Impact statements/quotes?

[Shadows]

My name is available if needed.

I own a 1200cc Harley-Davidson. It's power output is on a par with many modern 600cc Japanese bikes and has nowhere near the same horsepower or top end speed. With that in mind I fail to understand why it is proposed that my ACC levy is to increase disproportionally in comparison with smaller motorcycles capable of reaching greater speeds more quickly.

For that reason I refuse to pay any increase ACC levy on my motorcycle license should it come into effect, as the justification used to determine the scale of increase is fundamentally flawed.

Rugby players and cyclists pay nothing in ACC levies, however they, and participants in other similar ridiculous games, cost the taxpayer a lot more per annum in treatment for injuries, than those motorcyclists unfortunate enough to have accidents in the same time period, whether those accidents are due to some fault of their own, or, more commonly, due to errant car drivers, unmarked roadworks, diesel spilled on the road, poor road design, or U-turning police vehicles.

For that reason I refuse to pay any increase ACC levy on my motorcycle license should it come into effect, as it is inequitable.

I subsidise the treatment of sports injuries in my other taxes and levies, however apparently the same people I'm subsidising aren't going to be expected to subsidise me for the risk presented to me by so many other people.

For that reason I refuse to pay any increase ACC levy on my motorcycle license should it come into effect, as it is discriminatory.

Because the proposed ACC levy increases on my motorcycle registration are based on flawed justification, inequitable, and discriminatory, guess what?

ACC can get fucked.

When my registration expires it will be going on hold permanently. Impact on me? Saving of the $321.24 p.a. currently being paid, ACC $0. Should I get pulled over and fined for operating a vehicle without a current license, Police $200 each time (enjoy your annual ball), ACC still gets $0.

Bring on the increases. I'll happily spend my money on something other than non-justifiable, inequitable and discriminatory ACC levies.

[Whynot]

My name is available if needed.

I own a 1200cc Harley-Davidson. It's power output is on a par with many modern 600cc Japanese bikes and has nowhere near the same horsepower or top end speed. With that in mind I fail to understand why it is proposed that my ACC levy is to increase disproportionally in comparison with smaller motorcycles capable of reaching greater speeds more quickly.

For that reason I refuse to pay any increase ACC levy on my motorcycle license should it come into effect, as the justification used to determine the scale of increase is fundamentally flawed.

Rugby players and cyclists pay nothing in ACC levies, however they, and participants in other similar ridiculous games, cost the taxpayer a lot more per annum in treatment for injuries, than those motorcyclists unfortunate enough to have accidents in the same time period, whether those accidents are due to some fault of their own, or, more commonly, due to errant car drivers, unmarked roadworks, diesel spilled on the road, poor road design, or U-turning police vehicles.

For that reason I refuse to pay any increase ACC levy on my motorcycle license should it come into effect, as it is inequitable.

I subsidise the treatment of sports injuries in my other taxes and levies, however apparently the same people I'm subsidising aren't going to be expected to subsidise me for the risk presented to me by so many other people.

For that reason I refuse to pay any increase ACC levy on my motorcycle license should it come into effect, as it is discriminatory.

Because the proposed ACC levy increases on my motorcycle registration are based on flawed justification, inequitable, and discriminatory, guess what?

ACC can get fucked.

When my registration expires it will be going on hold permanently. Impact on me? Saving of the $321.24 p.a. currently being paid, ACC $0. Should I get pulled over and fined for operating a vehicle without a current license, Police $200 each time (enjoy your annual ball), ACC still gets $0.

Bring on the increases. I'll happily spend my money on something other than non-justifiable, inequitable and discriminatory ACC levies.

Great post

[Reckless]

Hi I'm 50,
ACC is supposed to be NO fault right!
We are supposed to live in a fair and just democracy under National right!

So I say, come up with a plan to share blame fairly or we stay with what we have!
Its either no fault or fault allocated for everyone.
That's simple enough isn't it! not fault allocated for just one group.

either

1/- Come up with a plan that allocates blame fairly to all.
Bikers, cyclists, mountain bikers, rugby players, MX riders, ice skaters etc etc.

