Christchurch protest ride - Dec 5th

[knuckles24]

apart from rioting we need some sort of impact, any ideas

[davereid]

Fairfax have been publishing anti biker opinion from the BRT, but ignoring bikers. Enough said really.

Next protest needs to be spectacular, and NOT invite Fairfax... so they suffer from being the only one with no mcoverage of something newsworthy.

[SDU]

Prehaps we need to combine with other groups fighting the changes as well.
They can't ignore everyone

[sammcj]

Dear Decision Maker,

I'm simply going to copy to you exactly what others have written below; I think it sums it up pretty well and I think it is important to New Zealander's that The Press realises this is effecting a lot of people.
I truly hope that you could find it financially viable to write a front page article on the ACC protests from The Bikers view.
As a group we feel / know we are being undermined for certain political reasons, we would truly respect and be very thankful for any coverage you could spare.
Your reply would be much appreciated, even if it is denying my request.

-Sam McLeod, Another Upset Kiwi Biker.



...goes on to quote others.


(Subject Reads: ACC Protest / Project Silence The Bikers.)

Sent to:
suzi.lazenby@press.co.nz
reporters@press.co.nz
letters@press.co.nz

[ukusa]

It's like "Ho hum, another bike bike ride. Hardly news anymore". Time for a change of approach ... something to interest the media.

maybe we need some boobs on the back of each bike, that seems to get a shit load of media coverage every year.
maybe we should have made it Sunday, and joined onto the back of the Santa parade.
The media did seem to shun us.
With Xmas so close, many people will be heading away on holidays & I feel the whole protest thing may lose some momentum over those 3 or 4 weeks. We probably need to step up the action in the lead up to Xmas, and maybe look at doing the same thing (or similar) every week until then. Is it time to fill all the parks in town one morning? The one up north seemed to go well. The cars will have nowhere to park, but it should highlight the fact of what could happen to the roads should many be forced off their bikes due to cost.

[AlpinePossum]

As I said... this wasn't much of a protest... but it's a Damn Good Bike Show!

The kids in the streets thought the Santa Parade had come early!

Some random thoughts for you to chew on...

* The cops here are utterly clueless about protests. Protests are _not_ things for cops to go all "hands off" about. Protests are bloody dangerous things an inch away from a riot, full lots of people who are already angry. A policemans duty in such a situation is _not_ to stop or hinder the protest. The policemans duty is to make damn sure nobody on any side gets hurt. It would just take one impatient asshole in a car to slam into the bikers for things to get really really ugly.

* There is another large body of folks who are implicitly on our side. The push bikers. Yip, they're scared if they squeak they'll get slammed with a matching levy. But if we're scared of and pissed off with clueless cagers... I'm promise you cyclists are even more vulnerable and angry. We could do a lot worse to borrow some of the cyclists tactics (Google for "critical mass" and "we are traffic" protest actions.) In fact, instead of just borrowing the tactics, how about inviting them to join with us. We don't want higher ACC payouts, we want fewer ruddy accidents! ACC is two large ugly steps beyond the proverbial "Ambulance at the foot of the cliff"!

* The Nat Party is beholden to big money, so if our protests start costing them money, they might listen. For example, find the supermarket chain, red shed or whatever that donated the most money to the Nats... and then early on a Saturday before Christmas.... Go unshopping.

Fill up parking spaces.

Contemplate life.

Window shop.

Give kiddies free rides (with helmets etc).

Buy nothing.

* The Nats are vulnerable to the populist vote. They have big media and big money on their side. Clubbing together and buying ad space on TV or Google Ads, (not Fairfax), community news papers. This may be more effective than a ride.

* Instead of a protest ride, a protest bike show. Invite the general public. Invite the kiddies. Let them all see, drool over, touch, sit on our shiny cool toys. And then explain to them carefully what a Bad Bad Man Mr Smith is and why you must _never_ vote for him...

Ps: Thanks Knuckles for organizing this... superbly done, superbly organized!

But let's face it, The Man, like a bratty kid has his fingers firmly in his ears going "Lalalala I Can't _Hear_ You!!" Time to take it to another level.

Ps: Thanks UkUsa: Nice pic of my Suzi!
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/at...5&d=1260043241

[robo555]

A good ride, well organised, but need banners (which I know is a bit tricky on bikes), and loud speakers for pillions.

Will turn up for any further rides. We know bikers likes to ride, just need to improve on our display of intention.

[The Lone Rider]

I have recieved a letter from N. Smith in the mail. I will type it out and post it as soon as I have time.

[ukusa]

I have recieved a letter from N. Smith in the mail. I will type it out and post it as soon as I have time.

probablya generic letter written by someone else that he signed. Is it full of his lies?

[sammcj]

I have recieved a letter from N. Smith in the mail. I will type it out and post it as soon as I have time.

Reply and you guys could be pen-pals

[The Lone Rider]

I would say that it is a reply letter for anyone who went through the proper channel to lodge an appeal submition or whatever it's called.

