• Three Strikes Protest Run, 5 May

    Support the three strikes demonstration ride
    Thursday 5th May 12 noon

    The government has struck out at us three times now. We will not tolerate this any longer, and it is time we showed them!

    What they have done:

    1) Used bikers as a smokescreen to mask the introduction of risk based levies, and massive levy increases.
    2) Attempted to justify the hike with misleading statistics and unjustified financial model changes.
    3) Ramped up roadside 'safety' checks - in reality poorly disguised rego and WOF checks - and now the introduction of demerits for unlicensed vehicles.
    What they deliberately overlook:


    They tout the risk based system as being fairer for everyone, by arbitrarily creating different road user groups and charging based on the likely treatment cost. Well many of us own multiple vehicles, so appear in those groups and pay more than once. How is it fair we pay multiple levies yet are only eligible for a single treatment? How can they justify a minimum three month on hold period, when that makes it so expensive to be law abiding with infrequently ridden bikes? And to assume all drivers in each class have the same level of risk is at the very least idiotic, if not irresponsible; with the implication that safer vehicles are more important than safer drivers. The myriad of different variables needed to create a truly fair risk based system would create massive administrative overheads to process. This is a system that is not required, not wanted and moves ACC yet further away from the Woodhouse principles towards private insurance.


    What we demand they do:

    1) Remove the vehicle-based levies, to be replaced with a fuel-based levy collection system as a first step, ultimately returning to the Woodhouse Principles.
    2) The minimum on-hold period of three months to be removed.
    3) All political parties make their stance known about ACC: whether they are in favour of the no-fault Woodhouse system, if they agree with the move to full future funding, where they stand on risk-based levies and if they would agree to private insurers in the system.


    What can you do?

    Support the three strikes demonstration ride; this will take place on Thursday 5th May 12 noon. The idea is that you meet up with other protesters, ride together to the local ACC offices, then ride to the National party offices (because we all know who is really behind this crap). At both locations you will arrange yourselves to present a smokescreen of motorcycles: we’ll let them see us and hear us! There will be a letter to noisily deliver to each location stating our grievances and demands. Meeting points to be announced when finalised.

    Currently we have ride coordinators for Auckland, Wellington and Tauranga if you would like to organise one in your region let us know!
    This article was originally published in forum thread: Three Strikes Protest Run, 5 May started by MAG-NZ Inc View original post
    Comments 273 Comments
    1. MSTRS's Avatar
      MSTRS:Me -
      If you get right down to it, beds are the worst of the lot. I mean, there's countless back injuries suffered through use of them. And they are the single biggest factor in most deaths.
    1. StoneY's Avatar
      StoneY -
      Quote Originally Posted by Luckylegs View Post
      ...And more importantly, Reputation !
      Have to have one of those before you can dent it ....... LOL
    1. Gearup's Avatar
      Gearup -
      Quote Originally Posted by bogan View Post
      Funnily enough, there isn't a 'magic bullet' single event that will fix the levies (if there was going to be I think the bikoi would have done it). So why not have a shot at a few different ideas? you could say MAG-NZ has a full clip Some of the ideas/concerns put forward in this thread are certainly worth considering, and may be applied in future events; also if you want to lead a future event log on to our forums and make it happen.
      How about this B man?

      Why don't MAG get a national campaign going and get all other pissed off ACC payers involved then have a massive protest action and shut the country down just like the unions do.

      This ACC and bikers crap has been going on since 1978.
    1. MSTRS's Avatar
      MSTRS:Me -
      Quote Originally Posted by Gearup View Post

      Why don't MAG get a national campaign going and get all other pissed off ACC payers involved then have a massive protest action and shut the country down just like the unions do.
      Nice idea. Tell us how to achieve it.
      It's been tried and tried. For some reason, only bikers seem willing to get off their arses and protest en masse. No-one else seems interested, except a bit of a moan from time to time in casual conversation.
    1. Bald Eagle's Avatar
      Bald Eagle -
      I seem to remember a time when the union movement could bring the country to it's knees ( usually during the holidays ). Apathy has taken their place and is thriving.
    1. Katman's Avatar
      Katman -
      Quote Originally Posted by Bald Eagle View Post
      I seem to remember a time when the union movement could bring the country to it's knees ( usually during the holidays ). Apathy has taken their place and is thriving.
      And just remember how reviled unions were back then.
    1. StoneY's Avatar
      StoneY -
      Quote Originally Posted by Gearup View Post
      How about this B man?

      Why don't MAG get a national campaign going and get all other pissed off ACC payers involved then have a massive protest action and shut the country down just like the unions do.
      Fuck dude do you know we spent 2 months planning a 'massive march on Parliament' in Feb 2010???, and you know what?
      80 union members showed up....a whole 80...and that was with support from CTU and ACC Futures Coalition...

