It’s time to fight back! How much more are we going to let them get away with?
Wellington, Nov 18 NZPA – Angry bikers have vowed to step up protests against the Government’s plans to ramp up their ACC levies.
Thousands of bikers descended on Parliament yesterday over the issue and shouted down ACC Minister Nick Smith as he tried to address them.
With the planned changes, riders would have to pay $257.58, a raise from $58.97, to register a moped.
All motorcycle registrations currently cost $252.69. But from 2010/11 bikes from 125cc to 600cc would go up to $511.43, while those over 600cc would be $745.77.
Dr Smith met in the Beehive with some of the bikers following the protest and said the scale of the hikes was likely to be paired back.
“I’ve indicated to them that it’s unlikely that the Government will agree to the scale of increase that the ACC board has recommended,” he told reporters.
However, bikers have said they planned to cause further disruption in coming days to ensure their message gets through.
Biker Anne James said a large congregation and protest was planned for Auckland on Sunday.
“Hopefully, with any luck, there will be no car parks left in Auckland city on Sunday morning,” she told Radio New Zealand.
Ms James said the bikers would not break any laws, but the scale of their actions was likely to cause large-scale congestion and disruption in Auckland.
One of the organizers of yesterday’s “Bikoi”, Brent Hutchison, said bikers were not going to “roll over” and let the Government follow through with its plans. “The war has just begun.”
He said bikers had plenty of ways to continue causing disruption without breaking any laws and suggested future protests could bring cities to a stand-still.
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