Due dates for that are well over though from memory.

www.bikersagainstacc.org.nz has all the latest info

[The Lone Rider]

Have typed this out fast so it will have some spelling mistakes but here you go:

Here is the letter from Smithy:

Thank you for writing regarding the proposed ACC levy rates for motorcycle owners for the 2010/2011 year.

The proposed rathes that have been released by ACC are not the finished rathes. ACC has released these initial proposals for public consultation. The proposals include increases across ACC's different levies, not only those of motorcyclists.

ACC has recieved over 2,700 submissions from the public on its proposals. This is a far greater number than is isually recieved. Both ACC and I are conscious of the level of public concern at the proposed levy increases and I have also meth with a number of representatives from the motorcycleing fraternity to hear their concerns directly. The submissions will be considered by ACC before it's Board makes a recommendation to me. I will then make a final recommendations to Cabinet, which will decide on the new levy rathes. The new rathes will be effective from 1 April 2010 for earners and employers and from 1 July 2010 for motorists.

Levy rathes at the level prposed by ACC so far are unlikely to be acceptable to many NZers, and I am taking steps to prevent increases of this scale, which are aligned to ACC's current policies and governing legislation.

ACC faces significant and serious financial problems that the Government has had to give urgent attntion. ACC lost 2.4 billion in 2007/2008 and another 4.8 billion last year. It's unfunded liabilities have increased from 4 billion to 13 billion, as claim costs have risen 57 percent in the last four years.

The finiacial impact of these funding shoftfalls can be addressed by reducing ACC's costs, increasing levies, improving rehabilitation outcomes, or reducing entitlements, and the Government's approach is a balanced mix. Measures are being introduced to change ACC's practices and governing legislation, so that levy increases can be kept as low as possible.

Work is underway to improve ACC's rehabilitation performanced and to better manage payments to treatment providers. Gains in these areas will, over time, have a positive effect on levy rates.

I introduced an ACC Refomr Bill on 22 October 2009. This lgislation will see ACC's prposed levy increases, including those for motorcycles, reduce. I am also pushing out the date the SCheme needs to be fully funded, from 2014 until 2019, removing some Scheme extensions introduced by the previous Government like suicide, as well as removing entitlements for criminals.

A stocktake of ACC is also underway. The pbject of the stoacktake is to deliver practical reccomendations for improving performance and to ensure our accident insurance Scheme is affordable for levy payers and taxpayers. It will investifage, amongst other things, drivers of the cost increases and alternative options for sevice provision and funding. The Stocktakge Group will also look at whether we can make greater use of the proviate sector for injury management and compensation. However, I remain committed to 24/7 no fault accident compensation scheme.

Motorcycle accident claims have risen from 871 in 1998 to 5044 in 2008, a greater increase than any area of claims. While the annual road toll has been decreasing over the past decard, some 27% from 501 to 366, motorcycle fatalities have increasd 21%. These increases cannot be dismissed simply on the basis motorcycle numbers increasing, as the number of claims per motorcycle have grown significantly over the past decade.

Levy increases are required. In the case of motorcycles, if the true cost was charged for motorcycle injuries on public roads, levies would range from $1200 for smaller motorcycles to $3700 for those over 600cc. Even with the levy increases proposed by ACC, every car owner will be paying $77 per year to subsidise injuries of motocyclists. This funding of motorcycle accident costs by other road users occurs notwithstanding the claim that it is cars that cause the accidents. Even if we assume that all accidents involving both motorcycles and other vehicles are the fault of the other driver, the cost of other motorcycle accidents involving no other vehicle still far exceeds the proposed levy. I also stress given the claims to contrary, that this analysis only inculdes accidents on public roads and does not include trail bike or farm bike accidents that are charged to other ACC accounts.

I can assure you that the governmenty will contsider levy rates carefully, and will be exploring the best options to minimise levy increases whil ensuring that the ACC Scheme is viable and effectiong.

Thank you for taking the time to write. I do take on your concerns and can assure you that the Government will not be proceeding with levy increases as large as those initially proposed by the ACC Board.

[sammcj]

F*&#ing lies!
I feel like going over to his house and ripping the flesh off his face


Too harsh?

(note this is clearly a joke before the cops come knocking at my door!)

[Bald Eagle]

F*&#ing lies!
I feel like going over to his house and ripping the flesh off his face


Too harsh?

standard response seen elsewhere on here.

I believe you can get it by the reem from the govt printers.

[peasea]

Have typed this out fast so it will have some spelling mistakes but here you go:

Here is the letter from Smithy:

Thank you for writing regarding the proposed ACC levy rates for motorcycle owners for the 2010/2011 year.

Blah, blah, blah.

Identical to the one I got, a long-winded load of old bollocks. He has crapped all over us and I suggest we do the same to him. We are never far from a dairy farm in NZ and therefore have access to copious quantities of ammunition.