The ACC saga - a new approach.

[mashman]

Grow a brain Scarecrow.

yer ruby slippers ain't gonna work on this issue Dotty

[shrub]

Comprehension epic fail...

That's our katman...

[That looks like fun]

Breath in breath out .................... Now repeat
Calm
A lot of pages ago I asked the question "what do we do now"?
Amongst the angst and derision a common thread is something needs to be done
When the laws are made believe it or not they are not deliberately thought out to piss off as many people as they can. They are all there for a purpose (even the ones I think are stupid).
To get people to obey the laws is the trick. As I see it the problem is an attitude versus behavior issue.
If my Attitude is influenced by something (lets say advertising) I will change my behavior
If my attitude is not changed and I do not comply with the laws the current system focuses on changing the behavior (the beatings will continue until the lesson is learned)
I see the ACC increase as a beating for us
I agree we need to clean up our backyard, and perhaps the increase will motivate some to do that. Its also an opportunity for lobbying for better systems, be that training licensing or some better miracle. Will abusing each other on an Internet forum site fix the world
Final question, Why cant we expect the same of other motorist's

[Katman]

Final question, Why cant we expect the same of other motorist's

We might well have the right to expect it but until we start sorting our own shit out we're on shakey ground if we start demanding it.

[Bald Eagle]

BRONZ KB Blog

BRONZ Wellington formed from the BIKEOI.
It was established with support from BRONZ Auckland (Thanks Auck’s!)
What it stood for as a regional branch, how it was to be organized, and a focus on political activity drove the opening of the Wellington Branch.

Our President Brent Hutchison, our VP Paul Ellen, and Byron Cummins the Treasurer were selected in a meeting at the Backbencher opposite Parliament on Nov 17, 2009 twenty minutes after the great chant of BULLSHIT was delivered to Nick Smith. What a great day that was.

Since Wellington has opened, we have achieved to get a representative on the MSL Establishment Group (ACC Motorcycle Safety Levy) assisting with managing the ring fenced funds from our levy contribution.

Now our active branch (all 42 of us!) has planned a National Conference, (this is huge news and all BRONZ members will know more soon via e-news etc) and we established a charity to support, namely SPCA, and are planning two major events simultaneously in November.

Event one will be on the 13^th November as a charity ride to raise funds for SPCA, and public awareness of BRONZ.

We intend to follow this with an overnight Biker Rally as event two (location to be set) as a commemoration of BIKEOI. The 13^th is the date closest to the 17^th we can get on a weekend.
You know the drill, crap amateur bands, burnt sausages, tents, beer, bourbon and a recruitment drive WOOHOO!
We will have a location secured sometime in the near future and it will be well publicized. All welcome, any bike style, bring the rug rats, have a ball and support BRONZ.

Our President is going to ask the other branches to simultaneously run some kind of event ride or rally in their home regions to also commemorate BIKEOI on this date so we hope it comes off as a national commemoration of BIKEOI.

Ok, why is there a BRONZ at all?
Recently a member of one region complained “BRONZ did NOTHING for me…. I want a refund’
Well. If that person owns a bike of over 601 cc’s, BRONZ directly assisted in saving you, and them, and all other bike owners 360$ worth of Levy increase. A good return on 20$ and a 10$ badge fee I would think.
Remember the BIKEOI, I hope you do because BRONZ Auckland (Les Mason) had the idea, and our Wellington Branch opened as a result.
And let’s not forget to credit Ulysses with assuring that SOME of that rort was ring fenced for US to spend on safety programs for ourselves!!!!!!!!

Details here:
http://www.acc.co.nz/about-acc/overv...nded/WPC086434


So anyway there it is for all you Kiwibiker’s, an update on progress from BRONZ Wellington and an outline of our basic plans for the coming 6 months.
Email info@bronzwellington.org.nz for more details, or go to our new (and still being tweaked sorry) website www.bronzwellington.org.nz

BRONZ Wellington Branch Committee

[NONONO]

BRONZ KB Blog

BRONZ Wellington formed from the BIKEOI.
It was established with support from BRONZ Auckland (Thanks Auck’s!)
What it stood for as a regional branch, how it was to be organized, and a focus on political activity drove the opening of the Wellington Branch.

Our President Brent Hutchison, our VP Paul Ellen, and Byron Cummins the Treasurer were selected in a meeting at the Backbencher opposite Parliament on Nov 17, 2009 twenty minutes after the great chant of BULLSHIT was delivered to Nick Smith. What a great day that was.

Since Wellington has opened, we have achieved to get a representative on the MSL Establishment Group (ACC Motorcycle Safety Levy) assisting with managing the ring fenced funds from our levy contribution.

Now our active branch (all 42 of us!) has planned a National Conference, (this is huge news and all BRONZ members will know more soon via e-news etc) and we established a charity to support, namely SPCA, and are planning two major events simultaneously in November.

Event one will be on the 13^th November as a charity ride to raise funds for SPCA, and public awareness of BRONZ.

