New ACC levies from 1st July

[pete376403]

Not noticing any outrage (or even calm discussion) here on the new ACC levies to be applied from 1 July. My two over 650s will be liable for $1066 per year. assuming both get 12 month registration. (not gonna happen)

MAGNZ on FB is organising petitions, Official Information requests and a protest ride (Auckland only).

While putting bikes on hold , or forgoing registration altogether is easily achievable, each has its downsides.

Or is everyone ok with the new charges?

[BMWST?]

Not noticing any outrage (or even calm discussion) here on the new ACC levies to be applied from 1 July. My two over 650s will be liable for $1066 per year. assuming both get 12 month registration. (not gonna happen)

MAGNZ on FB is organising petitions, Official Information requests and a protest ride (Auckland only).

While putting bikes on hold , or forgoing registration altogether is easily achievable, each has its downsides.

Or is everyone ok with the new charges?

there was a protest ride in wellington but i did not go as i did not agree as the protest was at a vtnz station. I think the 800 or so is outrgeous. Mag are also trying to get the rationale/eveidence between the cc bands. Ie is there actually a correlation between the cc bands and the costs associated? I will def sign the petition.
I will prolly put rego on hold over the middle winter months but thats what they probably want us to do

[F5 Dave]

I had something on. Went to the last one and they just pushed it through anyway. Fukers.

[pete376403]

I attended the wellington protest - the intent of gathering at the VTNZ sites was lost on me as well as I could not see what VTNZ had to do with ACC charges.

[rastuscat]

I fully understand the antagonism about the change that is coming. I've got two bikes to licence, this is going to make the choice very hard.

The experience of the past is that arguing the point is like trying to get a referee to change his moind about a red card. Most unlikely.

I'm likely to just suck the breath through my teeth, and licence the bike I want to use. I'll do a Gold course to get the discount, but it's still daylight robbery.

The ACC actuaries may already know it, but they are widening the gap between themselves and riders, which is counter productive.

[BMWST?]

I fully understand the antagonism about the change that is coming. I've got two bikes to licence, this is going to make the choice very hard.

The experience of the past is that arguing the point is like trying to get a referee to change his moind about a red card. Most unlikely.

I'm likely to just suck the breath through my teeth, and licence the bike I want to use. I'll do a Gold course to get the discount, but it's still daylight robbery.

The ACC actuaries may already know it, but they are widening the gap between themselves and riders, which is counter productive.

I can understand the policy but the thing for me is its not supposed to be user pays. Why arent rugby players charged more than soccer players, Why arent horse riders charged more than cyclists .Answer. We are an existing identified group within a framework they can easily charge us.

[jellywrestler]

I can understand the policy but the thing for me is its not supposed to be user pays. Why arent rugby players charged more than soccer players, Why arent horse riders charged more than cyclists .Answer. We are an existing identified group within a framework they can easily charge us.

An electrician pays a different rate to a chef to a builder to a pilot, how would they charge rugby players or skiers exactly?

[nerrrd]

I guess I’m lucky, my bike goes from the top band to the mid band so only a moderate increase.

All the arguments from the original protests still stand, nobody is listening - short of a highly organised, large-scale sustained protest campaign, and even that probably wouldn’t work.

And now we even have the drongos on e-bikes adding to the disdain of the general public towards two-wheeled transportation.

[BMWST?]

An electrician pays a different rate to a chef to a builder to a pilot, how would they charge rugby players or skiers exactly?

thats the problem isnt it. We are a indentifiable group. Perhaps via the clubs

[pete376403]

An electrician pays a different rate to a chef to a builder to a pilot, how would they charge rugby players or skiers exactly?

It is all here: https://www.acc.co.nz/assets/busines...-2025-2026.pdf

Professional rugby players fall under the high-risk Equine and Sporting Activities category (Levy Risk Group 919). The Work Account levy rate for professional rugby players is $6.43 per $100 of liable earnings. Because of the high rate, New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and Super Rugby franchises have actively campaigned against these rates in recent years, noting it places significant financial strain on the sport. Top All Blacks earn between $800,000 and $1.3 million annually, while average squad members make around $450,000 to $600,000. So it looks like the ABs are actually paying their way

[jellywrestler]

, nobody is listening - short of a highly organised, large-scale sustained protest campaign, and even that probably wouldn’t work.

protests dont do shit. A careful plan writing to each and every mp and person standing reminding them of the number of voters and publicising their answers would have a better impact. a series of random acts with no cohesion is a messy waste of time

[release_the_bees]

At least it looks like they'll still be offering rebates for doing the Ride Forever courses.

It's going to be fun keeping four bikes registered going forward.

