The levies. It's all about the levies. Time to take stock

**Ixion** · 7th December 2009, 09:31

It's all gone a bit quiet.

That's not necessarily a bad thing (it's very interesting that Mr Smith refuses to make ANY comment)

I think we all need to take stock of where we are at.

Some thoughts

1. It's nearly Christmas. People, including bikers, have a lot of other commitments around now. And there are other events happening, like the Toy Run.
2. The only political activity happening now is Party end of year things, which don't really offer a lot of scope , especially if they are invite only. At the beginning of the campaign, we needed presence at such things to make the pollies aware that we were angry. I'm confident they all know that now, what we now is face time to explain WHY we are angry - can't really do that chanting at the roadside.
3. We are starting to split, the message is getting diluted. We need to keep focus on what we are about - it's all about the levies.
4 Likewise people are starting to drift off
5. We are getting push back, because people say "Well, you don't know what the Minister will decide, so why are you not waiting until you know the decision".
6. However, if we just wait and do nothing we risk losing the momentum. More people drift off etc.
7. But, this is a two year campaign. We can't keep up the same level of activity for two years as fo two months.

Some things are happening in the background.

BRONZ is working on holding a national congress in January, the first in many years . Obviously the major agenda item will be another big national protest event . Maybe BIKEOI-2, maybe a different format.

We are working on consolidating our position with our allies. While at the same time being very careful we don't get swallowed up by them

My own feeling is we need to refocus on the primary message - "The levies. it's all about the levies". And we need at least one fairly major event in Auckland (and maybe one in Wellington, Christchurch seem to be doing well ), before Christmass.

Something spectacular , and with a lot of presence. Needs to be weekend, needs to be a ride. Suggestions are welcome.

After Christmas we should know the Minsiter's decision. Which will NOT make us happy. Be under no illusiuons about that, though it may hopefully be less vicious than recommended. In may ways it would be better for the overall campaign if he does stick with the recommendations. If he cuts them back , we are likely to lose a lot of support, the public will say "Well,you got a much better deal than you expected, and you're still bitching. Pissoff". And the drift off will increase. Whereas if he plays hard ball, the public will feel we are really being victimised, and the biker anger will be rekindled.

So startegy in the new year does depend on that deicsion. One way is hard core protest al the way, the other will ahve to be of a back office campaign.

In the meantime :

A spectacular ride event on a weekend between now and Xmas. What, where? Needs a theme.

**gijoe1313** · 7th December 2009, 09:43

I'd like a ride to be in pirate theme! Because thats what they be doing! Buccaneering off the bikers and marooning them! Arrrrr! But that be my two pieces o'eight.

But yes, all gone a bit quiet ... thanks for the update Ixion!

**Ixion** · 7th December 2009, 09:46

I sort of thought maybe something playing on the "many faces of bikers" theme - y'know, biker+teacher+taxpayer; biker+mother+taxpayer; biker+whatever+taxpayer. Something doable along them lines?

**MSTRS:Me** · 7th December 2009, 09:48

Trouble is, nearing Xmas the rise in shopper numbers means that any big ride near them is gonna be most disruptive. At this 'sensitive' time of year, we really do not want to be pissing off the public. Xmas is stressful enough.
Yet if a protest is not in view, what good is it?
Where's that Hobson prick?

**DidJit** · 7th December 2009, 09:50

What about the 19th? Gives people enough time to do the necessary planning, alert authorities, and get numbers here. Last weekend before the mass summer holiday exodus from Auckland too (although a number of people will probably be leaving that weekend).

What's the general feeling on theme? Are we still angry bikers, or are we the good guys trying to alert the greater NZ public to the perils before them? Could we tie in some good-will gesture (City Mission perhaps)? Or does that dilute the message ("Damn the levies!")?

EDIT: Many faces of bikers. Don't forget to add "+ VOTER!" to the end there, Ix.

Would be awesome to see a few thousand bikes streaming down the entire breadth of Queen Street.

**Ixion** · 7th December 2009, 09:51

However, the open roads are probably not too bad, everybody is at the malls. Maybe a circular protest round the various smaller towns in each region?

Or a mall to mall ride. Someone early on commented that they got good mileage just from parking a few bright shiney bikes up and people would come look.

**MSTRS:Me** · 7th December 2009, 09:51

Originally Posted by Ixion

I sort of thought maybe something playing on the "many faces of bikers" theme - y'know, biker+teacher+taxpayer; biker+mother+taxpayer; biker+whatever+taxpayer. Something doable along them lines?

Frosty's "patch" thread raised a good idea. Just get enough people to wander the streets and shops, with T shirts done with the appropriate patch. Don't need a load of bikes - just a load of people.
They'd have to make their own tho. Too late to do a print run.

**Mrs Busa Pete** · 7th December 2009, 09:52

Thanks you ixion that was all i was asking.

Wendy & Pete

**Mrs Busa Pete** · 7th December 2009, 09:54

Originally Posted by Ixion

However, the open roads are probably not too bad, everybody is at the malls. Maybe a circular protest round the various smaller towns in each region?

Or a mall to mall ride. Someone early on commented that they got good mileage just from parking a few bright shiney bikes up and people would come look.

What about a couple of bikers parked up at the malls get the petition sighned.

**MSTRS:Me** · 7th December 2009, 09:56

Originally Posted by Mrs Busa Pete

What about a couple of bikers parked up at the malls get the petition sighned.

Now that is a good idea. We are probably going to do that here.

**Ixion** · 7th December 2009, 10:06

Originally Posted by Mrs Busa Pete

What about a couple of bikers parked up at the malls get the petition sighned.

Good to do. But I'm thinking one more visible "maybe get in the papers" type protest before Xmas.

The whole "get signatures, pester politicans" stuff needs to continue right on through.

But we need a signature event. Thinking caps on.

**MSTRS:Me** · 7th December 2009, 10:09

Originally Posted by Ixion

The whole "get signatures, pester politicans" stuff needs to continue right on through.

Hopefully, that free print offer will be used for petition forms. Just confirming with the printer.

**Mrs Busa Pete** · 7th December 2009, 10:11

Originally Posted by Ixion

Good to do. But I'm thinking one more visible "maybe get in the papers" type protest before Xmas.

The whole "get signatures, pester politicans" stuff needs to continue right on through.

But we need a signature event. Thinking caps on.

So what about another breakfast this time in St Heliers with a drive by those address you metion before.
We dont have to have the same bikers every weekend there are thousand of bikers out there.

**Nasty** · 7th December 2009, 10:16

Originally Posted by Mrs Busa Pete

So what about another breakfast this time in St Heliers with a drive by those address you metion before.
We dont have to have the same bikers every weekend there are thousand of bikers out there.

Great idea Mrs BP ... quite a lot of work to organise ... so who to take the lead?

With the Martinborough one we had press, and businesses supporting us ...

**Mrs Busa Pete** · 7th December 2009, 10:19

Originally Posted by Nasty

Great idea Mrs BP ... quite a lot of work to organise ... so who to take the lead?

With the Martinborough one we had press, and businesses supporting us ...

Well i'm sure Anne will do It again.