Hamilton Safe As - 27-07-2006

[Ozzie]

Well been and gone.

It was a good turn out of KBers awsome to see (not sure of the exact number, but upwards of 10).

Not sure how positive the experience was, Ixion was definately seen and heard, don't think he has many friends in the Hamilton Police, but, what they hey?

We, if nothing else got some valuable information about how to act regarding posting submissions and (possibly) being taken seriously, and we definately got some good points across.

I fear we possibly made a bit of a mockery of ourselves tonight and weren't credible, possibly as we weren't as organised as we could have been (such short notice, and it potentially wasn't the right forum to present our case).

I will follow up on the info we have, and make further posts so that the biking community can be heard and taken seriously in what could be a major decision for us.

[ZeroIndex]

Well been and gone.

It was a good turn out of KBers awsome to see (not sure of the exact number, but upwards of 10).

Not sure how positive the experience was, Ixion was definately seen and heard, don't think he has many friends in the Hamilton Police, but, what they hey?

We, if nothing else got some valuable information about how to act regarding posting submissions and (possibly) being taken seriously, and we definately got some good points across.

I fear we possibly made a bit of a mockery of ourselves tonight and weren't credible, possibly as we weren't as organised as we could have been (such short notice, and it potentially wasn't the right forum to present our case).

I will follow up on the info we have, and make further posts so that the biking community can be heard and taken seriously in what could be a major decision for us.

I blame them for our disorganized presense.. they shoulda given more publicity to the meeting.. but seriously, what was up with that "stakeholders" guy? my Rego (which pays for roads) is up to date, therefore everyone in current possesion of a Rego is a stakeholder? I'm not one for violence, but I seriously woulda enjoyed seing that guy take a square kick to the groin..

PS. Crashe: looks like you almost didn't make the Caltex roundabout (on Te Rapa Straight).. Aucklanders shouldn't try keep up with me on that roundabout (especially on a cruiser).. I'm a master at that roundabout (I wish I was 'that good' at all corners..) <-- I've spent endless amounts of time going around that roundabout at night (on the Kinetic) at about 50 - 60km/h (going all the way round, not just straight through)

but yeah, as an ending note, was good to see all the KiwiBikers there (some that I've met before, and others that I haven't), but yeah.. it was good..

hehe, I think I get my bike back tomorrow YIPPEE!!

[crashe]

What you talking about...... I did that roundabout JUST fine....

[Ixion]

Pretty much acgieved all that could be expected of such a meeting. Spolit the game plan, they can't report that public meetings endorsed their schemes. Which is what we set out to do.

And after my shot across their bows they'll not (I think) have the nerve to massage the message much on their forum.


which we need to own folks, so post away.

[candor]

I'm nosey. What happened? Did they try to call you non stakeholders
Now I am worried... all your suspicions seem way more than valid, cos looking at Manawatu feedback only 15 out of 44 suggested "solutions" were thinking outside the square they have set!

And it's all about (vomit) speeeeeeeed. It could be that much increased traffic volume is predicted up to 2020. I want to write really hostile feedback on the website like that our problems will be solved when they get lobotomies. My fingers are twitchin to get me barred. To paint over billboards.

Think I'll travel up to the Hstgs one to have a stir. I think my stirring at Welly got Police Minister speech cancelled so that was encouraging. I handed out over the top worryingly radical pamphlets when she was due that said the road toll is falsified etc etc.

Next move is a parliament protest. Any advice on best timing people - now so can influence those heading into workshops? Or at end when they announce their BS findings? Easier now as more cover of darkness in a.m. to prepare?

I despise this Govt. It is quite open about brainwashing - does surveys to check its propagandists success even. They now got 50% thinking speed is NZs greatest enemy and non grans should hang out to dry. Aaaaaarrrrggggh

[Ixion]

Yep. I took them to task about keeping the thing a secret , and one old buzzard just about wet his incontinence nappy spluttering that we weren't supposed to be there at all and it was only for invited stakeholders.

MoT binty seemed OK with us being there though.

[ZeroIndex]

What you talking about...... I did that roundabout JUST fine....

you left the left-hand-side of the roundabout past the left-hand-paintline.. (not sure if that make sense)..

[candor]

That proves they specifically meant to exclude you - bikers I mean. I distinctly remember them saying at the Welly opening it was for "stakeholders and... the public" (public was muttered). They did try to vet it tho as u were asked to register both before and at event.

I remember the organiser LTNZ policy maker Alison talking to herself - she said (cos there were 150 odd) "ohhh only 85 registered!" They are being shy about answering some rather tricky Q's posed on the website. Seems they ae norw consciously conducting charade consultations - this govt is too fascist. A pseudodemocracy is what it is.

