CommittEE rEports

Iam writing this report ‘In Absentia’ enjoying the great roads to be had in New Zealand. Jane, me and the Gray Ghost are four weeks into a six week touring holiday that so far has included a heat wave, cyclone and earthquake. We think we are ready for whatever the next two weeks has in store for us. Motorcycling touring is never boring.

In my absence the club has continued on its merry way under the strong stewardship of your committee very capably led by Paul Hughes. We are all very fortunate to have the services of these people who give their time freely for the benefit of all. A very special duo in this complement are our coeditors Cindy & Duncan. The dynamic duo will have left on their expansive South American tour by the time you read this journal. I am sure you will all join with me in wishing them a very enjoyable, exciting, insightful and safe trip. They have both worked and planned very hard for this trip so deserve the rewards that will come their way.

This journal will be the first to be published with Paul Hughes at the masthead. A very special thanks to Paul for stepping up to this critical role during Cindy & Duncan’s absence.

When we left Brisbane in late January motorcycle safety was very much at the front of the Government’s thinking & planning and remains so. I have therefore been very observant as to road safety and especially motorcycle road safety while here in NZ. These are my observations alone and generally drawn from country road conditions rather than cities.

Firstly drivers and especially truck drivers are much more courteous than their Australian counterparts. Drivers pull over at the earliest opportunity to let a following vehicle pass. Next is speeding, have not seen any real examples of speeding apart from the 30kph roadworks sections that everyone transits through at 50. Policing is totally different with marked cars the obvious feature and unmarked speed camera vehicles very rare - we have only seen one in over 5,000km. The last feature is the road billboard messaging - directed at riders as well as drivers to lookout for motorcycles. Following is a pic taken at a Pub on a popular motorcycle road.

It is hard to draw comparisons between countries when there are so many variables but from my perspective NZ is doing it better than we are and attitudes contribute a lot to that situation. Stay safe and see you at the AGM on 16 March.

Tony