April 8, 2026 • 10 mins
Motorcyclists are putting their bike registrations on hold in order to protest against 'unfair' increases to ACC levies.
From July 2026, motorbikes would be classified into three sizes depending on their size - and the annual ACC levy would be put up, depending on the category.
Motorcycle Advocacy Group NZ spokesperson Richard Tohu joined the Afternoons team to explain further.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talk zed B.
Follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Motorcyclists across New Zealand are taking a stand against proposed
increases to acc levies by putting their registrations on holden.
Protests rights say the planned hikes are unfear poorly targeted
and could make riding unaffordable. To unpack what this protest means,
we're now joined by a motorcycle advocacy spokesman, Richard Poor,
who get a Richard here.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
You going good thanks to being here. Let's take it
right back to the beginning. Why is the Rejo boycott happening?
Why are so many motorcyclists putting their rigos on hold?
Speaker 4 (00:42):
Well, the price is just like you say, it's unaffordable.
It's been quite expensive for many years and it's going
up like sixty eight percent. So the government has planned.
They've told us so we know what's coming. It's gone
up to almost six hundred dollars this year on the
first of desire. It's going up again to about seven
(01:05):
hundred dollars the following year. We're looking at just under
nine hundred dollars. Annually for large motorcycles who register them.
So that's a lot of money. So we've said enough
is enough. We don't actually believe that the bigger the
engine makes them more dangerous. The studies that we've read,
(01:25):
and in fact the data provided by ACC doesn't show that,
So how can you justify that? So we're just asking
them to say, hey, look, show us the data that
what you've already shown us doesn't prove that. We want
what else have you got? So that's pretty much where
we're at.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
So why don't you think they'll share that data? Do
you think they don't have it or it doesn't say
what they needed to say to increase the levees.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
I believe it's yeah, it doesn't show that, and or
they just don't have it, or they haven't done the
studies they've so they have provided us with some data
in an Official Information Act request which didn't show right,
larger engines cause more risks or our higher risk. It
just didn't prove that, and so we went back to
(02:16):
them and said, hey, no, that's that doesn't prove that.
You must have something else, but they don't or we
don't know, so they're just not responding now So.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Did the data that you've seen that you got say
that the risk was even across all CC ranges? Is
that what it came back with or.
Speaker 5 (02:35):
It basically said it was arbitrary, right, So it doesn't
prove that higher CC is sorry you go.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
Well, and most people know that because quite a lot
of us ride large like shiny cruiser bikes with really
big engines. But there are thousands of small supersport motorcycles
with much smaller engines which go twice as fast. Now,
surely that's higher risk, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
So what is their logic there then? So their assumption
is that higher CC you're going faster, bigger risk, more,
more of a mess if you if you crash. Is
that is that there?
Speaker 5 (03:22):
There?
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Their assumption?
Speaker 4 (03:25):
Look, I think what it comes down to is that
FC was just easy. It's a blunt property, you know,
for pricing, it's just easy. So administratively, hey, let's just
do it like this, bigger the engine, pay more money. Well,
you know, we don't mind paying our levees. Now we
(03:45):
understand that, yes, there's higher risk with motorcycling, so okay,
it's fair, we'll pay a bit more, but not sixty
eight percent more on an increase on what was already
we're paying over double what cars are paying, and they're
going to we're looking at three hundred dollars increase in
a couple of years time added to what it is now.
(04:06):
So what's six hundred almost six hundred bucks in July?
Speaker 2 (04:09):
So what would that increase? Yeah, fair enough to Rachel?
What would that increase look like for you? Are you
saying that it should be a universal you know, a
slight increase, not to the level that you're seeing here,
but a slight increase, but the same level for every writer,
whether it's a scooter or a superbike, you should all
pay the same levy.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
Looks there's other models out there that have been bandied around,
and you know, we haven't locked anything in yet, but
we just want to first explore the data that they've
provided and just you know, check that out first, and
then let's have a look at some of the other models.
Now they might not be easy to administer, but they
(04:48):
at least need to address the situation. Now, Like, if
you are going to say CC makes it more dangerous,
then show us that data and then let's look at
looking at other models. You know, they said the other
models could be writer based models based on experience and behaviors,
or causation and based approaches, or exposure based pricing, which
(05:12):
is probably, you know, the most popular one out there.
So how much actual road use? Right then? Right? Yet?
You know how much time are they spending on the
road exposed to hazards? You know? But there's lots of things.
Like I said, we haven't we haven't locked anything, and
yet we're putting it out to the membership to chuck
all the ideas in the hat and then we'll put
(05:33):
it to our advisory board to sort of come up
with something and then put it out to the membership.
