• We're watching you, Mr Smith. Protest 27th June 2010

    We're not happy. You're gouging money from bikers. Where's it going ?

    Just what are we getting for our massively increased levies?

    We've been told that a bunch of grumpy bikers are planning to turn out to demand some answers : to remind Mr Smith that we're not happy. And that we're watching him.

    And to show him exactly what he can do with his A.C.C.

    When ? Sunday 27th June.

    Where . Central Auckland. Can't tell you exactly where just yet. because if we do, we might be able to have it there. And we're having it there, permissions or not.

    We'll update you with exact location , and game plan nearer the day. Sufficiently nearer that it's too late for TPTB to stop it.

    And some extra grumpy people may ride on to other places afterward. Not that we know anything about that. . (less than 20km, easy riding, and very legal., No speed limits will be brioken. Quite the reverse. )

    Be aware that getting into the location may be difficult for trikes or sidecars . Anyone planning on bringing one, PM me.

    Be aware also that we may probably be breaking some rules of some sort.. This meeting may not be totally respectfull. Or polite. So anyone that has major issues with keeping squeaky clean and rule compliant may want to flag this one.

    Some folk may want tp wear a mask. or balaclava. Or skull mask . We're encouraging masks and balaclavas. After all, it'll probably be cold.

    Probably be wet too. So if you're a wimp, you probably want to flag this one.

    Otherwise, if you're not afraid of getting wet, and don't like bending over and taking it (there's a hint there for you) , be there. Disrespectfully, and noisily.

    Central Auckland. Somewhere. 27th June 11am.

    Anyone that can lead a group from the outskirts, (West gate, Autobahn, Dairy Flat ? ,) please post up , so groups can get organised.
    This article was originally published in forum thread: We're watching you, Mr Smith. Protest 27th June 2010 started by BRONZ View original post
    Comments 113 Comments
    1. jamfig's Avatar
      jamfig -
      Quote Originally Posted by retro asian View Post
      Proof that those who turned up yesterday actually are hard men (and women):

      (Look at the f%$#-ing big puddle !!!)
      hey wheres the photo of me at the gates to HELL!!!!!!!!! lol
    1. Brian d marge's Avatar
      Brian d marge -
      Plus three

      Some people just need their heads banged together and to STFU

      If any of you have had ANY experience with government departments then you will know that numbers count BIG TIME ( or media exposure , but as is a state owned Enterprise , Im not holding my breath )

      Les , may not be holey agreed with , may not be the most photogenic , and has admitted to liking the odd two stoke

      BUT HIS THE ONLY ONE WE HAVE GOT

      So

      Be quiet , and join the protest rides ,

      OR

      ACC WILL BE GONE

      Stephen
    1. miloking's Avatar
      miloking -
      I guess similar things will happen to us if we protest the ACC leveis too much....http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/poli...rns-in-protest

      All i can say is fuck the motherfucking cops!
    1. Point n Shot's Avatar
      Point n Shot -
      OK guys, the ACC hike is tomorrow. Are we just sit on our collective butts and take it laying down as the NZ public are used to doing. Or, has something being done by the major bike groups? Next they will be making us put number plates on our front guards as they used to. We need to make another stand ( a lot louder)
    1. outlawtorn's Avatar
      outlawtorn -
      Quote Originally Posted by Point n Shot View Post
      OK guys, the ACC hike is tomorrow. Are we just sit on our collective butts and take it laying down as the NZ public are used to doing. Or, has something being done by the major bike groups? Next they will be making us put number plates on our front guards as they used to. We need to make another stand ( a lot louder)
      Dude, where have you been for the past year? We (BRONZ) have done heaps and will still continue to fight the hikes in one way or another....join your local BRONZ chapter and help with the fight!
    1. DEVVIL's Avatar
      DEVVIL -
      Quote Originally Posted by Point n Shot View Post
      OK guys, the ACC hike is tomorrow. Are we just sit on our collective butts and take it laying down as the NZ public are used to doing. Or, has something being done by the major bike groups? Next they will be making us put number plates on our front guards as they used to. We need to make another stand ( a lot louder)
      November protest is on (Wellington) lets make some noise!!!!
    1. NONONO's Avatar
      NONONO -
      Quote Originally Posted by outlawtorn View Post
      Dude, where have you been for the past year? We (BRONZ) have done heaps and will still continue to fight the hikes in one way or another....join your local BRONZ chapter and help with the fight!
      Sorry mate, don't mean to be divisive, but what exactly have "We" (Bronz) done heaps of over the last year?
      Decided at meetings to support, or not, protests arranged by others?
      BRONZ need to drop the "we don't represent bikers, we represent motorcycling" tag to be effective in this. Cos Nick and Judge ain't screwing motorcycling, they are screwing bikers.
    1. Reckless's Avatar
      Reckless -
      Quote Originally Posted by Point n Shot View Post
      OK guys, the ACC hike is tomorrow. Are we just sit on our collective butts and take it laying down as the NZ public are used to doing. Or, has something being done by the major bike groups? Next they will be making us put number plates on our front guards as they used to. We need to make another stand ( a lot louder)
      Quote Originally Posted by DEVVIL View Post
      November protest is on (Wellington) lets make some noise!!!!
      Look I didn't mean to put a damper on your enthusiasm but the way I see it Bronze was calling for some more aggressive action with this last protest. Probably as a gauge to how keen everyone was. And as far as the comments I've read on here ( because I'm one of the slack bastards that didn't turn up) it went fizz. Bikers aren't turning out. What do they do they seem to be hamstrung by lack off attendance!

