Action in Nelson

**davereid** · 21st October 2009, 09:23

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/new...to-Smiths-door

plus he is back...
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/new...in-court-again

Rego ? what rego ?

So ... its 10am Saturday at Richmod showgrounds... for those wo like me didnt read the entire bloody article..

**Ixion** · 21st October 2009, 10:32

Originally Posted by Stuff

Hundreds of Nelson motorcyclists will kick-start national ACC levy protests with a ride to the office of ACC Minister and Nelson MP Nick Smith this weekend.
The rally will involve Nelson social riders, known as Route 6, supported by other motorcycle groups, including Ulysses.
Organiser Steve Page said Smith had agreed to "have a bit of a chat" with riders after Saturday's rally, which will leave the Richmond Show Grounds mid-morning.
Marlborough and West Coast riders were expected to join the Nelson protest against the proposed annual motorcycle levy increases of up to $500, he said.
Ulysses national president Peter McIntosh backed regional protests rather than a national rally. "Mass rides have so many inherent problems," he said.
McIntosh was disappointed at the way the ACC was using crash figures to paint motorcyclists in the worst possible light.
The tight submission time frame for the proposals left little room for considered debate, he said.
Ulysses Canterbury co-ordinator Mike Dew said plans were still being made for a Christchurch protest.

Bloody chars .

**MyGSXF:Me** · 21st October 2009, 10:36

Tis a shame that they chose Labour Weekend to hold the run though.. as a lot of riders from here head down to Greymouth for the Street Racing.. me included..

bugger....

Hope it all goes well anyway!!!!

**Ixion** · 21st October 2009, 11:04

Hundreds of Nelson motorcyclists will kick-start national ACC levy protests with a ride to the office of ACC Minister and Nelson MP Nick Smith this weekend.
The rally will involve Nelson social riders, known as Route 6, supported by other motorcycle groups, including Ulysses.
Organiser Steve Page said Smith had agreed to "have a bit of a chat" with riders after Saturday's rally, which will leave the Richmond Show Grounds mid-morning.
Marlborough and West Coast riders were expected to join the Nelson protest against the proposed annual motorcycle levy increases of up to $500, he said.
Ulysses national president Peter McIntosh backed regional protests rather than a national rally. "Mass rides have so many inherent problems," he said.
McIntosh was disappointed at the way the ACC was using crash figures to paint motorcyclists in the worst possible light.
The tight submission time frame for the proposals left little room for considered debate, he said.
Ulysses Canterbury co-ordinator Mike Dew said plans were still being made for a Christchurch protest.

More bloody chars

**klyong82** · 21st October 2009, 11:08

You can also do massive burnouts in front of Nick Smith;s office which should leave a thick coating of tyre rubber at the front of his office.....

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/1054692/

but of cos we bikers wanna protest peacefully without causing issues and show that we are been bullied...

**MyGSXF:Me** · 21st October 2009, 11:25

Jus arrived in the local paper....

**Skyryder** · 21st October 2009, 20:35

I don't know if any one has made the connection but these boy racer laws could be used in Nelson. Something about illegal riding up and down the street etc. Whoever is doing the biz in Nelson might pay to get aquanted with them.

Skyryder

**Naki Rat** · 24th October 2009, 12:07

It would seem that the protests are not restricted to what KB is promoting. Seems that Nick Smith has had a taste of coming events today in his electorate.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2997...ainst-bike-tax

Also covered well for bikers in NewstalkZB's midday news

Coming along nicely

**Mully** · 24th October 2009, 12:11

Good work Nelson.

And, all policital stuff aside, good on Nick Smith for agreeing to meet with them. He could have quite easily have been "unavailable"

**Fluffy Cat** · 24th October 2009, 12:15

Mahhn howd i miss 400 bikes, could'nt find em. Went to filco then to NS office no bikes then 3 more times. When did they get there?.

**Fluffy Cat** · 24th October 2009, 12:24

I missed 500 bikes this gets worse.

