We're watching you, Mr Smith. Protest 27th June 2010

[Squiggles]

Sorry mate, don't mean to be divisive, but what exactly have "We" (Bronz) done heaps of over the last year?

You a member or just jumping on the bandwagon?

[NONONO]

You a member or just jumping on the bandwagon?

FFS, what bandwagon?
And yes, I'm a member, but probably not going to renew.
My point is this, if, as we keep being told, BRONZ represents motorcycling and not bikers then what's the point of a biker being a member?
Bikers Rights Organisation New Zealand....maybe a name change to accuratly reflect the focus of the organisation?
Motorcycle Rights Organisation New Zealand.....
"Motorcycling" does not give a flying shit about it's rights.
BRONZ does not represent motorcyclists.
As Les pointed out, a very large percentage of bikers don't give a toss for BRONZ and have thier own representing bodies.
Erm..WTF?
Bandwagon? My arse.

[nosebleed]

Frankly this whole event was a mashup.
Les stated on here that his intention here was to gauge the feeling of bikers outside of KB, and the way I read it, he didn't want KB'ers along fudging his numbers.

The whole subtefuge angle was too bizaare for me anyway.

Then we're reminded that the Bikers Rights Organisation represents motorcycling not motorcyclists, whatever that means.

The result? Too many mixed messages so I invested my minimal time off, elsewhere.

[Squiggles]

FFS, what bandwagon?
And yes, I'm a member, but probably not going to renew.
My point is this, if, as we keep being told, BRONZ represents motorcycling and not bikers then what's the point of a biker being a member?
Bikers Rights Organisation New Zealand....maybe a name change to accuratly reflect the focus of the organisation?
Motorcycle Rights Organisation New Zealand.....
"Motorcycling" does not give a flying shit about it's rights.
BRONZ does not represent motorcyclists.
As Les pointed out, a very large percentage of bikers don't give a toss for BRONZ and have thier own representing bodies.
Erm..WTF?
Bandwagon? My arse.

As a member you can set the direction for the organisation...

[NONONO]

As a member you can set the direction for the organisation...

Priceless........

[jamov13]

As a fairly new bloke to motorcycling I think I have a fairly even perspective. I really feel for the biking fraternity as you and I are being set up for a right shafting.

... BRONZ represents motorcycling and not bikers then what's the point of a biker being a member?
Bikers Rights Organisation New Zealand....maybe a name change to accurately reflect the focus of the organisation?
Motorcycle Rights Organisation New Zealand.....
"Motorcycling" does not give a flying shit about it's rights.
BRONZ does not represent motorcyclists.

NONONO is right. BRONZ indeed appears to be an acronym for bikers rights. This aside and supposing they had a different name, they absolutely need to be helping the bikers at this time (as do all other motorcycle groups and organisations). Even if the particular group has no interest in our specific problem they should be totally behind us - when it's them behind the gun we should reciprocate - that's how it works. When the heat comes on it's unity that gets the desired results.

As Les pointed out, a very large percentage of bikers don't give a toss for BRONZ and have thier own representing bodies.

This may be true but a larger percentage don't know what/who BRONZ are. Excuse my ignorance but my friends and I only have a basic idea of what they stand for. I bet the general public have no clue.

Out of interest, where does BRONZ draw its constituency from? Surely the day to day commuter and weekend enthusiast are a large part of this. If that's true then really - who in the motorcycling arena are BRONZ backing?

Bikers can't turn up if they don't know about the protest. I only found out about it a couple of days before the event. They need to advertise their events better.

A major hurdle to over come is gathering numbers and uniting the collective for the period of the dispute. This forum is excellent and a credit to the guys who maintain it. However I suggest that there's a country of bikers out there who are pissed about Nick's changes and can therefore be rounded up. Unfortunately loads of the guys I work and ride with have pretty limited computer skill's or just don't use them - somehow they need to be reached outside of the interweb-box (I'm still thinking as to the best means). Which ever it'll take a well run highly organised group just like BRONZ to do this rounding up and won't be easy.


I'm not a member of BRONZ, nor are my mates. When we don't see BRONZ proactively supporting bikers they lose our respect and the prospect of us being future members grows slim. So does the desire to support other issues we don't care so much about.

No matter whether BRONZ (and all other motorcycle related groups) support motorcycling, racing, commuting, weekend rides, motorX...whatever. They all share a collective...the motorcycle. If for nothing else but for this reason alone, when any of the collective are in trouble or require assistance we ALL need to back the issue and show unity.

Band together fellas - Only then can we fight a Gov.

[NONONO]

Nice post Jamov, but it's a bit late as the shafting's already happened and the next round of shafting is just round the corner.
Hope you don't let my ranting stop you and your mates signing up with BRONZ or any other organisation new or old.
Just a cynical old bastard who's having a rough year (but thankful that it's not as rough as some are having).
This whole thing is much more than just bikers, it's about a fundamental change in how we live our lives here.
Get informed and get active.
Good luck.

[outlawtorn]

Maybe it might just be a good idea to not bother with BRONZ at all, and to sit on my lazy fucking arse like most of the bikers out there and bitch like a baby at the levies but be completely prepared to do sweet fuck all about it!