      Quote Originally Posted by NONONO View Post
      BRONZ need to drop the "we don't represent bikers, we represent motorcycling" tag to be effective in this. Cos Nick and Judge ain't screwing motorcycling, they are screwing bikers.
      Mate same as above how can they represent bikers when only 242 bikers are willing to front up with their $20 bucks membership!

      But hey if Bronze represents bikers like me, that post on threads, don't go to the meetings or turn up to every protest ride, are unhappy to pay but to busy to get off there asses and still trundle off to grudgingly pay there rego! Its not their fault they are pissing into the wind its MINE!!!
    1. SpankMe's Avatar
      SpankMe -
      Quote Originally Posted by Reckless View Post
      Look I didn't mean to put a damper on your enthusiasm but the way I see it Bronze was calling for some more aggressive action with this last protest. Probably as a gauge to how keen everyone was. And as far as the comments I've read on here ( because I'm one of the slack bastards that didn't turn up) it went fizz. Bikers aren't turning out. What do they do they seem to be hamstrung by lack off attendance!
      Bikers can't turn up if they don't know about the protest. I only found out about it a couple of days before the event. They need to advertise their events better.
    1. Squiggles's Avatar
      Squiggles -
      Quote Originally Posted by NONONO View Post
      Sorry mate, don't mean to be divisive, but what exactly have "We" (Bronz) done heaps of over the last year?
      You a member or just jumping on the bandwagon?
    1. NONONO's Avatar
      NONONO -
      Quote Originally Posted by Squiggles View Post
      You a member or just jumping on the bandwagon?
      FFS, what bandwagon?
      And yes, I'm a member, but probably not going to renew.
      My point is this, if, as we keep being told, BRONZ represents motorcycling and not bikers then what's the point of a biker being a member?
      Bikers Rights Organisation New Zealand....maybe a name change to accuratly reflect the focus of the organisation?
      Motorcycle Rights Organisation New Zealand.....
      "Motorcycling" does not give a flying shit about it's rights.
      BRONZ does not represent motorcyclists.
      As Les pointed out, a very large percentage of bikers don't give a toss for BRONZ and have thier own representing bodies.
      Erm..WTF?
      Bandwagon? My arse.
    1. nosebleed's Avatar
      nosebleed -
      Frankly this whole event was a mashup.
      Les stated on here that his intention here was to gauge the feeling of bikers outside of KB, and the way I read it, he didn't want KB'ers along fudging his numbers.

      The whole subtefuge angle was too bizaare for me anyway.

      Then we're reminded that the Bikers Rights Organisation represents motorcycling not motorcyclists, whatever that means.

      The result? Too many mixed messages so I invested my minimal time off, elsewhere.
    1. Squiggles's Avatar
      Squiggles -
      Quote Originally Posted by NONONO View Post
      FFS, what bandwagon?
      And yes, I'm a member, but probably not going to renew.
      My point is this, if, as we keep being told, BRONZ represents motorcycling and not bikers then what's the point of a biker being a member?
      Bikers Rights Organisation New Zealand....maybe a name change to accuratly reflect the focus of the organisation?
      Motorcycle Rights Organisation New Zealand.....
      "Motorcycling" does not give a flying shit about it's rights.
      BRONZ does not represent motorcyclists.
      As Les pointed out, a very large percentage of bikers don't give a toss for BRONZ and have thier own representing bodies.
      Erm..WTF?
      Bandwagon? My arse.
      As a member you can set the direction for the organisation...
    1. NONONO's Avatar
      NONONO -
      Quote Originally Posted by Squiggles View Post
      As a member you can set the direction for the organisation...
      Priceless........
    1. jamov13's Avatar
      jamov13 -
      As a fairly new bloke to motorcycling I think I have a fairly even perspective. I really feel for the biking fraternity as you and I are being set up for a right shafting.

      Quote Originally Posted by NONONO View Post
      ... BRONZ represents motorcycling and not bikers then what's the point of a biker being a member?
      Bikers Rights Organisation New Zealand....maybe a name change to accurately reflect the focus of the organisation?
      Motorcycle Rights Organisation New Zealand.....
      "Motorcycling" does not give a flying shit about it's rights.
      BRONZ does not represent motorcyclists.
      NONONO is right. BRONZ indeed appears to be an acronym for bikers rights. This aside and supposing they had a different name, they absolutely need to be helping the bikers at this time (as do all other motorcycle groups and organisations). Even if the particular group has no interest in our specific problem they should be totally behind us - when it's them behind the gun we should reciprocate - that's how it works. When the heat comes on it's unity that gets the desired results.