**pzkpfw** · 24th October 2009, 12:52

Originally Posted by Fluffy Cat

I missed 500 bikes this gets worse.

You should know better!

"Sorry mate, I didn't see you" is no excuse... (smiley)

**Ms Piggy** · 24th October 2009, 12:54

Originally Posted by Naki Rat

It would seem that the protests are not restricted to what KB is promoting. Seems that Nick Smith has had a taste of coming events today in his electorate.

Yes we heard about it on the National Radio - nicely done people!

**peasea** · 24th October 2009, 13:09

Twaz a great turnout, 500 machines, well bahaved (moreso than some automobile drivers I might add) and TV1 and TV3 cameras were there.

Shame two riders had to drop their machines when parking at the final destination, one right in front of the camera! Bugger.

Other than that, great exercise and I will credit to Nick Smith for fronting up.

As yet I have no idea what was said in the venue but there was more than one loud roar and a round of applause.

Well done Steve Page for sorting it out.

**sunhuntin** · 24th October 2009, 17:15

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2997...ainst-bike-tax

More than 500 motorcyclists from around the Nelson region and further afield gathered this morning to make a united stand against "abhorrent" increases to ACC levies proposed by the Government.

The mood was charged as the large group of men and women riders on bikes ranging in size from small scooters to large touring bikes gathered at the showgrounds in Richmond before hitting the road in protest.

The convoy, which included teenagers, grandparents and Lost Breed bikers, planned to park up at ACC Minister Nick Smith's Stoke headquarters before presenting him with a letter expressing outrage at the hefty price hikes.

Under the proposed levies, announced last week, owners of bikes over 601cc will see their annual ACC levy increase from $252.69 to $745.77. Levies for medium-sized bikes will increase from $252 to $511 and moped owners would face a $257 levy.

The organiser of the protest, Steve Page, who is president of the Route 6 Motorcycle Club, said motorcyclists taking part in the protest had been told to follow the normal road rules and be calm, professional and responsible.

Mr Page, who rides a Suzuki 1800cc bike said it was likely there would be a traffic jam when the riders tried to fit their bikes into Dr Smith's office car park.

"It's going to be really interesting up at Nick Smith's office. That's when the fun will start and I expect there will be a bit of jeering," Mr Page said before the protest ride left Richmond.

Bruce Stronach of Richmond, who rides a Triumph 900 and thought the proposed changes were "bulls...", said he rode his bike as he drove his car – carefully and at a safe distance from other traffic.

Blenheim rider Ian Clark, who took part this morning on his Kawasaki 650, said he was annoyed at the hypocrisy of the situation.

"On the one hand we're all being asked to lessen our carbon footprint, and then they're zapping people for riding small bikes and mopeds," Mr Clark said.

The protesters set off along Queen St, turned on to Salisbury Rd and cruised to central Nelson. The convoy planned to head back along Rocks Rd to Dr Smith's Stoke headquarters.

Dr Smith had agreed to meet a delegation of motorcyclists and receive the letter.

The letter states that the middle-aged professionals "who use their bikes as an escape" already paid many levies for cars and businesses.

"The Government's proposal to increase the ACC levies to the motorcyclists by the amounts quoted are abhorrent to us. As a show of unity, the riders you have seen today all feel the same," it says. The letter also states that over 98 per cent of the bikes taking part in the protest were over 600cc, the threshold for the proposed $750 fee. "Yet these bikes are very rarely used for commuting, yet get hit the hardest.

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Most riders who ride 600cc motorcycles and bigger were aged between 35 and 60 and were male professionals who rode with caution, Mr Page said.

There had been "very little consultation" with the affected groups over the price hike, he said.

"Would it have made a difference if we wanted shellfish from one of the local beaches? We would have way more consultation over that one."

The letter states that a better charging system was needed, perhaps through a user-pays system which sourced revenue from all users.

A "reasonable increase" in petrol tax was a fairer and more viable option, the letter said.