      Nice idea but they didnt show up last time we tried what makes you think they will now?
      Bring the country to its knee's my ass....... as BE says Apathy has taken the place of passion in NZ and we shot our load in Nov 09 it seems
    1. BoristheBiter's Avatar
      BoristheBiter -
      Quote Originally Posted by StoneY View Post

      Nice idea but they didnt show up last time we tried what makes you think they will now?
      Tell them there will be be free booze and pies.
    1. MSTRS's Avatar
      MSTRS:Me -
      Quote Originally Posted by BoristheBiter View Post
      Tell them there will be be free booze and pies.
      We are not politicians, maniplulating others by way of lies and false pretenses...
    1. BoristheBiter's Avatar
      BoristheBiter -
      Quote Originally Posted by MSTRS View Post
      We are not politicians, maniplulating others by way of lies and false pretenses...
      And that is why it is doomed to fail.
    1. MSTRS's Avatar
      MSTRS:Me -
      Sadly, I suspect you are right. Honesty, integrity, and scrupulous fairness are not highly prized commodities these days.
    1. Gearup's Avatar
      Gearup -
      Quote Originally Posted by StoneY View Post
      Fuck dude do you know we spent 2 months planning a 'massive march on Parliament' in Feb 2010???, and you know what?
      80 union members showed up....a whole 80...and that was with support from CTU and ACC Futures Coalition...

      Nice idea but they didnt show up last time we tried what makes you think they will now?
      Bring the country to its knee's my ass....... as BE says Apathy has taken the place of passion in NZ and we shot our load in Nov 09 it seems
      Tell me why it was that protests by those opposed to the mining of conservation land worked.

      Kiwis aren't appathtic, they're just not organised.

      Get your marketing people on to it if you've got them.
    1. Bald Eagle's Avatar
      Bald Eagle -
      There was a protest about mining conservation land ??????????????? when did that happen
    1. oneofsix's Avatar
      oneofsix -
      Quote Originally Posted by Bald Eagle View Post
      There was a protest about mining conservation land ??????????????? when did that happen
      What you don't remember Brownlea wanting to open up schedule 4 conservation land to mining?
    1. Gearup's Avatar
      Gearup -
      Quote Originally Posted by Bald Eagle View Post
      There was a protest about mining conservation land ??????????????? when did that happen
      Hello McFly.... It was all over the media. You must have been out of your mind at the time.

      Anyway, I said MAG should be involving pissed off ACC payers and get them to act LIKE the unions not get the unions involved but if they're keen then ok.
    1. Bald Eagle's Avatar
      Bald Eagle -
      Who
    1. Gearup's Avatar
      Gearup -
      Quote Originally Posted by Bald Eagle View Post
      Who
      Keep up with the play.
    1. chasio's Avatar
      chasio -
      Quote Originally Posted by Gearup View Post
      Tell me why it was that protests by those opposed to the mining of conservation land worked.

      Kiwis aren't appathtic, they're just not organised.

      Get your marketing people on to it if you've got them.
      Spot the difference:
      - emotive issue for a small number of people (for now) largely ignored by the press: ACC
      - emotive issue for a huge number of people stoked up by the press: mining on DoC land

      There's your answer. No marketing we can afford is going to motivate 30,000 people to walk down Queen Street over ACC. If you have a cunning plan for a viral approach not suitable for a public forum, please contact MAG-NZ!

      Of course, when the deal is done and we kiss ACC goodbye, maybe we could find enough motivated people. But by then it will be too late.

      That is not to say there is nothing we can do and smaller (guerilla?) action can be a thorn in National's side and might keep them form charging headlong along their chosen path (or so I can hope). But mass public action is not in our grasp and the pollies will be very careful not to do anything that might get Bikoi numbers going again. Expect gradual chipping away, like at diesels and work trucks.

      Who's next?
    1. Mom's Avatar
      Mom -
      Quote Originally Posted by MSTRS View Post
      Nice idea. Tell us how to achieve it.
      It's been tried and tried. For some reason, only bikers seem willing to get off their arses and protest en masse. No-one else seems interested, except a bit of a moan from time to time in casual conversation.
      There were several thousand cyclists prepared to join forces with MAG, opportunity lost yet again.
    1. Mom's Avatar
      Mom -
      Quote Originally Posted by Gearup View Post
      Anyway, I said MAG should be involving pissed off ACC payers and get them to act LIKE the unions not get the unions involved but if they're keen then ok.
      How about you get involved? How many times do smart ideas get talked about in the context someoen else should DO IT! FFS! Get involved, dont sit back telling others what they should do and how to do it. No fucking wonder things never get done. The ones that do all the work get pissed off with the talkers, the talkers do nothing.