The levies. It's all about the levies. Time to take stock

[scissorhands]

The bullshit levy increases proposed for bikers have given the impetus for this campaign. I personally believe this is far more than the levies. While us bikers have managed to keep this in the media eye so far, we are not alone and we have to harness the other support out there. This is far past the levies as far as I am concerned. They are attempting to use us as a smoke screen here. I am not fooled for a moment, though I fear there are many out there that are.

I am against levy increases that are supported by complete lies. I am against the slow but steady erosion of the Woodhouse Principles. I want to get out there and let people know that this is bigger than the bikers! We have good support so far, I am not about to let that support lie.

Yes this is about levies, but it is also about the bigger picture. We can not cannonise this issue to the bikers against unfair levy hikes.

I am thankful that I am a biker that can also look past my increased levies, my mission is to attempt to let other people know about what is happening.

I think the movement has very good momentum. I think the potential to garner support from other groups is huge considering how ACC affects all new zealanders.

I think to finally accept a reduced levy increase, even if its a negligible increase, and then shut up and let everyone else be burdened by the privatisation of ACC, would be a shame considering our strong position, and association with other groups. Rape Victim Support and Bikers at Orakei worked well for both parties.

[caseye]

The Christmas card idea with a twist. Print heaps of em.Make a date and have a group of bikers with petitions etc set up on top of No! tree hill.
Tell every biker( THIS TIME, lets advertise the date and our intention for all bikers to see so there is no excuse for complancy)
that we can to ride up there to receive their Christmas card for a National MP, an ACC executive or any of the other political parties who are supporting National.
Give them a specific address a name to ask for and send em on thier way. This could take all day so have a few bikers ready to take over on the hill.
We could do this in every Major town and city in NZ with out stresing all of our motorcyclists.
The Media wouldn't know which way to turn, which address to go to and the generral public would see us going about our intended protest without disturbing them while taking a message to the Govt that we are standing in the front of the line for them too.
The Message needs to be clear, we are bikers,we are no longer angry, we are enlightened, the Govt started with us thinking we'd be easy beats and the general public wouldn't care.
WRONG.
Let them try to end it with just us NOW!
Take the publics raised levy charges with us, take the truckies increased levies with us, let them know we feel for them and will fight for them too.
Just an idea.

[mikeey01]

I love the xmas card idea!
This should be extended out to...

- The local ACC offices
- The local AA office/s
- Any National party function / meeting / office.

Xmas card delivery days on the bike, hell I love the idea

mm.. thinking If everyone prints out a hand full and sends them off, it'd be interesting at the receivers end to the quantity.


Perhaps a media friendly event.... a ride and visit to a local childrens hospital (star ship etc)

[jeffs]

Every ones having there own Santa Parades. You know, celebrate the good will of Christmas.

How about the BIG one. ( well for Auckland )

A Queen St ride.

We keep avoiding the Auckland heart, well now is the time.

Lets do our own ACC-Santa Parade.

It will not be full of Christmas shoppers. They go to the Malls.

Theme .

"ACC stole our Christmas."

Call it the "SantAAC Parade" , The NZ Santa who comes and takes away your toys .
What will get hit,

Public transport, and tourists.

Tell the world that ACC are trying to hurt the NZ Clean Green image by putting more un-emission tested cars on the road.

The only country in the "west" that has no emissions law and they want more cars.

[NONONO]

Every ones having there own Santa Parades. You know, celebrate the good will of Christmas.

How about the BIG one. ( well for Auckland )

A Queen St ride.

We keep avoiding the Auckland heart, well now is the time.

Lets do our own ACC-Santa Parade.

It will not be full of Christmas shoppers. They go to the Malls.

Theme .

"ACC stole our Christmas."

Call it the "SantAAC Parade" , The NZ Santa who comes and takes away your toys .
What will get hit,

Public transport, and tourists.

Tell the world that ACC are trying to hurt the NZ Clean Green image by putting more un-emission tested cars on the road.

The only country in the "west" that has no emissions law and they want more cars.

Agree, this is my choice.

[Hanne]

^^ But not just bikers. Invite hearing and sexual assault campaigners and other groups who are pissed off too.

[jeffs]

Just to add to SantAAC suggestion.

If we do Queen St, get every bike to bring along a tin of food. Then end the ride by stopping at the Auckland City mission and handing over the food.

It wont cost much, and will show we have a heart.

And if we are riding past, why not give a small token to charity It is Christmas. ( well at least for non-bikers ).

you could repeat this in all cities.
Even if we only get 300 bikes, that's a lot of food, a lot of profile and Queen Street is a nice wide road with easy access from all directions.

Meet up at Upper Queen St, Down Queen St, to the very end ( through the bus only way ( bikes are allowed in bus lanes in Auckland Cilty ). Left into Quay St, Up Hobson St, Remembering to Stop out side of TVNZ and say hello ( very loudly ) .

Then on to the mission to handover our food.

Just a suggestion. But not the 20th please. ( there will be a few bikers on a track day )

[caseye]

Sounds like a good plan, we could of course do both which would give us options for early next year and the end of this one.
The food and the Mission is a great idea and something we'd do anyway if it'd been suggested.LOL Not the 20th Noted.

[PhantasmNZ]

I agree - the mission thing is something I was keen on (thanks Mully!) - but the dates I was thinking earlier clashed with the toy run (which I also missed cos of a bloody flat).

Timing is hard - most of my weekends on the leadup to Xmas are taken up - and I'm very willing to give up my time - we may see a worse turn out as people are dragged xmas shopping or to family parties etc compared to the last AKL ride.

I also like the multiple angles of attack idea (which was part of what I was hoping to organise for earlier in Dec) - I'm happy to be involved in organising the NW route if the dates work out. (Mully is local too - but I think he may be otherwise engaged just prior to xmas)

So combining the ideas...... multiple angles of attack on all motorways (makes it easier to attend the start points) to the CMJ, ride through Queen St (best direction to be worked out), ending up with a big park-up @ the museum. Here we can deliver the food to a rep from the mission (if they are happy to be associated with us).

If we can rally the other ACC hit groups @ the museum too we'd have a good potential show of solidarity.

[caseye]

"If we can rally the other ACC hit groups @ the museum too we'd have a good potential show of solidarity".

Another damn fine idea. It's coming together.

[jeffs]

The last few bike outings have got no TV coverage( or like Christchurch, so little is hurts ).

If you loop around as I suggested, it will put you right outside of TVNZ.

Hopefully they can not ignore loads of bikers stopping at their front door to say hello.
TV people like nothing better that to be part of their own news.

Then on to the Mission ( 200m up the road ) , that way you can had over the food direct.