Bikers to fight big fee hike

They say contempt breed's contempt.

To impose this level of increase upon motorcyclists is going to bring contempt to other issues as well. And to expect the Police to control things is stupid.

We as responsible motorcyclists have accepted legislation restricting us to a max 250cc machine whilst on a learners license, compulsory helmets and now permanent headlights on. all in the name of safety. Yet successive governments have done nothing to restrict or impose regulations to stop a 15 year old on a learners or restricted license from buying a V8 or turbocharged or supercharged rocketship. There is more likelyhood of these persons being involved in a multiple fatality or injury causing crash than an individual motorcyclist.

I would fully support a rally of all motorcyclists turning up in protest at Parliament providing it is done lawfully and peacefully. Perhaps a delegation made up of presidents of several Motorcycling groups along with persons from Motorcycling Education and safety organizations could be permitted to present a petition or to hold talks with the Minister, representing ALL motorcyclists.

The minister of ACC in going public with these proposals constructed by a Departmental head of office has opened himself up to ridicule.

A head of department who believes that he can fix a problem by targeting a minority to pay for a majority is not fit to hold office.

lets all get involved constructively and NOT destructively to get a fair and reasonable resolution to this issue.

You don't need to pay registration on a chainsaw and you couldn't argue that they don't cause accidents. Just seems an odd system to charge levies on some types of machinery. If levies where based on your personal accident history then I think people would become a lot more safety conscious. This would foster improved safety in all aspects of life and deter unsafe practices which we have far to much of a reputation for in this country. "Don't worry about it, she'll be right"

I thinb people need to realise motorcycling is a lifestyle choice and to an extent a religion to a lot of riders that cage drivers can't and don't want to understand----my point being that the government is attacking a minority of people that the majority don't understand or care for just so they can get more revenue----I am sure this is an attack on a minority for profit and cannot be legal under our U.N. obligations.

From the Ministry of Transport's Motorcycle Crash Factsheet (http://www.transport.govt.nz/research/motorcyclecrashfacts/) ...

In 2007, 1,336 motorcyclists were injured in road crashes. This was eight percent of all reported injuries on our roads.

If motorcycles are only involved in 8% of all reported motor vehicle injuries, why are they expected to pay the most to ACC?

I think there should be a heap of lawyers looking at this, as ACC is a NO Blame scheme, but now all of a sudden under this Nanny Govt and incompetent Management Motorcyclists are being blamed. I really believe the Govt are going to break their own laws they have created with ACC.

Why is ACC paying huge medical and rehab costs for adults playing contact sport? Surely a grown man getting an injury on the rugby field has not had an unforeseen "accident"? Those who choose to play sports which are almost guaranteed to cause injury - and people can choose to do that, its up to them - should insure themselves for the cost of any injury sustained. Kids should be encouraged to play sport (and kid injuries are not as extensive) hence any injury sustained by them could be covered by ACC, but adults should cover the risk of injury in sport themselves!

The ACC levies are being jacked up to suit an agenda, if you wish to privatise a area first you make it so that the users want a change. How better than to cook the books to make it look like you can justify the increases fist. Watch this space private insurance is where its heading.

re: Rider2

There's no discount for private health insurance because private hospitals in NZ don't do the kind of medical care generally required after an accident. It's not what Health Insurance is for in this country as all accident rehabilitation is meant to be free (although in reality it often is not) and health insurance is really only there to help cover the costs of "elective" medical treatments.

If you have a serious injury you will be taken to a public hospital and cared for on the public dime.

@ Glenn #409

What a generalisation about all bike riders being bad road users... Bike riders are only bad road users if you show them no respect on the road. Maybe check your mirrors and blindspots a bit better and you won't get the one finger salute as often.

Hope this helps.

Hands up if you've ever seen a motorcyclist texting while they ride... Not likely. I'm not a motorcyclist myself, bu as someone who walks and cycles a lot, I know that any time I find myself in danger, it's because of someone in a car or truck or bus not watching what they're doing, or running a red light and crossing over pedestrian crossing while the green man is lit - and the green man doesn't light up for 2-3 seconds after the light turns red, so they know damn well what they're doing when they do it. This new policy is totally misguided and punishes the wrong people - but then, since the election, that seems to be the pattern.