2/- or we have a no fault system.

Say no, To rego! till its fair for all.

[pc79]

Hello,
My name is Pedro and I'm an alcoholic,
I got my motorcycle licence on the day of my 15th birthday about 20 years ago and have riden ever since. I do drive a car too of course. Over the years I reckon I must have saved squillions of carparks for others to use, saved squillions of litres of fuel and emissions, reduced congestion on the road....etc. etc. These are ecosystem and community pressures that most governments are striving to alleviate.
Look at the bigger picture!
Thank you,
By the grace of God we will beat this terrible affliction.

[Kwaka14]

Hi,

Although I'm currently not in NZ I will be coming home someday (probably) and I do intend to have another motorcycle when I do, I also intend to dive, ride a bicycle, fish, hike, lots of other things that could potentially be costly in the future.

Sadly I believe the problems with ACC and its massive increase in debt are not able to be solved by the massive increase in levies or by the increasing in competition for the levy paid by employers. Acc has management issues which stem partly from a lack of understanding of what they actually do. As I understand it ACC was originally set up for a specific reason - to avoid the user pays scenario in other countries and the massive legal overhead in liability suits that come with a user pays system. I fail to see how this is being supported by a massive increase to a select few road users or by introducing options for competition in the workplace segment, I believe this is likely to decrease ACC's ability to be a self funding insurer (which it's not supposed to be set up as anyway).

In my opinion the massive hike to motorcyclists is not really the issue, its only a small part of the whole. The real issue is the massive inequality in the scheme that needs to be returned to work towards it's original intentions.

It's not really about how much it costs Motorcyclists, it's about how much it costs lots of small sectors of the community, and about how little it costs others. It's about inequality. We're only clearly motivated to see it now because it's aimed at us as motorcyclists.

In saying all of this I do believe that ACC is a good (even great) thing if it's taken back to represent it's original aims. Helping people to get well and be cared for without the massive financial and legal overhead that a user pays system will entail.





Thats my opinion anyway.

Sean.

[Pixie]

My name is Paul
I own three motorcycles.I currently pay ACC in excess of $2000.00 per year in work and vehicle levies.I use my bike to allow me to get to urgent jobs in town during times of heavy traffic.I last made a motorcycle related claim on ACC in 1979.
I will take any opportunity,in the future,to take my business to providers other than ACC.

[Pixie]

Hello,
My name is Pedro and I'm an alcoholic,
I got my motorcycle licence on the day of my 15th birthday about 20 years ago and have riden ever since. I do drive a car too of course. Over the years I reckon I must have saved squillions of carparks for others to use, saved squillions of litres of fuel and emissions, reduced congestion on the road....etc. etc. These are ecosystem and community pressures that most governments are striving to alleviate.
Look at the bigger picture!
Thank you,
By the grace of God we will beat this terrible affliction.

Hi Pedro..

[Pegasus]

My name is Tracy
I own 1 car, share another car, and own 1 bike, you claim that car owners are subsidising me. I am more than happy to subsidise myself and “we” will cover another person that does not own a car. I expect that you will find that most bike owners will own a least one car as well though.

[Owl]

My name is Owl and I currently own 3 motor vehicles including a large capacity motorcycle.

As your proposed ACC levies are going to effectively make motorcycling impossible for me, I wondered if it would be possible to get some carbon credits in return for not setting fire to my fucking bike on your parliament steps?







Obvious enough Dave?

[vifferman]

My name is Ian.
I use my bike to commute to work nearly every day. Despite being over 600cc, it has a sophisticated fuel-injected engine, and uses much less fuel than my wife's car. It also saves me several hours a week in commuting time, and takes up much less space on our congested roads. However, that is not what is most important to me.

I am a BIKER, and have been for all my adult life. Owning and riding a motorcycle is an integral part of who I am, and helps to define me as a person. It is my hobby, my passion, the motivation for much of what I do. When I cannot ride my bike I get irritable and frustrated, as it helps me unwind.

