the higher motorcycle ACC levy/registration fees.

I was also going to ask if he really thought Kiwi car drivers were twice as good as drivers in the UK where 80% of motorcycle accidents are cause by other drivers, while the ACC claims that in NZ only 40% of motorcycle accidents can be blamed on 3rd paryy drivers.

[GOONR]

Had plotted out a letter to Simon Bridges (MP for Tauranga) telling him I'm a Bike rider and I only voted for him last election to get Winston peters out, and I'd rather vote for Anne Pankhurst next election than vote for him again if National continue to support the higher motorcycle ACC levy/registration fees.

I was also going to ask if he really thought Kiwi car drivers were twice as good as drivers in the UK where 80% of motorcycle accidents are cause by other drivers, while the ACC claims that in NZ only 40% of motorcycle accidents can be blamed on 3rd paryy drivers.

Do it, get the email out and let them know you're not happy.

[davereid]

I was also going to ask if he really thought Kiwi car drivers were twice as good as drivers in the UK where 80% of motorcycle accidents are cause by other drivers, while the ACC claims that in NZ only 40% of motorcycle accidents can be blamed on 3rd paryy drivers.

The NZ figures are rubbish.. I have had no response to my request for how the data was obtained and some raw data.

I guess they don't like sending that sort of stuff to engineers, or people who can add.


But my KB survey has had 300 views and only 15 responses.

NZ motorcyclists would appear to be divided into two camps..

(a) You are making it up you bastard, I'll do something about it (15 replies)
(b) That really hurt. Do you really promise to use lube next time ? (285 views)

[BOMBER]

We should all ride down to wellington, that works really well ....NOT

It amazes me people think we live in a democracy still, bikers are voters .......so what? woop woop ya think the government gives a shit what a small fraction of the population think, nope is right

[bogan]

We should all ride down to wellington, that works really well ....NOT

It amazes me people think we live in a democracy still, bikers are voters .......so what? woop woop ya think the government gives a shit what a small fraction of the population think, nope is right

Do you know how mmp works? basically a small party can get a fucking good deal if the big ones don't have majority numbers. A quick look at last results:

National Party 1,053,398
Labour Party 796,880
Green Party 157,613
ACT 85,496
Mäori Party 55,980

looks to me like bikers could change the outcome quite a lot if we were swayed towards a certain party, bout 100,000 registered motorcycles these days.

edit: how many uni students are there? cos labour pretty blatantly bought their votes the election before last...

[Fatt Max]

looks to me like bikers could change the outcome quite a lot if we were swayed towards a certain party, bout 100,000 registered motorcycles these days....

Thats the real crux of this. We need to establish who offers bikers the best deal and support them. That way, we can make a difference and then we can spend more time enjoying our bikes and less time bitching about how wronged we have been.

Ir's a case of getting out there and being prepared to do it.....!!

Yes, all bikers are voters. Its a powerful position to be in

[Winston001]

The NZ figures are rubbish..


But my KB survey has had 300 views and only 15 responses....




....and those responses show that at least 60% of accidents are acknowledged to be the responsibility of the rider. Not helpful for your cause.




Or.......you could conclude from the low participation rate that rights, ACC levies etc are low priority concerns for motorcyclists. Which I'm sorry to say is the most likely answer.

We have an idylic country to ride in, an unfettered society, modest insurance and registration costs (compared with other western countries), and free healthcare if you do bin. Plus ACC backup. All achieved in an economic backwater, nice as it is.

Sometimes I really do think its ok to stop and smell the roses. :D

[Ocean1]

....and those responses show that at least 60% of accidents are acknowledged to be the fault of the rider. Not helpful for your cause.

60% is quite good. What percentage of car accidents do you suppose are caused by the driver?

Also, fault is only attributable to one person if you're a laywer and you mean "blame". ANY unplanned incident has many many variables that must line up in order to form nescessary contributing steps.


Or.......you could conclude from the low participation rate that rights, ACC levies etc are low priority concerns for motorcyclists. Which I'm sorry to say is the most likely answer.
D

I disagree. I strenuously object to being shafted re recent huge levy increases. I object mostly because the bastards couldn't even be bothered to lie properly. David's right, the numbers upon which the sale of the policy changes were based are meaningless. The spin job itself was pitifully transparent, utter bilge.

The reason I didn't complete David's poll is that, possibly like many I found my data didn't fit the poll options.


Sometimes I really do think its ok to stop and smell the roses. :D

Yup, ACC as a strategic initiative is a bloody good idea. Our health system, for all it's faults is right up there amongst the best in the world. I reckon it's the best in terms of bang for yer buck.

That won't last long if they continue with the divide and bleed white thing. You simply can't ethically charge people more for their share of ACC costs based on statistical likelihood of their user costs. What's the logical conclusion? Any history of mental health issues in your familyu sir/madam? Is it true that your mother once fell off a horse?

Nah, I'm all for telling them to fuck off, but only if there's a chance we can back it up with a bit of hurty stuff.

[wysper]

MAG-NZ have already put in place plans to step up the RIDERS ARE VOTERS campaigns, for example




We encourage everyone to download the "NZ Riders Are Voters" flyer and to distribute it to as many riders as possible. The flyer is available for download from here (http://www.mag-nz.org/images/PDF/RAVFlyer.pdf)

quote snipped to avoid unnecessary repetition. I like where Mag NZ is heading.

Damn. If you carry on making sense like this, I might have to get off my lazy arse, join and do something to help out.

