Response from the AA

[Big Col]

p.dath THANKYOU.

[p.dath]

Are you saying you will not raise the issue of the AA's public stance on lobbying for the increase of motorbike levies ? And the only question you will raise in the general principle of returning to the woodhouse principles ?

One of the founding Woodhouse principles is that the road network is a community network, and ACC should be funded equally by all road users. We as a country have moved away from the Woodhouse principles, introduced pre-funding, and that has bought about this risk rating concept.

The AA up to recently has not questioned the need for pre-funding or a return to the Woodhouse principles, and they are now doing this (and already 3 of the 17 districts are now wanting a return to the Woodhouse principles - and you can convert the rest by turning up to the meetings and telling them what you want as a member).

Should they determine through their research that pre-funding should go, and we should return to the original Woodhouse principles, then that knocks down a whole decks of cards. It also means there should be no risk assessment, separate classification of motorcycle cc ratings, etc.

So I'm only concentrating on the foundation of the issue. Everything else is a distraction at this point in time.

[jeffs]

So I'm only concentrating on the foundation of the issue. Everything else is a distraction at this point in time.

I think what you are doing is great, and good on you, but I see this differently.

AA are still publicly pushing for a greater rise in motor bike levies. This has not changed !!!!!

Until they pull their web page doing so, it is all talk.

Ignore this and you run the risk of missing the annual opportunity of voicing the AA paying bikers view.


Yes keep doing what you are doing, but it is not the only way.

Promises of looking in to change, is not a promise of change.

[Jonno.]

Hey mate, what are you doing?

The AA isn't going to change it's website with the drop of a hat.

Awesome work p.dath.

[jeffs]

Hey mate, what are you doing?

The AA isn't going to change it's website with the drop of a hat.

.

Here is what I am doing

I pay to be an AA member, as a member I have the right to ask them to remove the link ( listen to me or not it is my right ). If you believe the information on the link is correct,
then please by all means feel free to pay higher ACC levies.

I am in no way contradicting p.daths stand, and nor will my request stop d.path following his path.

But a lot of people stood up and protested ACC proclaiming the same facts, why is it wrong to ask the AA to also stop.

I do not pay for being a user of KB, so I can not demand anything of people on this site.

A lot of people seem to have forgotten that one of the main groups originally lobbying for the increase in ACC charges for motorbikes was the AA. It was with their help that the ACC believed they had the popular backing of the public.

[MisterE]

Have to hand it to d.path. This is great work. Getting the AA to do an about turn on bike levies will be a slap in the face for National on this issue.

If we really want to get the AA behind us I'd suggest our best course of action is to ensure that a proposal to return to the Woodhouse principles is passed at the next AGM.

You mentioned that 3 of the 17 districts are already committed to a return to the woodhouse principles. It seems fairly logical from here. What do we need to do to get more of the other districts on board and how do we ensure that the three who are already committed remain committed?

I live in Rodney district. If you can give me some more information about how the district structure works and how I can influence prior to the March AGM I am all go. I'll PM you separately with some contact details as I'd like to get a bit more information from you on this.

Can I suggest that anyone else who is behind d.path on this start on the same path. If we can get the right information to the right people this could work.

[p.dath]

For the Auckland District there are two positions up for election, and only two nominations. So their wont be a vote (I was hoping to be able to quizz those standing for election so that they are keenly aware there ability to get elected is affected by their attitude to motorcyclists).

However I intend to raise as a matter of general business (as it is officially referred to in the meeting agenda) the issue of ACC and pre-funding, and that I want the Auckland District to support a return to the founding principles of ACC. I'll probably raise this issue formally via email with the committee prior to the meeting, to avoid any procedural objections (not that I expect any issues).
Just a reminder not to expect anything big from a District Meeting. Districts individually don't have much of an impact. But the more districts that sing the same song the more likely policy will be influenced.
This wont be like a light bulb, where you can flick a switch and have a huge change in outcome.