We intend to follow this with an overnight Biker Rally as event two (location to be set) as a commemoration of BIKEOI. The 13^th is the date closest to the 17^th we can get on a weekend.
You know the drill, crap amateur bands, burnt sausages, tents, beer, bourbon and a recruitment drive WOOHOO!
We will have a location secured sometime in the near future and it will be well publicized. All welcome, any bike style, bring the rug rats, have a ball and support BRONZ.

Our President is going to ask the other branches to simultaneously run some kind of event ride or rally in their home regions to also commemorate BIKEOI on this date so we hope it comes off as a national commemoration of BIKEOI.

Ok, why is there a BRONZ at all?
Recently a member of one region complained “BRONZ did NOTHING for me…. I want a refund’
Well. If that person owns a bike of over 601 cc’s, BRONZ directly assisted in saving you, and them, and all other bike owners 360$ worth of Levy increase. A good return on 20$ and a 10$ badge fee I would think.
Remember the BIKEOI, I hope you do because BRONZ Auckland (Les Mason) had the idea, and our Wellington Branch opened as a result.
And let’s not forget to credit Ulysses with assuring that SOME of that rort was ring fenced for US to spend on safety programs for ourselves!!!!!!!!

Details here:
http://www.acc.co.nz/about-acc/overv...nded/WPC086434


So anyway there it is for all you Kiwibiker’s, an update on progress from BRONZ Wellington and an outline of our basic plans for the coming 6 months.
Email info@bronzwellington.org.nz for more details, or go to our new (and still being tweaked sorry) website www.bronzwellington.org.nz

BRONZ Wellington Branch Committee

Now hang on a cotton pickin minute there muskrat..
I was at that first meeting, and while I've got no beef with Les or BRONZ, I'm not sure even they would take the credit for Bikoi. It was something that a lot of people had a hand in, and, unfortunately, it was an opportunity missed.
When Les came out directly after the new levies were announced and said, we don't like it but we can live with it, we lost all the momentum we had raised from Bikoi.
I remember taking the yellow armband off my rear view mirror and putting it in the bin, I remember feeling bloody betrayed after feeling we had achieved something going to Welly.
I have no faith anymore in any negotiating stance with ACC or this tax by stealth government, nor do I believe that I need to clean up my own back yard.
I'm a biker, still pissed off.
Watch this space, I suspect and hope that some are moving this beyond BRONZ. And about time too.

[shrub]

Good work, and hats off to BRONZ for doing while everyone else was talking.

I have just printed off the application form and will join next week. Pity you don't have a branch here.

[Berries]

Well. If that person owns a bike of over 601 cc’s, BRONZ directly assisted in saving you, and them, and all other bike owners 360$ worth of Levy increase. A good return on 20$ and a 10$ badge fee I would think.

Take all the credit why don't you. Are you saying that all the submissions that people put in were a waste of time and it was just the bikoi that reduced the levy ? What was that chant again ?

Three things stop me from joining BRONZ. One of them is this from the Dunedin protest ride -

Bronz Otago president Ron McKay said motorcyclists were a leisure group and should be classed as that - the same as boat users, jet-skiers and cyclists.

Sorry. But it is more than a leisure activity to me. If that is the way BRONZ see motorcycling then you won't be representing me.

Surprised I found the link but here it is - http://www.odt.co.nz/your-town/duned...nst-acc-levies

[Bald Eagle]

Good work, and hats off to BRONZ for doing while everyone else was talking.

I have just printed off the application form and will join next week. Pity you don't have a branch here.

Contact info@bronzwellington.org.nz we will be happy to give you all the help we can to start BRONZ Christchurch.

[riffer]

Sorry. But it is more than a leisure activity to me. If that is the way BRONZ see motorcycling then you won't be representing me.

Don't let one quote colour your opinion of anything dude. Like any lobby group made of multiple organisations you're not always going to have everyone on the same page. Also, your quote is a small one with no context. I'd like to hear the rest of the conversation.

FWIW, BRONZ don't see motorcycling as a purely leisure activity. Personally, my bike is my daily transport, my ONLY transport unless I borrow my wife's car.

BRONZ is about representation and mediation with government authorities in order to have the bikers opinions known - hopefully we can represent in a way that works for everyone some of the time.

But don't expect us to agree with you all the time - that's just not realistic.

If you've got something to add, join up. Come to a meeting and have your say. Do something about it. We are.

[NONONO]

Don't let one quote colour your opinion of anything dude. Like any lobby group made of multiple organisations you're not always going to have everyone on the same page. Also, your quote is a small one with no context. I'd like to hear the rest of the conversation.

FWIW, BRONZ don't see motorcycling as a purely leisure activity. Personally, my bike is my daily transport, my ONLY transport unless I borrow my wife's car.

BRONZ is about representation and mediation with government authorities in order to have the bikers opinions known - hopefully we can represent in a way that works for everyone some of the time.

But don't expect us to agree with you all the time - that's just not realistic.

If you've got something to add, join up. Come to a meeting and have your say. Do something about it. We are.

