ACC Levy email sent to TOMCC members.

**RentaTriumph** · 15th October 2009, 21:37

By now everyone would have heard and digested the latest information that
the ACC levies\registrations for motorcycles over 601cc have increased by
$500 per annum. The rational is that last year ACC collected slightly over
12 million dollars in ACC\registration fees when the true cost to the ACC
for motorcycle related claims was $62 million dollars which is a shortfall
of $50 million per annum. Nick Smith would make you believe that they could
have pushed up our fees by a far greater amount but because they are a bunch of good guys they have sucked the Sav and will still subsidise our
motorcycles to a certain point.

I believe the motorcycle statistics given by the government have failed to
mention if the motorcycle accidents are a direct result of the motorcyclist
being at fault or if the accident is a direct result of a third party .i.e.
car or truck or in the case of a recent accident last year in Canterbury of
a tractor pulling out onto the main road and cutting directly in the path of
an unsighted motorcycle resulting in both the husband and wife being killed.
Also I am not sure if many people realise but motorcycle ACC accident
statistics are also made up of Motocross, Speedway, Quad, Moped, Farm and
Off Road bike accidents. Of course many of the bikes stated above do not
require registration forcing our Contributions higher.

If the government is truly of the belief that users should be directly
responsible for servicing ACC levies in their respective "At risk groups"
then why should anyone participating in any risk sport be it Mountain
biking, Road Race biking, Rugby, Rugby League, Athletics, Horse riding
Netball etc not be made to paid the relevant levy attributable to the ACC
payouts for injuries sustained in their sports.

I believe that my right to ride a motorcycle has been passed onto me from my father and his father before him and is a god giving right and I take the
governments action as a direct assault on my way of life and lifestyle that
will destroy most working class people's ability to own, register and insure
a motorcycle. Listening to the radio today and talking with people most
NZers with a sense of fair play & justice they are absolutely gobsmacked at
the increases and direct targeting of motorcyclists. Most people also with
half a brain realise there isn't much difference riding a 125cc motorcycle
to that of a 601cc or larger bike when a truck pulls out in front of you so
why target bikes over 601cc or is that just the illogical way government
bureaucrats' think "the higher the CC the faster the bike, therefore the
higher the risk".

Then there is the argument with global warming and the governments drive to
lower global emissions then to ride a motorcycle is a very good efficient
means of travel that most countries will no doubt offer a subsidy to get
people out off their cars and 4x4 and onto greener cleaner motorcycles. Also
petrol will be up over the $200 mark once the economies have recovered so no chance for the poor old family trying to manage tight budgets to bring the
motorbike out of the garage and save costs.

I could go on at more depth but I believe the basics have been covered so
the big question is "What do we do about it". I will be contacting my local
MP's on behalf of the NZ TOMCC also writing to Nick Smith, also the Minister
of Transport and copying my local MP's in on the letter. My suggestion to
you is also contact your local politician. If a National MP get into them
about the levy and of course try to convince them you are a blue blooded
National supporter and if this levy is introduced at the current levels then
you will be voting for another party next election. If your local MP is a
labour MP then ring them also and ask what there thoughts are on what
National are imposing and what they intend to do about it. Email the pricks
also but my guess is they will just ignore the emails. I have two local MP's,
Leanne Dalzell (Labour elected) and Aaron Gilmore (National list). Both
Leanne and her husband are keen motorcyclists and own bikes so I know what her thoughts will be but I still intend to contact her as Labour MP as
Labour may be able to exert pressure on the National MP's.

I know the BRONZ motorcycle club (Bike Riders of New Zealand) are having a
meeting in the next few days to formulate a plan of attack and I am not sure
what direction this will take but printing out motorcycle friendly postcards
with the Minister of Transports Parliament address would be a good start.
That way even people that don't ride motorcycles but are biker friendly get
the chance to sign the card and post it free of charge to Parliament.

Update

Watching the news tonight National don't yet have the numbers to push the
bill through Parliament on urgency so lets get into any Party that will
listen especially the Maori party who aren't keen on the increases and ACT
who don't seem to think they go far enough. I will be making as many
approaches to other clubs as I can letting them know we will support what
ever action is needed. A good website to keep up to date with news is
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/fo...play.php?f=108

I will keep you up to date with what other clubs are doing and possible
steps like a ride on Parliament etc. BTW My personal thoughts are I have
heard people say lets block motorways and cause mayhem but this approach
will just piss Joe Public off and we will lose much needed support from the
public who are generally supportive of us.

Here is a couple of prize Pricks contact details:

Hon. Dr. Nick Smith, MP Nelson
Contact Details
Email: nick.smith@national.org.nz
Website: www.nick4nelson.co.nz
Phone: (04)817 6805 (Parliament)
Phone: (03)5472314 (Electorate) Fax 547 2315
or
E-mail nick@nick4nelson.co.nz

If you would like to write to the Minister of Transport about any transport
issues, please send your letter to:
Hon Steven Joyce
Minister of Transport
Parliament Buildings
Wellington 6011
New Zealand

or email s.joyce@ministers.govt.nz

Blair Corkran
27 Orlando Crescent
Waimari Beach
Christchurch 8083
PH: 388-0302 or 027-687-5600
NZ President TOMCC
www.tomcc.co.nz