The last date to raise a motion for the national AGM (motions have to be raised 30 days in advance) - where the real decisions get made, appears to be February 25th. I'm in the process of having this confirmed.

[p.dath]

Just had confirmation that the national AGM is being held on Thursday the 25th of March 2010 in Hamilton at the Sky City Hotel at 6.10pm.

Any motions have to be received 30 days prior to this.

[p.dath]

This is the map of AA districts in NZ.

[phred]

Just had confirmation that the national AGM is being held on Thursday the 25th of March 2010 in Hamilton at the Sky City Hotel at 6.10pm.

Any motions have to be received 30 days prior to this.

So without reading the whole thread to find out...As a paid up member of the AA I can attend the afore mentioned AGM in Hamilton and stick in my 10 cents worth in support of your motions correct?

[p.dath]

So without reading the whole thread to find out...As a paid up member of the AA I can attend the afore mentioned AGM in Hamilton and stick in my 10 cents worth in support of your motions correct?

Correct, but not sure there will be a need for a motion. However I am highly likely to attend. The AA have started saying to the political parties and ACC that it's time to question the need for pre-funding. They are also starting to research the long term effects, which will probably lead them to the conclusion that their is no need for pre-funding.

[oldrider]

Correct, but not sure there will be a need for a motion. However I am highly likely to attend. The AA have started saying to the political parties and ACC that it's time to question the need for pre-funding. They are also starting to research the long term effects, which will probably lead them to the conclusion that their is no need for pre-funding.

I still believe Tony Noone is the (dare I say it, so un-PC) the nigger in the wood pile!

I think he is the driver rather than the driven on this AA campaign against motorcycles.

Keep your eye on him P.dath, he (Noone) speaks with false teeth! Keep up the good work.

[Ixion]

It needs mention that the AA's anti-motorcycle campaign is not limited to the ACC issue. They prompted Transit to move to charge motorcycles tolls on the Nortern Tollway thingy, and every time there is a quote in the press from an AA spokesdriod it will have a putdown or sneer against bikes. It's not just ACC, they ahve a general ban-motorcycles agenda.

[What?]

It needs mention that the AA's anti-motorcycle campaign is not limited to the ACC issue..

All the more reason to attend the meetings. AA's position won't change unless driven by it's members.

[p.dath]

It needs mention that the AA's anti-motorcycle campaign is not limited to the ACC issue. They prompted Transit to move to charge motorcycles tolls on the Nortern Tollway thingy, and every time there is a quote in the press from an AA spokesdriod it will have a putdown or sneer against bikes. It's not just ACC, they ahve a general ban-motorcycles agenda.

I agree with you Ixion.

I've actually sent a bunch of other communications to them as well with regard to some of the press they have released, but didn't feel it was worthy of creating more threads about. I only wanted to focus on the ACC issue, as I think it is the biggest. And it affects more than just motorcylists. I have much stronger feelings about ACC because of the way they have brought the changes about (actually, I've completely U-turned on this issue from my original position because of comments you made which turned out to be true!).

I primarily want to use the AA as a tool to bring about "corrective" changes at ACC. But they are like a supertanker. They have been going full speed in one direction, and it's hard to turn them around. But I've been talking to the chief navigator, and I hope I think I have sown sufficient doubt into their mind to make them question the direction they are going in.
By no means are they won over. And they certainly aren't coming out in support of motorcylists at this stage. But I take the signs that they organised meetings with National and Labour and ACC (and even invited Ulyses along) and have said they want a debate on pre-funding of ACC to be opened up, and are now looking at doing their own independent research on the issue as recognition that perhaps the ACC system we have now is not as good as the original system that was introduced. I'm really only expecting one outcome from their research, which will almost certainly bind them to a specific outcome.

Personally I'm not getting my hopes up yet, but given time I'm hoping for an improvement. Maybe with more motrcylists showing up at district meetings and the AGM will send them a signal that the membership wants a change.