Mon - 02:32 AM
06-Feb-2012

Media Release
4 October 2010
National Forum of Motorcycle Groups.

A meeting was held on 2 October 2010 in Petone, near Wellington to consider the concept of a national forum of motorcycling groups.

Ten national level motorcycling groups were represented and after discussion, it was agreed to develop a proposal to establish such a forum.

The proposed purpose of the forum will be to advocate for the interests of on-road motorcyclists, agree on common ground and establish good communication networks.

The proposal will be available to other motorcycling groups who may share the interests and concerns of those attending the meeting.

The groups represented at the meeting were: The Ulysses Club of New Zealand Inc.; Motorcycling New Zealand Inc. (MNZ), Women's International Motorcycling Association New Zealand Division (WIMA), Motorcycle Action Group of New Zealand Inc. (MAG-NZ), BMW Owners Register Inc. of NZ (BMWOR), Buell Riders New Zealand, Gold Wing Road Riders Assn (GWRRA), New Zealand Gold Wing Riders (Inc.), New Zealand Classic Scooter Club; and Bikers Rights Organisation New Zealand (BRONZ) (Auckland) - all of whom will be consulting their respective memberships on the forum concept.

Interested groups are encouraged to contact the above for further information.

A further meeting will be convened in early 2011 to consider feedback and further action.

ACC Levies - Keep it Active

As of the 1st July 2010 the new higher ACC levies will be applied when you register your bike. These levies are designed to make motorcyclists pay more for the privilege of being more likely to be hurt when other vehicles crash into us (or when we ourselves misjudge things). This in a supposedly "no fault" system - isn't that illogical? Our insurance wouldn't charge us more for accidents others caused. And a no fault system shouldn't charge anyone more. My car rego went up $30 to $198.46. My main bike rego went up by over $174 (from an already high base) to $426.92. My other bike costs $327.70. It's hard to want to make them all road legal when it seems the law is being an ass.

It makes no sense. It is poor policy. It is bad leadership. It is an issue worth voting on.

Around 6000 motorcycles and many more people on foot turned up for the "Bikeoi" in November 2009 to protest the huge increases proposed to motorcycle levies. WIMA was there along with other clubs and individuals. The rally was peaceful and eloquent, giving the lie once again to stereotypes about motorcyclists, and reminding people we are a positive community. But we don't think the Government listened.

What is wrong with current ACC levies on motorcycles?
While the levy increases for cars and motorcycles aren't as bad as first suggested, this is mainly because they have decided to extend the length of time they give current drivers and riders to pay for past accidents they didn't fund properly (around half the current levy cost) while making us pay full current and future potential price for any that happen now. Not because they decided to make us pay less.

So despite our strong protests, yes, we are paying more than one generations worth of ACC levy, and yes it is high, and yes we do mostly pay a full levy on cars too and per motorcycle... no they didn't listen.

Income compensation is a large chunk of the motor vehicle account costs, which seems unfair because a) that means people on low incomes effectively subsidise those on high incomes; and b) sports and home accidents are covered through income levies (a more equitable accounting, based on earnings).

We'd like to see, if improving safety is really an aim, a car rate for our ACC levy on providing proof of completing safety training and owning decent gear when registering motorcycles.

Looking over a longer timeframe, accidents per motorcycle are declining. Those on smaller motorcycles are more likely to have an accident. Spikes appear to be in those learning or relearning skills - definitely a reason to ensure there is training (if someone doesn't own a motorcycle for ten years a refresher might be in order before they think about going out and buying a new one, particularly if they are eyeing up a 1000cc muscle bike).

Multi-ownership or self-subsidisation is not typically noted in calculations or the advertising ACC paid for trying to get motorcar drivers to support what they proposed (unsuccessful in many cases given the unsolicited comments many non-motorcyclists made to me and others about the unfairness of it).
In Australia the ACC levy is only paid on the first motorcycle - easily managed as the registration details show multiple use and the slightly spurious claim that those who ride motorcycles share all our vehicles around could be easily overcome by issuing dealer-style plates that we move from one vehicle to another - obviously meaning those who do share their vehicles with friends/family that don't have one of their own would have to have extra plates to do so.

We think the approach to ACC levies on motorcyclists is unfair, and would like to encourage everyone to think of creative ways to get some part of the message across to the public and politicians.
More information: http://www.bikersagainstacc.org.nz/

What are the Levies?
New levy rates are shown below.

Other ACC Issues
All of us, motorcyclist or not, are also affected by other changes this Government has made to ACC - which remember has reserves of over 3 times each year's expenditure and in 2008 took in $4.1b in levies and paid out only $3.1billion in claims and its own running costs. That's a billion dollars spare - doesn't sound too broke to me!

- Removal of cover for some work-related deafness, disease or infection

- Exposure to chemicals, asbestos, etc through work

- Having to use your holiday pay if you have some before getting ACC (how unfair to those who save holiday pay for rest or trips!)

- Losing ACC wage cover when judged able to do a job with a fraction of the skills and pay from before the accident for only 30 hours a week?

- Reduced cover for work injuries for seasonal work

The proposed risk changes will increase the costs of administration and lawyers and reduce cover, all while they also put up our ACC levies on income, motor vehicles, etc.

ACC Protest Rally, Parliament, Wellington 17th November 2009 - Watch the YouTube Videos and Read more.....

This is the official website of WIMA, the Women's International Motorcycling Association. The views and comments are those of individuals and should not be taken as the official opinion of WIMA, its officers or member as a whole.