Bikers show ACC rage in Nelson 

Source: ONE News

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More than 500 motorcyclists roared through Nelson on Saturday to give a clear message to local MP and ACC Minister Nick Smith.

The group are the latest to protest against the large increase in motorcycle registrations proposed by the Accident Compensation Corporation.

The planned fee hike for motorbike registration brought hundreds of leather-clad riders from all walks of life together to protest.

Organiser Steve Page says "the feeling's pretty deep" and for the majority of the riders it was the first time they had protested against anything.

Most of the bikes fit into the over 600ccs category, meaning their riders face the highest registration increase of around $500. They say the increases of up to 300% are too much.

"You look around here, people are wearing protective clothing, reflective vests, reflective jackets. We make a big effort to look after ourselves...there's no recognition of that in the way the levies are applied at the moment," says the national president of the Ulysses Motorcycle Club, Peter McIntosh.

Page says motorcyclists are an easy revenue stream. "We're an easy target and there's been no consultation."

A range of people from patched members to priests joined the Nelson protest and drove their message straight to the man calling the shots but the ministerial message was clear.

"Motorcycle accidents cost $62 million while the amount of revenue they [ACC] get from motorcycles is $12m - it's a big hole," says Smith.

ACC says if it charged each rider according to average injury costs, to register a large bike would set the owner back more than $3500.

"I think it's unlikely that the cabinet will agree to as big a increase as the ACC board is proposing but it is inevitable that there will be a substantive increase," says Smith.

The bikers have until November 10 to make submissions on ACC's proposal and they are vowing to make their views heard loud and clear.