My "co-conspirators" are holding back a bit - we have some BAD material to release on site soon. But we don't want them panicced into removing site as its a great tool for re-educating the "stakeholders" eh!

[John Banks]

From that meeting, I have pretty much taken away a plan of attack. What I would like to do is come up as a cohesive group of bikers a succinct set of points that we would like done, and hammer away at some select people so that they know we mean business. The workshop was bollocks. They will have come away with the idea that bikers as a group are not happy and are getting vocal, and we can pat ourselves on the back for that (and especially Ixion ) - but that's it, none of our views will go any further.
But I think the best way to get our message across is to come up with a cohesive argument between us (disjointed statements and novel long wishlists will not help) and start pounding that into them until we get a cohesive answer.

[ZeroIndex]

From that meeting, I have pretty much taken away a plan of attack. What I would like to do is come up as a cohesive group of bikers a succinct set of points that we would like done, and hammer away at some select people so that they know we mean business. The workshop was bollocks. They will have come away with the idea that bikers as a group are not happy and are getting vocal, and we can pat ourselves on the back for that (and especially Ixion ) - but that's it, none of our views will go any further.
But I think the best way to get our message across is to come up with a cohesive argument between us (disjointed statements and novel long wishlists will not help) and start pounding that into them until we get a cohesive answer.

..not just Ixion.. Crashe too.. good on ya for having a go at that 'stakeholders' guy.. haha, some police dude had to speak up (break up what would've been some kinda amusing one-sided fight ), and say "let's move onto something else " hehehe, that was brilliant..

PS. yes, I know I already mentioned this, but it was brilliant.. GO CRASHE!!

[What?]

Yep. I took them to task about keeping the thing a secret , and one old buzzard just about wet his incontinence nappy spluttering that we weren't supposed to be there at all and it was only for invited stakeholders.

MoT binty seemed OK with us being there though.

Hah!
And from their own website:

The National Road Safety Committee is running a series of “pre-policy” engagement workshops with stakeholders and the community prior to providing Government with policy proposals to complete implementation of the Government’s Road Safety to 2010 strategy.

So who is going to the Whakatane session? I'm thinking I might just make the effort.

[Waylander]

So who is going to the Whakatane session? I'm thinking I might just make the effort.

When is that one? I might have to try to make it so I don't miss out again. Sounds like they had fun the ones that went.

[What?]

Whakatane, Aug 10, 5pm.

[Squeak the Rat]

Thanks guys for making the effort to get there and fly the flag. Hopefully some more comments will be posted about your learnings...

Just to clarify though, do you believe it is worth attending the other workshops or is it a waste of time? If so, I'm going to try and get next friday off to go to the Whangarei one, and advice would be welcomed....

[Ixion]

From that meeting, I have pretty much taken away a plan of attack. What I would like to do is come up as a cohesive group of bikers a succinct set of points that we would like done, and hammer away at some select people so that they know we mean business. The workshop was bollocks. They will have come away with the idea that bikers as a group are not happy and are getting vocal, and we can pat ourselves on the back for that (and especially Ixion ) - but that's it, none of our views will go any further.
But I think the best way to get our message across is to come up with a cohesive argument between us (disjointed statements and novel long wishlists will not help) and start pounding that into them until we get a cohesive answer.

That's not really what these worskhops are about .II know that's what they LOOK like, but the reality is different.

These are "soundings". The Ministry , having decided they want 80kph speed limit, speed camera demerits , power to weight limits etc etc, go see the Minister, and say "Get all this passed into law please Minister". The Minister however (and Harry Duynhoven is both sensible and shrewd) says "hang on, hang on, this looks like it might be pretty unpopular. I want to get reelected".So, Sir Humphrey says "Yes, Minister.Well, we'll go and consult the community and see if there is support for these initiatives and gauge opposition". And tells the troops to organise some "public" meetings, but make sure none of the actual public attend them. Get the rubber stamp tick off from the invited stooges, tell the Minister that there were no objections, the public are all in favour. Sorted.

But , as far as Hamilton goes anyway, we've stuffed that scheme up. The "public" (ie us) was patently strongly opposed. And vociferous. Just the thing the Minister was nervous about.

They don't actually want any ideas (I know they talk about that, but it's just window dressing). Or at any rate, only want ideas that agree with their preset agenda. So I'm afraid there is no hope of getting anything "done" (unless it is something that the Police and the bureacrats are already in favour of - power restrictions on cages might have a chance) . But what we may hope for is getting things "stopped".

EDIT:.It is still good to put ideas to them, though. Becuase that prevents them being able to claim that we are just disruptive. But don't expect anything to happen with them.