WCC is about to stab all motorcyclists in the back

**riffer** · 9th August 2011, 19:21

Trust me guys. BRONZ has learned a lot from the events of the last week.

We never claimed to be exemplars of media communication - we are, after all, motorcyclists first and formost, and secondly representatives of the motorcycling public - totally voluntary and definitely unpaid.

I don't really give a shit about popularity or whether I make everyone happy (or anyone else in my organisation does) all the time.

What counts for me is the results. And a better deal for ALL motorcyclists. And if pissing off a small percentage of people is the price we pay for that then I'm good with that.

**allycatz** · 9th August 2011, 19:37

The media also made a comment about..."motorcylists, many clad in full leather", as if we wore leathers to intimidate. They obviously have no concept of ATGATT or riding to meetings in winter fog ...aka blardy cold that morning! But, a statement that could of been mis-interpreted by the public. The media like to gloss up the facts.

**Virago** · 9th August 2011, 20:08

Originally Posted by allycatz

The media also made a comment about..."motorcylists, many clad in full leather", as if we wore leathers to intimidate. They obviously have no concept of ATGATT or riding to meetings in winter fog ...aka blardy cold that morning! But, a statement that could of been mis-interpreted by the public. The media like to gloss up the facts.

Before you get too comfortable on your high horse, the intimidatory factor was well promoted in this thread, with people encouraged to wear the gear even if arriving by car. A couple of quotes:

...If 100 Wellington Bikers can show up at Council in your bike jackets so you stand out like a bad smelling biker type...

Wear the threads though bro.

Glossing up the facts can be a two-way process...

**DougieNZ** · 10th August 2011, 17:22

Exactly... sometimes in life you reap exactly what you sew. Another lesson learnt?

**allycatz** · 10th August 2011, 17:40

Point I was making was media are good at making a banquet out of a few simple ingredients...not on a high horse at all! Can't say that anyone there LOOKED threatening

**Virago** · 10th August 2011, 18:12

Originally Posted by allycatz

Point I was making was media are good at making a banquet out of a few simple ingredients...not on a high horse at all! Can't say that anyone there LOOKED threatening

The factual statement "motorcylists, many clad in full leather" does not suggest that anyone was threatening. Your own banquet is coming along nicely.

**Katman** · 10th August 2011, 18:16

Originally Posted by Virago

The factual statement "motorcylists, many clad in full leather" does not suggest that anyone was threatening. Your own banquet is coming along nicely.

Motorcyclists twisting words?

Surely not!

**Hitcher** · 10th August 2011, 18:17

Originally Posted by DougieNZ

Exactly... sometimes in life you reap exactly what you sew. Another lesson learnt?

And sometimes in life, one reaps what one sows.

**Dodgy_Matt** · 10th August 2011, 18:21

I can't wait till other Councils want to charge for Motorcycle parking....

**Hitcher** · 10th August 2011, 18:22

Originally Posted by Usarka

Recent media events have shown that "off the record" is no longer something held to by NZ media.

Hmmm. That depends on the quality of the relationship between an organisation's spokesperson and the reporter concerned. All relationships are based on trust. Media relationships are no different. If spokespeople don't make it clear as to what may be on or off the record, then a reporter can't be blamed for that.

**Hitcher** · 10th August 2011, 18:26

Originally Posted by Dodgy_Matt

I can't wait till other Councils want to charge for Motorcycle parking...

If they do their engagement properly in advance of a recommendation being put to Council, then they may get a clearer shot at success than WCC did. Good decision-making should be underpinned by a good transparent, constructive process. It's Council's role to make decisions in the best interests of the communities they are elected to serve. Some of those decisions will always be unpopular with some groups or individuals, including motorcyclists.

**Usarka** · 10th August 2011, 19:18

Originally Posted by Hitcher

Hmmm. That depends on the quality of the relationship between an organisation's spokesperson and the reporter concerned. All relationships are based on trust. Media relationships are no different. If spokespeople don't make it clear as to what may be on or off the record, then a reporter can't be blamed for that.

Unfortunately they've removed it from the podcast site on Radio NZ but the MediaWatch programme on Sunday morning a while ago had a good piece on this. From memory they interviewed a publisher or producer who basically said if it's in the interest of the story then there's no such thing as off the record.

**Dodgy_Matt** · 10th August 2011, 19:29

Originally Posted by Hitcher

If they do their engagement properly in advance of a recommendation being put to Council, then they may get a clearer shot at success than WCC did. Good decision-making should be underpinned by a good transparent, constructive process. It's Council's role to make decisions in the best interests of the communities they are elected to serve. Some of those decisions will always be unpopular with some groups or individuals, including motorcyclists.

They did do their engagement properly with the Wellington Council and things were well in hand, then the Council turned around and changed what was agreed too.
The Council effectively made a bad call by changing policy with no consultation.

**Hitcher** · 10th August 2011, 21:21

Originally Posted by Usarka

From memory they interviewed a publisher or producer who basically said if it's in the interest of the story then there's no such thing as off the record.

That's always been the case. It doesn't change my earlier point about agreeing with the reporter about what you're going to discuss.