But ACC doesn't even want to talk to us, so
that Hell and I have none of that because I'm
pretty sure that this dead set in their ways.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
So you're not denying the claim that motorbikes account for
four percent of vehicles but account for twenty five percent
of road injuries.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
So we're not denying, No, No, we're not. Yeah, people
get hurt on motorcycles and a lot of the injuries
are quite serious, all right, So we're not refusing to pay.
We just challenging the flawed pricing that all this is about.
If the data behind those levees is solid, show it
to us. If it's not fixed it.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
So if you if you're if you're you know, putting
your regio on hold, if you get pulled over with
no regio, what kind of fine are you getting?
Speaker 4 (06:25):
See you looking at about a two hundred dollar fine? Right,
some demerit points. Now, we're not condaining people to ride
their bikes while they're on hold, right, that's illegal. But
you know what, people have been doing that for years,
and I don't doubt that more people are going to
start doing it because when you weigh there up, I
hang on six hundred dollars regio, two hundred dollar fine
(06:48):
and some demerits, I think I'll just take the risk
all right Now, like I said, we're not in condoning that,
but we can't. We can't decide for what every individual
is going to do, right, And like I said, they're
already doing it. They've been doing it, thousands have been
doing it for years, and so this is just going
to get worse. We need to fix the system so
that so that it's a logical amount that all people say, hey,
(07:09):
you know what, that's okay, I'll pay that, you know
more compliant. But no, you're going to keep pricing people
into doing the legal stuff or just can't afford it,
and off the road is maybe that's their objective, the
old booty dirty agenda. Let's get motorcycles off the road
and save the planet what you're thinking.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Yeah so, but I mean it's not great for you
and your insurance payout if you do, if you're unfortunate
and you do do crash and you've got your ridgi
We're not.
Speaker 4 (07:37):
We're not encouraging that. So commuters, you know, keep your
bike on redging. You guys got to go to work.
That's your only motor transport. But there's lots of other
others out there, weekend warriors, you know, or they've got
several the collectors, they've got several machines. So we're just
going to put as many vehicles, not just motorcycles or
our vehicles on hold if we're not using them. So
(07:57):
that's going to have an impact on the income. It's
got it. It's a long game.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Yeah, yeah, because how many how many members how many
members of your group have you got and and if
you've got any ideas, how many how many have put
it put their redis on hold.
Speaker 4 (08:11):
So we can't measure that how many people have put
it on hold. But we've got nine thousand members now,
I think, and like three the last three weeks or so,
we've jumped from about five thousand members to nine thousand members.
It's growing rapidly. We probably have ten thousand members by
the end of next week because there's a lot of engagement,
(08:33):
but there's people are motivated, but this is like it's
like we feel like we're getting ripped off.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
You know's there's another logic. There's another logic flow in
this whole thing. Rich had the speed limits the stame
no matter what the CCC, So what the CC is,
whatever the cc is hard to say, it's still one
hundred so or one hundred and ten where you are,
so so you know those are those are the laws.
If someone breaks the laws, then you know they could
(09:03):
get fine speeding ticket, right, So whatever your CEE C is,
then the really matter doesn't change the speed limit.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
Yeah, yeah, that's why there's other controls to change that behavior.
And they're ramping that up as well, you know, with
the safety cameras and all that sort of stuff. So
they're not I mean they've confirmed a one hundred million
dollar contract with ACU Census, the AI camera surveillance company
that now own you know with NZNTA, so all those cameras,
(09:34):
that's what they do. At the moment, they can't bring
people for not having a registered vehicle on the road.
But that's just a matter of flicking a switch. So
as soon as the government says, hey, you know what,
we're really to turn that, turn that on now and
pay Aqur Census more money, they will do it. You know.
So that's what we're facing in the future as well.
(09:55):
Like we don't mind like cell phones and seatbelts. Cool,
that's good. That's unsafe, that's what kills us. Yeah, you know,
we're all for that, but you know it's let's let's
keep a handle on it.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Yeah, Richard, think thank you very much for having a
chat with us. Very interesting. The phones have lit up,
so this is going to be a great hour of discussion,
just very very quickly. What do you guys like to
be called? Is it motorcyclist? Is it riders? Is a motorbikers?
Is a bikers?
Speaker 4 (10:19):
A bikers, motorcyclists, motorcycle enthusiast? What whatever we get called?
