So have we all given up on ACC?

[Fatt Max]

I would be interesting to know what the reduction in funds collected for the ACC motorcycle group is and compare this against any reduction in the number and cost of bike related ACC claims for the same time. It might prove to be damming evidence that putting the ACC up actually cost the govt money.

I only have one modern registered bike, all the others are farm or vintage. I went on all the local Chch protest runs, went to Wellington (and helped out on the day) for the big protest and signed all the petitions, was even prepared to help with some of the civil disobedience protests that folk were talking about.

As a long term Ulysses and Hog member I do not believe they had the mandate to lobby on the ACC issue for all bikers. I did join BRONZ, who did have the mandate to act as a lobby group, but after being abused by the the prezy I told them to stick their membership where the sun don't shine.

Where did we go wrong? There was no published long term strategic plan, no buy in by the great unwashed and no review. BRONZ got very close but they were too well intentioned, did too much listening and not enough doing.

Let me ask you one thing. After being lied to by the government about the state of the ACC accounts and being used as a cash cow to bulk up the account, how many of you are still going to vote National at the election? Its ironic that many of us feel strongly enough about The ACC fiasco to back stab our fellow bikers for sport but not strongly enough to vote the buggers out of government.

We deserve what we got.

Where did we go wrong? I believe it was a combination of a lack of effective leadership and a non existant simple but strong message.

Agreed that you cant jump up and down about the ACC debarcle and then re elect the government that caused it.

'Riders are voters' personifies this, such a shame that side of the MAG campaign fell away. I would happily bang that drum again if only we could rally the numbers. That can be done by effective leadership and a simple but strong message.......erm.....yeah.....

[Flip]

How many committed bikers would it take to block say 10 critical intersections in any major city and bring the city to a stand still, then fuck off. It was not about numbers, it was about making a stand and being seen doing so.

Kiwis are just not good at protesting, its not in our nature.

[Fatt Max]

How many committed bikers would it take to block say 10 critical intersections in any major city and bring the city to a stand still, then fuck off. It was not about numbers, it was about making a stand and being seen doing so.

Kiwis are just not good at protesting, its not in our nature.

Yes indeed because we live in the best country in the world. We are surrounded by amazing scenery, we have a safe country, great people and a laid back way of life so yes, protesting is alien to us.

However, ripping people off, breaking promises and shafting the working person is something our governments have learned from overseas and are loving the fact that they are largely unchallenged.

There is something intrinsically wrong there......

T

[Maha]

How many committed bikers would it take to block say 10 critical intersections in any major city and bring the city to a stand still, then fuck off. It was not about numbers, it was about making a stand and being seen doing so.

Kiwis are just not good at protesting, its not in our nature.

...and what would that prove to the awaiting public while that sit in the cars on the daily commute?...
And ultimately, what would that achieve?

[Big Dave]

Yes - I gave up - I'll tell you why - the $220 extra tax was not worth the angst, being called a liar and dealing with idiot criticism that came with trying to do the right and democratic thing.

As an ex-NZ resident and observer - my last bit of advice is the same as the first. You need ONE representative group. Decide which one it is and back it.

Good luck.

Meanwhile I'll be over here paying twice as much for less.

[Fatt Max]

You need ONE representative group. Decide which one it is and back it..

100% agree with that BD

[Flip]

...and what would that prove to the awaiting public while that sit in the cars on the daily commute?...
And ultimately, what would that achieve?

Nothing to the waiting public, its not for their benefit, its for ours. It's a political statement in the form of a threat. It would be on the front page of every paper, it would cost millions in lost time and money. It says if you fuck with us we will fuck with you.

This is why we failed, no commitment.

[Maha]

Nothing to the waiting public, its not for their benefit, its for ours. It's a political statement in the form of a threat. It would be on the front page of every paper, it would cost millions in lost time and money. It says if you fuck with us we will fuck with you.

This is why we failed, no commitment.

Mate..you're live in dreamland...
Take it from who knows. I moved to another part of town months ago.
What you are suggesting was halted in its tracks by majority from a so called ''action'' group only this year.

[bogan]

Mate..you're live in dreamland...
Take it from who knows. I moved to another part of town months ago.
What you are suggesting was halted in its tracks by majority from a so called ''action'' group only this year.

I guess you mean the three strikes run? We had insufficient co-ordinators and not enough confirmed attendees so we called it off. But I'll just leave it at the facts lest I get a bit preachy

[Maha]

I guess you mean the three strikes run? We had insufficient co-ordinators and not enough confirmed attendees so we called it off. But I'll just leave it at the facts lest I get a bit preachy

No...I was not meaning that run..
The Riders are Voters run to Wellington in April that was thwarted.

In the past two years, all that can be said about the 09 Bikio is...that it happened.
The outcome was zip and the organisers failed to see to potential of what they had created, could have turned into something massive, but it was let go.
Isn't that why MAG was formed?...yes it was.

[bogan]

No...I was not meaning that run..
The Riders are Voters run to Wellington in April that was thwarted.

In the past two years, all that can be said about the 09 Bikio is...that it happened.
The outcome was zip and the organisers failed to see to potential of what they had created, could have turned into something massive, but it was let go.
Isn't that why MAG was formed?...yes it was.

Yeh that one could have been good. I think its abandonment highlighted the need for a plan plan, ie, a good way to sort out the plan without those involved going round in circles during the planning stages. So there's a free tip for anyone with a plan, make sure you have a plan plan too.

[Maha]

Yeh that one could have been good. I think its abandonment highlighted the need for a plan plan, ie, a good way to sort out the plan without those involved going round in circles during the planning stages. So there's a free tip for anyone with a plan, make sure you have a plan plan too.

Our pending trip to the Cape is plan plan plan...it is so easy to put something together and just do it..difference being..I dont need to run it by 23 others first...

[Fatt Max]

Our pending trip to the Cape is plan plan plan...it is so easy to put something together and just do it..difference being..I dont need to run it by 23 others first...

Yep mate, that is exactly right.

[Fatt Max]

In the past two years, all that can be said about the 09 Bikio is...that it happened.
The outcome was zip and the organisers failed to see to potential of what they had created, could have turned into something massive, but it was let go.
Isn't that why MAG was formed?...yes it was.

And that is my point exactly about the whole protest movement fromn day one. The chance was then. MAG should have never existed because there should have been no reason for it to exist. That movement should have grown and grown and the BIKEOI should have been the catalyst for everyone to unite and fight the fight.

Lots of 'shoulds' in there eh. If only.....

Needless to say if the movement rose up again I would be there supporting and encouraging it.

Good onya to EVERYONE that carried on either in MAG, BRONZ or elsewhere and I mean that.

I have had another knock for telling it as I see it (not going into details but being misinterpreted can be such a bummer) so I'll let this thread carry on and I will go and do what I love doing most........and then after than I will go for a ride.

Hopefully someone will start a thread about a really good fajita recipie, cant do a thing with mine........

[Katman]

In hindsight it was probably an excellent opportunity to have organised a low key non-disruptive and possibly very effective country wide petition. If the community support had been capitalised on. Who knows, we may have managed 2 or 5 hundred thousand signatures by having well mannered bikers politely attending big shopping centers and public events. (if we ever could have agreed on a few simple petition objectives). It really was a great opportunity.

The only way we are ever likely to see wide spread public support for any grievances we voice is by addressing the problem of motorcyclists being noticed for all the wrong reasons.