Sent from my SM-S901E using Tapatalk

[rastuscat]

At least it looks like they'll still be offering rebates for doing the Ride Forever courses.

It's going to be fun keeping four bikes registered going forward.

Sent from my SM-S901E using Tapatalk

Cashback is gone, it's being replaced with a thing they are now calling Rider Rewards.

The good news is that if you do a Gold course every 2 years, you get a 25% discount on every bike you licence.

The bad news is that this is a bit like a sale at some shonky retailer where they put the price up, then discount it and tell you it's a bargain.

[1/32 man]

I have signed the petition and even made a donation.

[pete376403]

Another anomaly has shown up with registration: people attempting to beat the July 1 increases online have been charged at the new, post July rate. This occurs between confirming details on the website 9at the old rate) then getting charged the new rate at the payment screen. This is not just a few dollars, could be more like $200. NZTA have acknowledged there is a bug , but don't say anything about refunds.

E-mail from MAGNZ as follows:
MAGNZ exposes NZTA registration overcharge ahead of 1 July vehicle fee increases
Motorcycle Advocacy Group New Zealand says NZTA has acknowledged a bug in its online vehicle licensing system after motorists were apparently charged higher registration fees before those fees take effect on 1 July.

MAGNZ spokesperson Richard Tohu says the issue was discovered after motorcyclists reported NZTA’s online Transact system displaying a “changing” licensing fee and charging amounts that did not match the current fees.

“Motorcyclists started noticing something was wrong,” Mr Tohu says.

“They were trying to renew registration before 1 July, but the system appeared to be charging the higher post-1 July amounts early. That is not a rounding error. That is the public being charged money before it is lawfully due.”

NZTA has now acknowledged the issue.

In an email to MAGNZ, NZTA Senior Project Manager Malcolm McDermott said:

“This will definitely be a bug, we are investigating what is causing it and will get it resolved as quickly as we can.”

Mr Tohu says that acknowledgement raises immediate questions about refunds.

“If NZTA has charged people too much, then NZTA must identify every affected transaction and refund every affected motorist automatically. It is not good enough to wait for people to notice, complain, and ask for their money back.”

MAGNZ says the problem may not be limited to motorcycles.

“Transact is not a motorcycle-only system,” Mr Tohu says.

“All vehicle registrations are affected by the wider 1 July licensing and ACC levy changes. If the system logic has been wrong, NZTA needs to urgently confirm whether cars, trailers, heavy vehicles, motorcycles, and other vehicle classes have also been affected.”

Mr Tohu says the charging error lands at the worst possible time, as motorcyclists prepare for a major protest ride on 30 May against what MAGNZ says are unjustified and unlawful ACC levies being applied through motorcycle registration.

“Motorcyclists are already facing punishing ACC levy increases through their rego. We say those levies are unjustified, unsupported by proper risk evidence, and unlawful under the ACC scheme.”

“Now, on top of that, riders have found NZTA’s online payment system apparently charging some people early. That just reinforces why motorcyclists are angry and why we are riding on 30 May.”

MAGNZ says the 30 May protest ride is not just about motorcyclists paying more. It is about the integrity of the entire vehicle licensing system.

“Every motorist in New Zealand should be paying attention,” Mr Tohu says.

“Vehicle registration is being used to collect ACC levies and other charges from the public. When those charges increase, the system must be accurate, lawful, and transparent. If a higher fee starts on 1 July, it should not be collected before 1 July.”

Mr Tohu says NZTA also needs to explain what checks failed before the charging changes were pushed into the live online system.

“Government agencies keep talking about digital transformation, automation, and artificial intelligence. But if the result is a payment system that cannot correctly apply a fee start date, maybe we still need a few more humans in the room checking the work before motorists get billed.”

“This is exactly why public systems need accountability. Automation does not remove responsibility. If NZTA’s system took too much money, NZTA must fix it, explain it, and refund it.”

MAGNZ is calling on NZTA to urgently confirm:

When the Transact bug began.
Which vehicle classes were affected.
How many motorists were overcharged.
The total amount incorrectly collected.
Whether refunds will be automatic.
Whether affected motorists will be directly notified.
What checks failed before the new charging settings went live.
Whether NZTA will publicly apologise.
Mr Tohu says MAGNZ members have been told to take screenshots, keep receipts, and lodge formal complaints if they believe they have been charged incorrectly.

“People should not have to audit NZTA’s billing system for them, but right now affected motorists need to protect themselves.”

“If NZTA has the data, then NZTA has the responsibility. Refund the money. Do it automatically. And explain how this was allowed to happen.”


Nga Mihi & Kind Regards,
Richard Tohu - 0272219717
Chief Executive
Motorcycle Advocacy Group New Zealand (MAGNZ)

richard.tohu@magnz.org.nz





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