Bastards! :yes:

....inching ever closer to joining....

[BMWST?]

And 90,000 have influence over at least another 90,000?,So potentially a voting bloc of 180,000 .What we really need to do is make a real diifference in a few strategic electorates,and the electorate of a certain Mr Rodney Hide comes to mind,all of a sudden we could have ALL of ACTS seats in our hands

[Bald Eagle]

Already emailed the new Mayor in Wellington asking about her policy towards motorcyclists.

Good luck with that given she's a Green cyclist and against roading in general. She'd rather we all caught the bus or the ocassional transmetro train. :lol:

[Bald Eagle]

In case anybody didn't keep this list from the Bikeoi here it is again .

Start asking them the questions now.

[breakaway]

What's the point of this? For every informed, intelligent person that votes, 1000 dumbasses vote who are easily taken in by the campain propoganda. You will never make a difference.

[Bald Eagle]

What's the point of this? For every informed, intelligent person that votes, 1000 dumbasses vote who are easily taken in by the campain propoganda. You will never make a difference.

I can guarantee if YOU do nothing YOU won't make any difference. But if enough people DO something and it's the same something then it just might make a difference.

8000+ people rode their bikes to Wellington and made a difference.

[Murray]

It amazes me people think we live in a democracy still, bikers are voters .......so what? woop woop ya think the government gives a shit what a small fraction of the population think, nope is right

That fraction of the population also have friends, 18 year old kids, parents, inlaws, brothers, sisters, grandparents, uncles, aunties etc etc etc

I would think when they all are all added up you could have a pretty damn large fraction

[Mom]

....inching ever closer to joining....


I would think when they all are all added up you could have a pretty damn large fraction

Can I introduce you to each other, come on Murray, you know you want too :lol:

[Eyegasm]

Can I ask where else this is being advertised?

KB only has a small fraction of the motorcycling community.

I will use the flyer attached to get the word out.

Cheers
Eyegasm.

[wysper]

And 90,000 have influence over at least another 90,000?,So potentially a voting bloc of 180,000 .What we really need to do is make a real diifference in a few strategic electorates,and the electorate of a certain Mr Rodney Hide comes to mind,all of a sudden we could have ALL of ACTS seats in our hands

I was thinking about this voting block thing on the commute to work this morning.
The major difficulty I would see would be the issue of getting most of the 90k to vote the same way.
While I imagine ALL riders would love to see the ACC increases repealed, and lets say Winston Peters said he would repeal it if it got in power, how many of the 90k would vote that way?

For me my riding is important, but my family is more important, and if I think that the party that would support the repeal of ACC or support other pro rider stuff, would also be worse for my family situation, I could not vote for them.

I seem to remember a similar campaign from Hunters and Fishermen, something along the lines of 1 Million Kiwis Hunt Fish or Shoot and vote. Can't remember what they were lobbying against or for or if they succeeded or not.

[Murray]

I was thinking about this voting block thing on the commute to work this morning.
The major difficulty I would see would be the issue of getting most of the 90k to vote the same way.

But the implied threat may sway the thinking of a number of politicians??

Mag-NZ are awaiting your membership and are you on for a pootle Sunday?? Havent seen you for a while and your new bike at all. Maybe you could bring it down on a Wednesday night (if allowed)

[Banditbandit]

looks to me like bikers could change the outcome quite a lot if we were swayed towards a certain party, bout 100,000 registered motorcycles these days.

edit: how many uni students are there? cos labour pretty blatantly bought their votes the election before last...

Yeah right .. we can't even agree on which bikes to ride ... sure 100,000 voters would swing an election - the chance of this happening because bikers agree on who to vote for is about ZERO ...

[MSTRS]

It's not about who you do vote for, but the perception of the votees as to who you might vote for.

[Winston001]

What's the point of this? For every informed, intelligent person that votes, 1000 dumbasses vote who are easily taken in by the campain propoganda. You will never make a difference.

Logically you are correct, but doing nothing allows policy makers to think they always have it right.

Politicians are sensitive to noise. Volume, not numbers is what can influence them. That is why small loud single-interest groups can have surprising success with political persuasion. It isn't rational but Parliament often reacts with a knee-jerk if the right media spin can be applied.

The problem motorcyclists face is the conundrum of our very nature. We are individualistic, slightly outside mainstream society, sometimes confrontational, risk-takers, and not perceived in a suit and tie. We don't have the sympathetic image that say, school children and nurses have.

The irony is many bikers do wear suits, have high-end qualifications, run their own businesses, and arguably are more useful members of society than the average Kiwi.

So - any campaign needs to be slick with good presentation and public relations expertise.

[Banditbandit]

It's not about who you do vote for, but the perception of the votees as to who you might vote for.

THat's pretty cynical ... Mind you .. I'm pretty cynical myself ..

[Pixie]

What's the point of this? For every informed, intelligent person that votes, 1000 dumbasses vote who are easily taken in by the campain propoganda. You will never make a difference.

Good onya! that's the atitude.

DaveReid might be able to tell you where to get the lube he mentions in post #5

[Maha]

What's the point of this? For every informed, intelligent person that votes, 1000 dumbasses vote who are easily taken in by the campain propoganda. You will never make a difference.

Rob Muldoon said that about Bob Jones when he formed the New Zealand party just to take votes away from National....by the way.....it Worked!

[Ocean1]

So - any campaign needs to be slick with good presentation and public relations expertise.

Fuck off, I'm busy.