Last month’s protest rally by motorcyclists in Wellington has achieved limited results in reducing sharp rate rises proposed by New Zealand’s Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) comprehensive, no-fault personal injury cover levies for 2010/11.

Following public consultation, levies recommended to the Government are largely in line with those originally announced for the work, earner and motor vehicle accounts.

For earners on $NZ45,000 ($35,200) a year, the proposed levy is up 65% to $NZ1260 ($986).

The bikers made some small gains, however. The moped levy will jump from the current $NZ100.46 ($78.60) to $NZ277.25 ($216.88), compared with the $NZ292.93 ($229.14) originally proposed.

For bikes in the 601cc-plus category the revised levy is $NZ739.32 ($578.30), up from the current $NZ430.54 ($336.77), but down from the previously recommended $NZ781.12 ($611.22).

The recommendations aren’t binding on ACC Minister Nick Smith, but the corporation says they are necessary for the scheme’s survival.

“The levies we recommend, along with a program of cost savings and improved performance will enable us to address the broader financial issues and ensure the future of the ACC scheme,” Chairman John Judge said in a statement.

In October Dr Smith described ACC as “financially unsustainable” after it reported a loss of $NZ4.8 billion ($3.8 billion) for the past financial year, on top of a $NZ2.4 billion ($1.9 billion) loss the previous year.