We called we get called lots of things.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Mabe. Yes, hey, Richard, thank you very much having a
chat with us. Mate, Go well and and we'll touch
base and see how you go with that data.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
Oh, thanks for your time.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
That is Richard thaor who. He is the spokesperson for
the Motorcycle Advocacy Group in New Zealand.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
For more from News Talks B listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to a podcast from News Talk zed B.
Follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Motorcyclists across New Zealand are taking a stand against proposed
increases to acc levies by putting their registrations on holden.
Protests rights say the planned hikes are unfear poorly targeted
and could make riding unaffordable. To unpack what this protest means,
we're now joined by a motorcycle advocacy spokesman, Richard Poor,
who get a Richard here.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
You going good thanks to being here. Let's take it
right back to the beginning. Why is the Rejo boycott happening?
Why are so many motorcyclists putting their rigos on hold?
Speaker 4 (00:42):
Well, the price is just like you say, it's unaffordable.
It's been quite expensive for many years and it's going
up like sixty eight percent. So the government has planned.
They've told us so we know what's coming. It's gone
up to almost six hundred dollars this year on the
first of desire. It's going up again to about seven
(01:05):
hundred dollars the following year. We're looking at just under
nine hundred dollars. Annually for large motorcycles who register them.
So that's a lot of money. So we've said enough
is enough. We don't actually believe that the bigger the
engine makes them more dangerous. The studies that we've read,
(01:25):
and in fact the data provided by ACC doesn't show that,
So how can you justify that? So we're just asking
them to say, hey, look, show us the data that
what you've already shown us doesn't prove that. We want
what else have you got? So that's pretty much where
we're at.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
So why don't you think they'll share that data? Do
you think they don't have it or it doesn't say
what they needed to say to increase the levees.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
I believe it's yeah, it doesn't show that, and or
they just don't have it, or they haven't done the
studies they've so they have provided us with some data
in an Official Information Act request which didn't show right,
larger engines cause more risks or our higher risk. It
just didn't prove that, and so we went back to
(02:16):
them and said, hey, no, that's that doesn't prove that.
You must have something else, but they don't or we
don't know, so they're just not responding now So.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Did the data that you've seen that you got say
that the risk was even across all CC ranges? Is
that what it came back with or.
Speaker 5 (02:35):
It basically said it was arbitrary, right, So it doesn't
prove that higher CC is sorry you go.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
Well, and most people know that because quite a lot
of us ride large like shiny cruiser bikes with really
big engines. But there are thousands of small supersport motorcycles
with much smaller engines which go twice as fast. Now,
surely that's higher risk, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
So what is their logic there then? So their assumption
is that higher CC you're going faster, bigger risk, more,
more of a mess if you if you crash. Is
that is that there?
Speaker 5 (03:22):
There?
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Their assumption?
Speaker 4 (03:25):
Look, I think what it comes down to is that
FC was just easy. It's a blunt property, you know,
for pricing, it's just easy. So administratively, hey, let's just
do it like this, bigger the engine, pay more money. Well,
you know, we don't mind paying our levees. Now we
(03:45):
understand that, yes, there's higher risk with motorcycling, so okay,
it's fair, we'll pay a bit more, but not sixty
eight percent more on an increase on what was already
we're paying over double what cars are paying, and they're
going to we're looking at three hundred dollars increase in
a couple of years time added to what it is now.
(04:06):
So what's six hundred almost six hundred bucks in July?
Speaker 2 (04:09):
So what would that increase? Yeah, fair enough to Rachel?
What would that increase look like for you? Are you
saying that it should be a universal you know, a
slight increase, not to the level that you're seeing here,
but a slight increase, but the same level for every writer,
whether it's a scooter or a superbike, you should all
pay the same levy.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
Looks there's other models out there that have been bandied around,
and you know, we haven't locked anything in yet, but
we just want to first explore the data that they've
provided and just you know, check that out first, and
then let's have a look at some of the other models.
Now they might not be easy to administer, but they
(04:48):
at least need to address the situation. Now, Like, if
you are going to say CC makes it more dangerous,
then show us that data and then let's look at
looking at other models. You know, they said the other
models could be writer based models based on experience and behaviors,
or causation and based approaches, or exposure based pricing, which
(05:12):
is probably, you know, the most popular one out there.
So how much actual road use? Right then? Right? Yet?
You know how much time are they spending on the
road exposed to hazards? You know? But there's lots of things.
Like I said, we haven't we haven't locked anything, and
yet we're putting it out to the membership to chuck
all the ideas in the hat and then we'll put
(05:33):
it to our advisory board to sort of come up
with something and then put it out to the membership.
