Bikers leave Parliament after protesting over the possible
increase in ACC levies for motorcyclists. Photo by NZPA.
Hundreds of New Zealand motorcyclists revved up their
Harley Davidsons and other machines today to let the government
know they were unhappy about plans to raise ACC charges.
Motorcyclists say they will be hit hard by higher fees and
claim they mean discrimination.
Leather-jacketed riders and pillion passengers staged
peaceful rallies in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington,
Christchurch, Timaru and other places to press their cause.
In Wellington several hundred bikers left their machines at
the foot of the Parliament Buildings'grounds and walked up
the grass to the steps of the main building.
They listened quietly to speeches attacking the ACC
increases.
In Auckland and Christchurch they tooted horns and revved
engines in a loud display of opposition to proposals to up
levies by as much as three times current levels.
The new rates are proposed in a controversial bill which also
cuts back some ACC entitlements as the Government tries to
bring under control what it claims are huge deficits at the
department.
In Auckland, Labour leader Phil Goff, a motorbike fan and
rider himself, said imposing large increases was
"unjustified, unfair and divisive".
He was speaking in Manukau after attending the Auckland part
of the Ulysses Motorcycle Club's protests ride.
Mr Goff said the levy for bikes over 600cc would treble from
$252 to $735, a jump of just under $500 a year.
"That's unacceptable, outrageous, and unwarranted."
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