Paul Searancke, Interim Chair
Commissioner: Recreation/Leisure of Motorcycling New Zealand
Paul started riding motorcycles in 1968 and is still riding (and getting better) today. Working with motorcycles, Paul gets to indulge in his passion for riding on a regular basis: a passion which extends to his entire family. He is also a Life Member and the Vice President of Nelson Motor Cycle Club Inc (Est. 1908) – New Zealand’s oldest motorcycle club.
Paul became involved in club motorcycle administration and event organisation in the late 1980s. He is also involved at the executive level in Motorcycling New Zealand Inc. (MNZ) and sees this as a way of giving something back to the sport that gives him and his family so much enjoyment.
Paul is the Commissioner responsible for the non-competitive motorcycle activities within MNZ and is also a member of the Health and Safety Commission. Born out of the desire to do something to improve the safety and wellbeing of their membership, he has been the driving force behind the development of an MNZ Coaching / Training programme in conjunction with SPARC, Sport Tasman and ACC. MNZ estimates about 6,000 of their members also ride on-road, and Paul believes they will be able to offer these members some good on-road riding skills and training.
Paul is also a member of the NZTA Industry Consultative Group that is reviewing motorcycle rider licensing and testing requirements.
He is looking forward to making a significant contribution to improvements in the safety and wellbeing of road riding motorcyclists and is determined to get the “most bang for our motorcyclist bucks in reducing fatalities and serious injuries”.
Peter McIntosh
President Ulysses Club of New Zealand Inc
Peter has been riding road bikes since the 1970s and is enjoying his 1200 Goldwing and 1200 Buell with a daily commute on a Honda CBX 550.
Peter has been the National President of the Ulysses Club since 2002 and throughout this time has been working with ACC on road safety initiatives. He was a founding member of the Motorcycle Safety Reference Group and has been involved in developing a number of new programmes, including the Ulysses rider mentoring programme and encouraging training via subsidies for their members.
As a long time rider, Peter brings his first hand experience of riding to the Council. In his professional life he works with a wide variety of people and knows the importance of building good relationships to get things done. He believes the mix of people and experience on the Council will lead to some great improvements not only for the safety for riders, but all road users. Also important to Peter is changing the attitudes of road users and he is looking forward to demonstrating that "we can make a difference".
Yvonne Forrest
Representative of Women’s International Motorcycle Association
Yvonne has been riding motorcycles for 26 years and now rides a ZX6R 636cc Kawasaki. She has toured to all four corners of New Zealand and beyond, and continues to do so. In the mid-1990s she also tried her hand at racing on a Honda RS125, so she brings both road and track experience to the Council.
She has been involved with a number of motorcycling clubs and most recently is the immediate past President of the Women's International Motorcycle Association (WIMA), a position she held for 8 years. During this time, Yvonne helped develop a strong family-focused and friendly club, designed to encourage more females to get involved with both the club and motorbike riding. The club is especially focused on providing a supportive environment for younger riders and those who are new or returning to riding.
Yvonne has been involved with ACC over the past 12 years and brings experience in working with committees and different groups in order to reach successful outcomes. She is excited to be involved with this Council and hopes her ability and experience as an active motorcyclist will provide valued input in developing a programme that will result in improved safety for other riders.
Jess Corbett
Representative of Scoot NZ and the NZ Classic Scooter Club
Jess bought her first Vespa when living in Auckland in 1997. She has her full motorcycle licence and rides a range of geared scooters from 50cc to 200cc. In Wellington she started getting more involved with the scooter community and enjoyed open road riding especially to scooter events. Over the last three years she has been the Secretary for the Classic Scooter Club, and organised three out of 11 annual Classic Scooter Club rallies. She is very interested in the social history of scootering in New Zealand and is gathering stories which are published in her monthly scooter magazine.
Jess has an in-depth knowledge of New Zealand's scooter culture, which has a wide spectrum of riders. She is concerned about the lack of safety opportunities for new moped and scooter riders and is looking forward to helping influence change for the smaller bike riders on the road.
Bill Grice
CEO of Suzuki New Zealand & Vice President of MIA
Bill has had an involvement with motorcycles for more than 45 years and is fortunate to have access to Suzuki New Zealand's fleet of motorcycles. He has a Suzuki 750 ATV at home that he uses around his rural property and extensively for hunting. As CEO of Suzuki New Zealand, Bill has been given huge exposure to the motorcycling community, as well as the automobile industry. With Suzuki having 53 motorcycle dealers and 27 automobile dealers, plus his involvement in the Motor Industry Association he knows the industry well. He also has good insights into the needs of motorcycle distributors, dealers and motorcyclists. He was Chairman of the Motor Industry Association (MIA) Motorcycle Division on and off for more than 12 years, and his current role within the MIA continues to keep him in contact with the motorcycle industry at all levels.
Bill is committed to seeing the motorcycle accident rate drop and to gaining more recognition for motorcyclists as responsible road users.
David Crawford
Member of the Automobile Association of NZ
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport David started riding motorbikes in 1980 and since then he has owned a range of sports, touring and adventure touring bikes. He currently owns a 2007 Triumph Tiger adventure touring bike and has ridden extensively throughout New Zealand, many of those miles with his wife as pillion. He is planning a number of exciting riding trips over the next few years, covering Canada, the USA (including Alaska), Europe and a circumnavigation of Australia.
David has many years experience in public policy and regulatory functions having worked in both the public and private sector. In a previous role he was General Manager Safety and Environment with the Ministry of Transport and was a key contributor to the development of the current road safety strategy Safer Journeys. David is a member of the AA and previously was on the council of the Wellington District Council of the AA.
David brings considerable public policy process knowledge and skills to the group. He is looking forward to making a significant contribution to improving safety for motorbike riders, through practical and effective initiatives.