In the beginning…
Three serving members of the Royal Australian Navy started the Club in 1993. These individuals saw that there was a need for military personnel with a love of motorcycles to have a common contact point wherever they were posted – a place where they would be accepted, given accommodation and share their passion for motorcycling.
Patriots New Zealand…
The New Zealand club was started in Auckland in 1998 and there are now chapters in Christchurch (2000), Marlborough (2006), Hauraki (2008), Manawatu (2010), Wellington (2012), Deep South (2015), and Hawkes Bay (2023).
All New Zealand chapters are run along the same lines and with the same purpose: that of providing a welcome to fellow military or ex-military motorcyclists.
Our guidelines…
The Australian and New Zealand Clubs both run in accordance with Defence values. We do not tolerate drugs, violence or theft, and we believe in the non-sexist policy promoted by Defence.
We are a family oriented Club and as such happily invite members to bring their families along to our functions. We get together for a ride and meeting at least monthly, and regularly attend activities such as rallies, poker runs, and similar biking events.
Our Badge…
Our Breastplate denotes our three Services and those who died whilst in the Service. The logo depicts the three Services in our own particular style: the anchor for the Navy, the crossed swords for the Army, the wings for the Air Force and the skull for the members who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. The colour red denotes the blood spilled by members during training and conflicts. The black beret is a common theme for each Service and the colour of mourning for those members who have died. White is for the peace that members have fought for, won and continue to defend to this day.
We do not wear a ‘back patch’…
The Patriots is a side-patch social club. We are not an outlaw or a 1% club! We are not a “backpatch” club and do not associate with or follow any of these clubs or their guidelines. We do not condone any association of our members, whilst wearing Patriots regalia, with these types of clubs. We are not a paramilitary organisation and we have no political leanings.
We wear our decorations with pride…
We ask our members to wear any decoration they have been awarded. This is to show the places that members have served and been recognised for. We do not condone or encourage members to wear non-awarded medals as part of their ‘rack’. Commemorative (purchased) and deceased relative’s medals are worn on the right – medals awarded by the Sovereign to the individual are worn on the left as per military protocol. Most members also wear their badges of their Unit(s), Corps, or Trade. This provides a pictorial resume of that person’s service and allows members to have a common talking point.