The Bikers Political Party

[shrub]

I ver much doubt there wouldn't be a party that would... and they would not truely be on our side they would be just after their own gain... I don't trust any politican as it is let alone align myself with them...

try the Greens. Dave Clendon is a passionate all year biker and has told me that the Greens are keen to see ACC returned to the Woodhouse principles and agrees that motorcycle safety is better achieved through training and developing all road users than imposing more rules.

Or Labour - Phil Goff is a biker and is pretty against privatising ACC. Also Labour support rail, and rail is good for motorcycling because the more freight that goes by train the less trucks we have chewing up our precious oil, fucking up the roads and clogging the windies.

The two parties you can almost guarantee will be anti bikes are National and Act. I think they probably see us as high booze consumption, low hygiene, low income and low value idiots - why ride a bike when you can drive a nice shiny BMW? Motorcycling is a fringe, high risk and slightly rebellious activity; all characteristics that are pretty much contrary to anything the Tories stand for.

[Maha]

I wish those who may get this up and going, all the best.

[shrub]

A wise man once said....

''A 'Biker Party wont get the 5% required to get into parliament because, that is around 118,000 people based on 2008 figures. Even if every motorcyclist and scooter rider gave the Biker Party their vote they would fall short by a good 20,000 votes''.

Find that extra 20,000 votes and it might just scrape in.

Before you need those 20,000 votes you need to get every motorcyclist and every scooter rider to give you their party vote, and that won't happen. I won't vote for a Biker party unless I can see that they have sound and well thought out policies on the economy, education, health, welfare, justice, foreign policy and the environment because these are all issues that affect me every day.

The Biker party needs a leader, spokespeople for the various issues, PR people, policy analysts, speech writers, admin people, volunteers (and volunteer coordinators), fundraisers etc. Who do you know who has the skills to do these tasks among the motorcycle community?

I also won't vote for any party if I don't think they stand a good chance of getting a seat or past the 5% threshold because I want to influence the makeup of parliament; not influence the makeup of the people who missed out.

Finally I won't vote for a party that doesn't stand for something that makes me say "fuck yeah, that's important". What will the biker party stand for? Reduced ACC levies? Road safety? And that's where you face the biggest challenge - we haven't really got anything to complain about. Sure, I resent tar snakes and unmarked ice grit, and paying a couple of brazillian dollars to register my bike sucks, but NZers have bigger problems which means you won't get the 20,000 non-motorcyclists. Hell, if there was a way to get an extra 20,000 votes all the other parties would be beating a path to your door.

And that's the secret. If we can get (say) 40,000 bikers to stand up and say "I will vote for the party that ....." we have HUGE power. That would have brought NZ First or Act over the 5% threshold or given the Greens another 2 seats. In 2008 National would have been unable to form a government without the Maori party. That's power.

So the question needs to be asked - do we enjoy the buzz of having a biker party, or do we exert influence on the political process?

[Genestho]

National has just undertaken a 10 year strategy to 2020 (when I assume the strategy is reviewed, added to, or scrapped) to 'improve Motorcycling', if we don't like the way it is, there's plenty of scope for getting things done from our point of view.
The strategy stays in place regardless of who's in Govt.

The two parties you can almost guarantee will be anti bikes are National and Act. I think they probably see us as high booze consumption, low hygiene, low income and low value idiots - why ride a bike when you can drive a nice shiny BMW? Motorcycling is a fringe, high risk and slightly rebellious activity; all characteristics that are pretty much contrary to anything the Tories stand for.

As far as a political party or lobby group, I'm really not sure which is the best, as a minor political party you have to negotiate, depending on the votes depends on how much you'd have to negotiate.
As a lobby group you may set out a focus - but, you don't get all you want, either way, accept that you won't get it all. (What ever 'it' is)

Let me tell you as a person for nearly four years - communicated with Labour first and then National - that has used every tool and trick, NGO and stakeholder alignments, hundreds of case studies, hundreds of reports on legislation, law, court procedures, technology, (to name a few!) and data and media possible, watching news reports and keeping up, flights to parliament, visiting MP's, preparing reports, submissions, select committee processes, drumming up support, planning events, education, keeping up with and understanding parliamentary terms, processes and how lengthy they are;

Even, being able to prove arguments time and time again based on data and case studies - it is not possible to get all you want.

Still waiting for the lobbied legislative changes to go through any month now..and that will be me finally finished !

Don't slice yourself too thin, pick the ones you have unequivocal knowledge and a credible argument on.

KNOW your subjects inside and out, predict the arguements and have facts ready to counter. (A mental game of chess!)

It's also extremely expensive in time and money. Political party - even more so - I'd imagine.

To really get things achieved you have to almost set aside life and make a plan and set some goals.
Most people I know; who lobby and have had success, this is what they've had to do, political aspirations would be no different, I'd imagine.

Good luck

[Fatt Max]

I think they probably see us as high booze consumption, low hygiene, low income and low value idiots .