If you are unhappy, get of your lazy arse and attend your local BRONZ chapter meetings, it is not rocket science people! With more support and numbers we have more effect and presence! Why the fuck does this need to be said over and over again? People are so very quick to jump up and say we aren't doing anything, or what we are doing is not right, yet they themselves are not prepared to pull their finger out and help!

If you don't like what Les is doing, put yourself in his shoes and stand for president of BRONZ, if you want to help, have a say and contribute, then join a local chapter. But for fucks sake please don't do anything, and then bitch and moan about how we are getting screwed.

[bogan]

If you don't like what Les is doing, put yourself in his shoes and stand for president of BRONZ, if you want to help, have a say and contribute, then join a local chapter. But for fucks sake please don't do anything, and then bitch and moan about how we are getting screwed.

some of us aren't cut out to do the whole leadership thing (and too far away to go to any meets), so we leave it to bronz, who imo needs to sort their shit out, many people didn't even know about the last protest, and even fewer knew what was happening. Bikers who are against the ACC levy increases (which is pretty much all of us) need to be provided with simple instructions of where to go, when to be there, and far in advance so we can spread the word out. Surely that is the best way to get big numbers? Perhaps a way of getting those who aren't on the same wavelength as to the best way to lobby tptb would be to encourage speakers from all perspectives to speak at a gathering. Is it a coincidence all of those elements were present at the bikeoi? I think not.

[Squiggles]

we leave it to bronz

You leave it to a handful of us.

[jeffs]

I watched this thread for a few days before the planned protest.

I did not go because the planning was so cryptic I did not under what was going on.

Was the plan to do something legal or illegal ?
Was the plan to promote the bikers view or shout at the unjust ACC ?
Was the plan to show that some bikers take safety seriously ?
Was it just a day out on our bikes riding with friends ?
Was this deliberately cryptic in an attempt to hype the protest to get press interest?

For me it ticked non the boxes above, so I was confused and did not go.

Nor did any of my other biker friends, because when I told them there was a planned protest, I could not explain
what it was about.

I have been on several Protests with Bronz, but do not intend on becoming a member.
Not because I disrespect them, quite the opposite, they have at least kept active over the ACC increases.

I just don't understand them anymore.

Sorry

[RiderInBlack]

If you are unhappy, get of your lazy arse and attend your local BRONZ chapter meetings, it is not rocket science people! With more support and numbers we have more effect and presence! Why the fuck does this need to be said over and over again? People are so very quick to jump up and say we aren't doing anything, or what we are doing is not right, yet they themselves are not prepared to pull their finger out and help!

If you don't like what Les is doing, put yourself in his shoes and stand for president of BRONZ, if you want to help, have a say and contribute, then join a local chapter. But for fucks sake please don't do anything, and then bitch and moan about how we are getting screwed.

And to show ya how little interest we are showing in that idea just go to
2010 BRONZ AGM, Wednesday 21 July 2010 . I started that thread so that I might get to know the candidates better (was nothing on the BRONZ web site, not even the date for the AGM on the Event Calender), and to see if anyone was going to the AGM. Only 2 posts and they are both mine. Obviously we don't care enough, and those that will get elected will be chosen from the very few the can make it there.

[bogan]

You leave it to a handful of us.

yeh, isn't that how bronz works, theres a bunch of people doing the work? I'm not sure what your point is

[jamov13]

...This whole thing is much more than just bikers, it's about a fundamental change in how we live our lives here.
Get informed and get active.
Good luck.

There's nothing wrong with being a cynical old bastard from time to time!

I couldn't agree more, NZers are far too docile. I was watching the 1080 protests on the news again. I know what it really does to our wildlife and DOC have some answering to do so I support the protesting the coasters are putting up. I'm not sure how we flip the switch on the country but it needs doing (sooner rather than later).

For those who think we're lazy bastards for not holding your hands at BRONZ meetings please bare in mind that this is not the only injustice going on right now. I understand your sentiments completely though. I'm personally involved to my eye balls in organisations that really return little to me and yes it's with sweet FA help from those that should be. Good on BRONZ and all the guys that are putting the effort in.

Unfortunately I don't have the answers about how to get everyone involved - One thing for sure though, abusing anyone in a forum probably isn't going to drum up too much support.

[outlawtorn]

There's nothing wrong with being a cynical old bastard from time to time!

I couldn't agree more, NZers are far too docile. I was watching the 1080 protests on the news again. I know what it really does to our wildlife and DOC have some answering to do so I support the protesting the coasters are putting up. I'm not sure how we flip the switch on the country but it needs doing (sooner rather than later).

For those who think we're lazy bastards for not holding your hands at BRONZ meetings please bare in mind that this is not the only injustice going on right now. I understand your sentiments completely though. I'm personally involved to my eye balls in organisations that really return little to me and yes it's with sweet FA help from those that should be. Good on BRONZ and all the guys that are putting the effort in.

Unfortunately I don't have the answers about how to get everyone involved - One thing for sure though, abusing anyone in a forum probably isn't going to drum up too much support.

Yeah mate, you are bang on right! My little rant was out of order and I apologise for that, I reckon I am just frustrated at the whole thing. Kinda feels like no matter what we do we are powerless.