But ACC doesn't even want to talk to us, so
that Hell and I have none of that because I'm
pretty sure that this dead set in their ways.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
So you're not denying the claim that motorbikes account for
four percent of vehicles but account for twenty five percent
of road injuries.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
So we're not denying, No, No, we're not. Yeah, people
get hurt on motorcycles and a lot of the injuries
are quite serious, all right, So we're not refusing to pay.
We just challenging the flawed pricing that all this is about.
If the data behind those levees is solid, show it
to us. If it's not fixed it.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
So if you if you're if you're you know, putting
your regio on hold, if you get pulled over with
no regio, what kind of fine are you getting?
Speaker 4 (06:25):
See you looking at about a two hundred dollar fine? Right,
some demerit points. Now, we're not condaining people to ride
their bikes while they're on hold, right, that's illegal. But
you know what, people have been doing that for years,
and I don't doubt that more people are going to
start doing it because when you weigh there up, I
hang on six hundred dollars regio, two hundred dollar fine
(06:48):
and some demerits, I think I'll just take the risk
all right Now, like I said, we're not in condoning that,
but we can't. We can't decide for what every individual
is going to do, right, And like I said, they're
already doing it. They've been doing it, thousands have been
doing it for years, and so this is just going
to get worse. We need to fix the system so
that so that it's a logical amount that all people say, hey,
(07:09):
you know what, that's okay, I'll pay that, you know
more compliant. But no, you're going to keep pricing people
into doing the legal stuff or just can't afford it,
and off the road is maybe that's their objective, the
old booty dirty agenda. Let's get motorcycles off the road
and save the planet what you're thinking.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Yeah so, but I mean it's not great for you
and your insurance payout if you do, if you're unfortunate
and you do do crash and you've got your ridgi
We're not.
Speaker 4 (07:37):
We're not encouraging that. So commuters, you know, keep your
bike on redging. You guys got to go to work.
That's your only motor transport. But there's lots of other
others out there, weekend warriors, you know, or they've got
several the collectors, they've got several machines. So we're just
going to put as many vehicles, not just motorcycles or
our vehicles on hold if we're not using them. So
(07:57):
that's going to have an impact on the income. It's
got it. It's a long game.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Yeah, yeah, because how many how many members how many
members of your group have you got and and if
you've got any ideas, how many how many have put
it put their redis on hold.
Speaker 4 (08:11):
So we can't measure that how many people have put
it on hold. But we've got nine thousand members now,
I think, and like three the last three weeks or so,
we've jumped from about five thousand members to nine thousand members.
It's growing rapidly. We probably have ten thousand members by
the end of next week because there's a lot of engagement,
(08:33):
but there's people are motivated, but this is like it's
like we feel like we're getting ripped off.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
You know's there's another logic. There's another logic flow in
this whole thing. Rich had the speed limits the stame
no matter what the CCC, So what the CC is,
whatever the cc is hard to say, it's still one
hundred so or one hundred and ten where you are,
so so you know those are those are the laws.
If someone breaks the laws, then you know they could
(09:03):
get fine speeding ticket, right, So whatever your CEE C is,
then the really matter doesn't change the speed limit.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
Yeah, yeah, that's why there's other controls to change that behavior.
And they're ramping that up as well, you know, with
the safety cameras and all that sort of stuff. So
they're not I mean they've confirmed a one hundred million
dollar contract with ACU Census, the AI camera surveillance company
that now own you know with NZNTA, so all those cameras,
(09:34):
that's what they do. At the moment, they can't bring
people for not having a registered vehicle on the road.
But that's just a matter of flicking a switch. So
as soon as the government says, hey, you know what,
we're really to turn that, turn that on now and
pay Aqur Census more money, they will do it. You know.
So that's what we're facing in the future as well.
(09:55):
Like we don't mind like cell phones and seatbelts. Cool,
that's good. That's unsafe, that's what kills us. Yeah, you know,
we're all for that, but you know it's let's let's
keep a handle on it.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Yeah, Richard, think thank you very much for having a
chat with us. Very interesting. The phones have lit up,
so this is going to be a great hour of discussion,
just very very quickly. What do you guys like to
be called? Is it motorcyclist? Is it riders? Is a motorbikers?
Is a bikers?
Speaker 4 (10:19):
A bikers, motorcyclists, motorcycle enthusiast? What whatever we get called?
We called we get called lots of things.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Mabe. Yes, hey, Richard, thank you very much having a
chat with us. Mate, Go well and and we'll touch
base and see how you go with that data.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
Oh, thanks for your time.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
That is Richard thaor who. He is the spokesperson for
the Motorcycle Advocacy Group in New Zealand.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
For more from News Talks B listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.
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