Here’s why MOTO NZ was set up, how it is funded and what we aim to do for all New Zealand riders
MOTO NZ was established to offer a different angle on rider safety: ours.
It started because rider accidents, injuries and fatalities were rising, resulting in a financial and emotional toll. Matters came to a head with the protests over raising ACC levies in motorcycle registration. The ACC Minister, Nick Smith, met a lot of rider representatives at that time and an idea took shape. If the goal was safety, couldn’t riders’ own views and priorities - not just existing authorities’ - be taken into account?
Funding the idea
Motorcyclists and other riders might have some good plans for improving their own safety. And, rather than see other programmes sacrificed, a separate fund was set up for these actions. Adding a $30 Motorcycle Safety Levy (MSL) to each registration would finance the plan and, because it was paid by riders, it would be kept for our priorities.
MOTO NZ is born
An ‘advisory council’ was set up (see Terms of Reference), with a prerequisite being the members appointed must be involved with and have a passion for motorcycles. They are all motorcycle and scooter riders and as riders, they recognise the same safety issues we all know about. The name MOTO arose from the fact that this initiative means we - as riders - now direct the choices on safety. Hence, Motorcyclists Own The Options: MOTO, NZ.
Aims and objectives
MOTO NZ has been established with a simple purpose: to use the funds gathered from motorcyclists and other riders to make riding safer.
Our way. Not anyone else’s.
In practice, that might mean addressing hazards that particularly affect riders but which otherwise wouldn’t rate as an overall ‘road safety’ priority.
We aim to spend our money wisely and effectively. And we want all riders to participate. First off, the council members have plenty of ideas to get going - the same sort of ideas we will all have thought about over the years. But we want to hear your ideas too.
The website is also a method for alerting the specialist people we need to help us with projects.
This is the way New Zealand riders can improve our safety without reducing the fun, excitement and spirit of motorcycling. It’s our money, so it’s our priorities that count.