I have been riding bikes for nearly 36 years. During that time, I have had a few crashes involving minor injury, ALL of which were the fault of other parties, none of which involved hospitalisation, and only one of which required physiotherapy treatment (4 visits). In contrast, I have had multiple visits to the physiotherapist for injuries resulting from a fall at home, and more recently, from a back injury caused by drying myself after a shower!

I fully realise the risks I take when riding a motorcycle. That is why I have spent a considerable amount of money ensuring I am wearing the best safety gear I can. My safety is MY responsibility, no-one elses. I do not look to the Government to look after me. I pay for my own life insurance, medical insurance, and insurance for my beloved bike.

[martybabe]

I'm Martin. I've been riding Motorbikes since long hair and glam rock were in fashion, before mobile phones, before personal computers and Ipods, before ACC in fact. It's been a long and interesting road and I think I can say now that motorcycling has been a life long passion for me.

Despite scores of good reasons to give up, a growing family, financial hardship, recessions etc, I've never quit, because It's who I am, It's what I do, and it's what I love.

I have never made a claim on ACC, my bikes are kept immaculate and no expense is ever spared on keeping them road worthy and legal, yet suddenly after 35 years in the saddle with an exemplary driving record, you decide I am a major risk on the road and that you are going to single me out and penalise me accordingly.

After 20 years in public service I find myself unable to secure paid employment at the moment due to the reccesion, so I Do voluntary work for the community, I will therefore not be able to pay the massive and unjust increases in ACC levies you propose. You and your organisation have effectively put an end to my hobby and priced me off the road.

Your figures are flawed, your increases unjust,your policies discriminatory and your sweeping generalisations and biased statements are little more than propaganda designed to alienate the general driving populous against a powerless minority. You as an organisation insult me and the high standards I've set myself over 3 and a half decades.
You spit in the eye of my exemplary driving history and by your actions, condone the appalling driving standards that are rife on NZ roads today.
You seek to financially penalise a small section of the motoring community rather than take on the massive task of improving driving standards across the board and in the process rob me of a pastime that I love. Shame on you.

[Usarka]

My name is Bartholomew,

In my annual leave I ride to different places around New Zealand and contribute to the local economy. With the increased levies I might sell the bike and holiday in the Gold Coast instead.

[nothingflash]

Great post

Shit yes - that's fantastic

[Big Dave]

My name is Bartholomew,

In my annual leave I ride to different places around New Zealand and contribute to the local economy. With the increased levies I might sell the bike and holiday in the Gold Coast instead.

I'm looking for quotable reasons against the levy. :-P

[motnick]

...I am a BIKER, and have been for all my adult life. Owning and riding a motorcycle is an integral part of who I am, and helps to define me as a person. It is my hobby, my passion, the motivation for much of what I do. When I cannot ride my bike I get irritable and frustrated, as it helps me unwind....

here here. Very well said

My name is Nick

I've been riding since I was 9 years old, thats 24 years. Worked for 3 years as a motorcycle courier (smiling the whole time that I was being paid to ride). I've had three accidents in my life but none for the past 16 years, one with an ACC claim.

I have never had a speeding ticket. Never lost my license, and I do not have even one drink before riding. I maintain my bike with care and I ride to survive.

First crash was when I was cornering at night after work and I hit a deisal patch which boy racers had put down (yamaha 125, superficial damage to body and bike). Second was a car seeing me and deciding to not give way (GN250, bent handle bars and forks). And the last was a car driver not seeing me with my headlight blaring in broad daylight, pulled out and parked on top of my GSX400e (written off bike, years of specialist treatment before I could play sport again).

Two themes from my biking history.

1. Car drivers cause bike crashes.

2. It matters not the CC rating. Falling of a 125cc at 100kph, hurts the same as falling of a 1000cc at 100kph.

My only vehicle is a GSX1200, when riden economically, it uses half the petrol of my wifes 2 litre Corona. I work in a semi-rural location and public transport is not an option.

Charge me either the same as everybody, or ONLY for the risks which I present.