Leave Auckland Council out of this please....

[MSTRS:Me]

So the question needs to be asked - do we enjoy the buzz of having a biker party, or do we exert influence on the political process?

That's the one.
Our love of bikes does not define us as one-party voters.
Bikers are too disparate to be anything but potential swing voters.

[Bassmatt]

Before you need those 20,000 votes you need to get every motorcyclist and every scooter rider to give you their party vote, and that won't happen. I won't vote for a Biker party unless I can see that they have sound and well thought out policies on the economy, education, health, welfare, justice, foreign policy and the environment because these are all issues that affect me every day.

I also won't vote for any party if I don't think they stand a good chance of getting a seat or past the 5% threshold because I want to influence the makeup of parliament; not influence the makeup of the people who missed out.

I think you are missing the point of MMP. A bikers party (for example) will never hold enough power to be in control or even have a significant influence on economic policy or foriegn policy etc. Fuck even the Labour Party when in opposition have bugger all impact on what the Nats want to do.
As for not voting for a party that wont make the 5% threshold, if everybody had this attitude then we might as well go back to FPP.
Its as much about having a voice, rather than any actual power, and being able through being in parliament to get that voice heard by a greater number of people. To begin with anyway.

[shrub]

KNOW your subjects inside and out, predict the arguements and have facts ready to counter.

And that's where a biker party or a lobby group will need some pretty sharp researchers with access to a ton of data, skill in using quantitative and qualitive research methods, report writing skills, presentation skills etc. And men in suits (sadly that's what you need to be believed).

It's also extremely expensive in time and money. Political party - even more so - I'd imagine.

To really get things achieved you have to almost set aside life and make a plan and goals.

You're talking many hundreds of thousands of dollars here, and people willing to work 70 - 80 hours a week for little or no pay.

I hate to be the negative bastard, but I'd rather see the passion and enthusiasm channelled into something that works than see a bunch of people go broke and burn out.

[Genestho]

And that's where a biker party or a lobby group will need some pretty sharp researchers with access to a ton of data, skill in using quantitative and qualitive research methods, report writing skills, presentation skills etc. And men in suits (sadly that's what you need to be believed).

Yup!
You're talking many hundreds of thousands of dollars here, and people willing to work 70 - 80 hours a week for little or no pay.

I hate to be the negative bastard, but I'd rather see the passion and enthusiasm channelled into something that works than see a bunch of people go broke and burn out.

Yup - That's the reality I'm trying to get across, (but, c'mon anyone can wear a suit!?),

The ability to be restrained enough to respond and not re-act, go away and think and read more AND listen, takes alot of stamina, patience and more!

[Bald Eagle]

You're talking many hundreds of thousands of dollars here, and people willing to work 70 - 80 hours a week for little or no pay.

Paula Bennet will give you the $$ call it a work scheme.

[Bassmatt]

You're talking many hundreds of thousands of dollars here, and people willing to work 70 - 80 hours a week for little or no pay.

I hate to be the negative bastard, but I'd rather see the passion and enthusiasm channelled into something that works than see a bunch of people go broke and burn out.

serious question here. If the above is the case how is it that there are so many minor parties in NZ.
About 26 outside of Parliament.

[Bald Eagle]

serious question here. If the above is the case how is it that there are so many minor parties in NZ.

Govt funding ( see earlier)

[shrub]

I think you are missing the point of MMP. A bikers party (for example) will never hold enough power to be in control or even have a significant influence on economic policy or foriegn policy etc. Fuck even the Labour Party when in opposition have bugger all impact on what the Nats want to do.
As for not voting for a party that wont make the 5% threshold, if everybody had this attitude then we might as well go back to FPP.

Actually i know quite a lot about MMP and politics in general. Where we want to exert influence is through the select committee process. If we had a National/Labour/Green/Act/NZ First/Maori candidate who was sympathetic and supportive of our needs on the select committee looking at the issues affecting us, we can have an influence on the final makeup of the laws that get passed. That tame polly will be our voice.

And why would we vote for a party that was only ever going to get 1 or 2% of the vote and was never going to get in, when bikers could be the voters that determined whether our chosen party got into parliament or got an extra seat or 2?

Its as much about having a voice, rather than any actual power, and being able through being in parliament to get that voice heard by a greater number of people. To begin with anyway

Precisely. We need a lobby group who are willing to be that voice and to get our message to the people who need to hear it - advisors, politicians etc. We also need a lobby group who is media-savvy and knows how to get in front of the press every chance they get.

[Bassmatt]

Govt funding ( see earlier)

Then the money isnt an issue.

[shrub]

serious question here. If the above is the case how is it that there are so many minor parties in NZ.

Because everyone wants to have their 15 minutes and there are a lot of people who think they have something important to say. Like these guys (who got nearly 13000 votes in 08) http://www.thekiwiparty.org.nz/