New Zealand, High achiever goes with the flow

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New Zealand:http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/4463390/High-achiever-goes-with-the-flow


High achiever goes with the flow....

CATHERINE HARRIS - BusinessDay.co.nz Last updated 05:00 16/12/2010SharePrint Text Size RIDE TO THE TOP: Leigh Beckhaus, who is the new chairwoman of the Motorcycle Distributors Association. She is the first woman to be appointed to an MIA committee.Relevant offers The group representing motorcycle distributors has elected its first chairwoman but Leigh Beckhaus is unfazed, saying motorcycling is in her blood.

The Auckland-based managing director of Triumph Motorcycles New Zealand, Ms Beckhaus succeeds Bill Grice as head of the motorcycle arm of the Motor Industry Association.

She says her firm is a family business and she has been involved in selling motorcycle parts and accessories since her youth. "Because I've always been in this industry, I'm kind of used to being the minority," she says.

"I'm working with a bunch of really great gentlemen who will absolutely support the fact I'm chairing it."

Although she is not into big bikes, Ms Beckhaus is a "keen scooterist and I'm also quite an experienced pillion".

Despite the return to rising petrol prices, motorcycle sales have been flat and the usual summer season pickup has not occurred. "It's been a tough year for everybody, and the increased ACC levies really have had a huge impact because most motorcyclists have more than one vehicle ... and having to keep them all registered now is becoming quite an expense."

High on her list of issues next year is the need for stricter import rules on mopeds. Ms Beckhaus says they are not always suitable for New Zealand roads and wants them to be VIN-compliant.

Currently, mopeds do not need a unique vehicle identification number, which means they are suitable for New Zealand conditions.

There are also safety issues, particularly for quad bike riders who, despite being required to wear helmets, are a difficult area to police. Training up dealers to ensure that the right bikes are being sold for the right conditions is part of that drive, she says.

Also on the agenda is a review of licensing for new motorcyclists and liaison with the ACC. "A lot of the product is not suitable for the learner market. Training certainly is an ongoing issue ... to get some sort of parity among the trainers and making sure they're up to scratch with the job they are doing."