Sorry mate, BRONZ represents no one but it's members.
At the last count that was a fairly small percentage of bikers, even bikers on this site.
if BRONZ wishes to represent more than it's current membership it has to obtain a mandate from those it wishes to represent. In Auckland it has a mandate to represent approx 200 people, no more. I have no current figures on how many people BRONZ represents nationally.
I'm not sure why BRONZ has become the sacred cow of bikers, given that it does not presume to represent bikers.
Think we can do without it personally, or maybe it should become affiliated to a biker organization..

[Berries]

Don't let one quote colour your opinion of anything dude. Like any lobby group made of multiple organisations you're not always going to have everyone on the same page. Also, your quote is a small one with no context. I'd like to hear the rest of the conversation.

The ODT misquoted me so many times over the years it became a bit of a game. However, if you are going to be representing a national body and you are speaking at a public event, or even directly to the media, then they are going to pick up and report those little soundbites. Not all publicity is good publicity. And seriously, for a lobby group everyone has to be on the same page don’t they ?

[riffer]

Not all publicity is good publicity. And seriously, for a lobby group everyone has to be on the same page don’t they ?

Yes, generally that is true. Doesn't always happen but when you are formulating policy on the hoof, like what happened when motorcyclists were attacked and given a matter of weeks to come up with a credible response you will get a number of (slightly) different opinions on these things.

Generally, most BRONZ organisations are in agreement all the time. If not, that's why National Council is there.

Sorry mate, BRONZ represents no one but it's members.
At the last count that was a fairly small percentage of bikers, even bikers on this site.
if BRONZ wishes to represent more than it's current membership it has to obtain a mandate from those it wishes to represent. In Auckland it has a mandate to represent approx 200 people, no more. I have no current figures on how many people BRONZ represents nationally.
I'm not sure why BRONZ has become the sacred cow of bikers, given that it does not presume to represent bikers.
Think we can do without it personally, or maybe it should become affiliated to a biker organization.

Sorry dude, BRONZ not only represents motorcycling, we advocate on behalf of motorcycists as well. Not sure where you came up with the not presuming to represent bikers. BRONZ are the longest-running motorcyclist representation organisation in New Zealand. When the government tried to screw it up 20 years ago it was BRONZ leading the charge. When they tried it again last year we were there again, at the front. There are other organisations representing bikers (WIMA, Ulysses, etc), and we work with all of them. They were delighted to join us in the bikoi, but make no mistake that was a BRONZ initiative.

But our main aim is political. We are, in a sense, affiliated with most biker organisations and that may or may not become more official in the future - who knows. Other organisations have different opinions on whether they become involved politically.

At the moment bikers need to think a lot more about how they are perceived, how they act, and how they communicate with TPTB, as they have the power (and they believe, the right) to protect us from ourselves if they think we can't do it ourselves.

BRONZ are working very hard right now to show Government and ACC how bikers are capable and committed to making a difference.

Your choice if you want to be involved - or not. I respect your choice either way, but I'll continue to fight for your right to keep riding even if you don't want me to.

Keep it shiny side up mate.

[That looks like fun]

We might well have the right to expect it but until we start sorting our own shit out we're on shakey ground if we start demanding it.

Then lets not demand it, lets just expect it

[NONONO]

Yes, generally that is true. Doesn't always happen but when you are formulating policy on the hoof, like what happened when motorcyclists were attacked and given a matter of weeks to come up with a credible response you will get a number of (slightly) different opinions on these things.

Generally, most BRONZ organisations are in agreement all the time. If not, that's why National Council is there.



Sorry dude, BRONZ not only represents motorcycling, we advocate on behalf of motorcycists as well. Not sure where you came up with the not presuming to represent bikers. BRONZ are the longest-running motorcyclist representation organisation in New Zealand. When the government tried to screw it up 20 years ago it was BRONZ leading the charge. When they tried it again last year we were there again, at the front. There are other organisations representing bikers (WIMA, Ulysses, etc), and we work with all of them. They were delighted to join us in the bikoi, but make no mistake that was a BRONZ initiative.

But our main aim is political. We are, in a sense, affiliated with most biker organisations and that may or may not become more official in the future - who knows. Other organisations have different opinions on whether they become involved politically.

At the moment bikers need to think a lot more about how they are perceived, how they act, and how they communicate with TPTB, as they have the power (and they believe, the right) to protect us from ourselves if they think we can't do it ourselves.

BRONZ are working very hard right now to show Government and ACC how bikers are capable and committed to making a difference.

Your choice if you want to be involved - or not. I respect your choice either way, but I'll continue to fight for your right to keep riding even if you don't want me to.

Keep it shiny side up mate.

BRONZ represents motorcyclists the way greenpeace represents whales. Motorcycling not motorcyclists.

242 is a good increase from 40 a year ago!.

BTW, it costs about $500 - $1000 a year to be on the BRONZ committee - stuff that you pay for , travel costs etc.

Anyone is welcome to start an alternative, y'know.

Erm???????