      Quote Originally Posted by NONONO View Post
      As Les pointed out, a very large percentage of bikers don't give a toss for BRONZ and have thier own representing bodies.
      This may be true but a larger percentage don't know what/who BRONZ are. Excuse my ignorance but my friends and I only have a basic idea of what they stand for. I bet the general public have no clue.

      Out of interest, where does BRONZ draw its constituency from? Surely the day to day commuter and weekend enthusiast are a large part of this. If that's true then really - who in the motorcycling arena are BRONZ backing?


      Quote Originally Posted by SpankMe; View Post
      Bikers can't turn up if they don't know about the protest. I only found out about it a couple of days before the event. They need to advertise their events better.
      A major hurdle to over come is gathering numbers and uniting the collective for the period of the dispute. This forum is excellent and a credit to the guys who maintain it. However I suggest that there's a country of bikers out there who are pissed about Nick's changes and can therefore be rounded up. Unfortunately loads of the guys I work and ride with have pretty limited computer skill's or just don't use them - somehow they need to be reached outside of the interweb-box (I'm still thinking as to the best means). Which ever it'll take a well run highly organised group just like BRONZ to do this rounding up and won't be easy.


      I'm not a member of BRONZ, nor are my mates. When we don't see BRONZ proactively supporting bikers they lose our respect and the prospect of us being future members grows slim. So does the desire to support other issues we don't care so much about.

      No matter whether BRONZ (and all other motorcycle related groups) support motorcycling, racing, commuting, weekend rides, motorX...whatever. They all share a collective...the motorcycle. If for nothing else but for this reason alone, when any of the collective are in trouble or require assistance we ALL need to back the issue and show unity.

      Band together fellas - Only then can we fight a Gov.
    1. NONONO's Avatar
      NONONO -
      Nice post Jamov, but it's a bit late as the shafting's already happened and the next round of shafting is just round the corner.
      Hope you don't let my ranting stop you and your mates signing up with BRONZ or any other organisation new or old.
      Just a cynical old bastard who's having a rough year (but thankful that it's not as rough as some are having).
      This whole thing is much more than just bikers, it's about a fundamental change in how we live our lives here.
      Get informed and get active.
      Good luck.
    1. outlawtorn's Avatar
      outlawtorn -
      Maybe it might just be a good idea to not bother with BRONZ at all, and to sit on my lazy fucking arse like most of the bikers out there and bitch like a baby at the levies but be completely prepared to do sweet fuck all about it!

      If you are unhappy, get of your lazy arse and attend your local BRONZ chapter meetings, it is not rocket science people! With more support and numbers we have more effect and presence! Why the fuck does this need to be said over and over again? People are so very quick to jump up and say we aren't doing anything, or what we are doing is not right, yet they themselves are not prepared to pull their finger out and help!

      If you don't like what Les is doing, put yourself in his shoes and stand for president of BRONZ, if you want to help, have a say and contribute, then join a local chapter. But for fucks sake please don't do anything, and then bitch and moan about how we are getting screwed.
    1. bogan's Avatar
      bogan -
      Quote Originally Posted by outlawtorn View Post
      If you don't like what Les is doing, put yourself in his shoes and stand for president of BRONZ, if you want to help, have a say and contribute, then join a local chapter. But for fucks sake please don't do anything, and then bitch and moan about how we are getting screwed.
      some of us aren't cut out to do the whole leadership thing (and too far away to go to any meets), so we leave it to bronz, who imo needs to sort their shit out, many people didn't even know about the last protest, and even fewer knew what was happening. Bikers who are against the ACC levy increases (which is pretty much all of us) need to be provided with simple instructions of where to go, when to be there, and far in advance so we can spread the word out. Surely that is the best way to get big numbers? Perhaps a way of getting those who aren't on the same wavelength as to the best way to lobby tptb would be to encourage speakers from all perspectives to speak at a gathering. Is it a coincidence all of those elements were present at the bikeoi? I think not.
    1. Squiggles's Avatar
      Squiggles -
      Quote Originally Posted by bogan View Post
      we leave it to bronz
      You leave it to a handful of us.
    1. jeffs's Avatar
      jeffs -
      I watched this thread for a few days before the planned protest.

      I did not go because the planning was so cryptic I did not under what was going on.

      Was the plan to do something legal or illegal ?
      Was the plan to promote the bikers view or shout at the unjust ACC ?
      Was the plan to show that some bikers take safety seriously ?
      Was it just a day out on our bikes riding with friends ?
      Was this deliberately cryptic in an attempt to hype the protest to get press interest?

      For me it ticked non the boxes above, so I was confused and did not go.

      Nor did any of my other biker friends, because when I told them there was a planned protest, I could not explain
      what it was about.

      I have been on several Protests with Bronz, but do not intend on becoming a member.
      Not because I disrespect them, quite the opposite, they have at least kept active over the ACC increases.

      I just don't understand them anymore.

      Sorry