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A review of the Total Mobility Scheme is underway. This page details the Terms of Reference (scope) for the review.
The Total Mobility scheme provides subsidised door-to-door transport services to eligible people with long-term impairments – enabling them to meet their daily needs and enhancing their community participation. You can find more information about the Total Mobility Scheme here(external link).
Reviewing Total Mobility is one of the actions the Ministry has committed to under the all of government Disability Action Plan 2019-2023. The last review of Total Mobility was completed in 2005.
The Terms of Reference was developed in consultation with key Total Mobility stakeholders and has four key parts:
This review is led by the Ministry of Transport. Consultants MRCagney will be undertaking parts two and three. MRCagney is expected to engage with stakeholders through discussion documents in early-mid 2024, which will contain phases one to three.
The Total Mobility review terms of reference are provided on this webpage and are also available in different formats:
The Total Mobility Scheme provides subsidised taxi services for people who have difficulty using buses, trains or ferries because of a physical, psychological, sensory or neurological disability. It aims to complement public transport services to ensure people are able to meet their daily needs in a safe and dignified manner, and to enhance community participation.
A 75 percent discount applies to Total Mobility fares until a maximum subsidy is reached. The maximum subsidy varies between regions and is set by the relevant public transport authority (PTA). The funding of Total Mobility trips is made up of:
Total Mobility has other costs, such as funding grants to encourage investment in wheelchair accessible vehicles, which are either funded in a similar co-funding arrangement, or solely through the NLTF. Trips requiring a wheelchair hoist use also qualify for an additional flat-rate payment to compensate the taxi for the additional loading and assistance time required.
The Scheme operates in the majority of regions using an electronic card with photo ID, with the remaining regions operating a paper-based trip management system. In 2021/22 there were approximately 89,000 Total Mobility cardholders. In 2022, approximately 1.6 million Total Mobility trips were made across New Zealand.
This review gives effect to New Zealand’s commitments to the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (the Convention). Of particular importance from a transport perspective is Article 9 of the Convention – Accessibility:
The New Zealand Disability Strategy (the Strategy)(external link), and the Disability Action Plan 2019-2023 (the Action Plan)(external link), support New Zealand’s implementation of the Convention. The vision of the Strategy is for New Zealand to be a non-disabling society – a place where disabled people have an equal opportunity to achieve their goals and aspirations.
The Action Plan aims to deliver on the eight outcomes in the Strategy, including Outcome 5: Accessibility. It does this by further advancing the implementation of the Convention through identifying priority work programmes across government. The Ministry’s work programme for the Action Plan includes a commitment to oversee a review into Total Mobility.
Improving accessibility for disabled people is one of the intended outcomes of the New Zealand Disability Strategy (the Strategy), with a goal of enabling disabled people to be able to “get from one place to another easily and safely”. The review will provide the Ministry with an opportunity to ensure that Total Mobility is contributing towards the holistic transport needs of disabled people, as intended by the Strategy.
Reviewing Total Mobility will also support the Enabling Good Lives principles that were developed by the disability community in 2011 with the intent of increasing choice and control for disabled people. The eight principles are based on respect – disabled people and their families should be decision-makers in their own lives and have access to the support required for this.
The organisations involve in the administration of Total Mobility include:
The review will consider how Total Mobility operates and how it can be improved to remove barriers and achieve better outcomes for disabled people, such as improving access to their communities, social networks, cultural needs, health services, education and employment opportunities.
To do this, the review will consider the below.
The review will consider what the purpose of Total Mobility is, including who Total Mobility is meant to serve and how the scheme operates in relation to other forms of transport (such as public transport services and private vehicle use). This will include consideration of the role of caregivers who support others travel.
The review will examine how the purpose of Total Mobility aligns with the human rights of disabled people under the Convention.
The review will consider whether the purpose of the Total Mobility Scheme should be to replace, or complement other forms of transport, or whether a hybrid model should be adopted.
The review will examine how Total Mobility is used by disabled people, and whether it is set-up in such a way that it can ensure people are able to travel independently and with dignity. As a part of this examination, comparisons will be made with regular public transport and private motor vehicle usage.
The review will also consider how the transport needs of disabled people have changed, and how they will continue to evolve over time. Subsequently, the review will consider how the delivery of Total Mobility services can reflect that change.
The review will consider the eligibility criteria of Total Mobility to ensure that they are still fit-for-purpose. Any consideration of eligibility will ensure that recommended changes are consistent with the Convention.
Total Mobility currently offers the same level of support for all Total Mobility users, irrespective of how their disability affects their ability to use other transport options (such as public transport). The review will consider the appropriateness of this and examine ways in which the eligibility criteria and assessment process could maximise the benefits of Total Mobility for those who need it the most.
The review will consider the assessment process of people applying for the Total Mobility Scheme, whether it is fit-for-purpose, and how it could be improved (including whether this aspect of Total Mobility should be centralised to ensure people across the country are getting the same level of support, and how the costs of assessments are/should be covered).
The review will determine the possible extent of fraud or misuse of the Scheme by users or operators, the reasons this may occur, and ways to mitigate it.
The review will also consider any possible funding from other government departments for similar support to ensure alignment and ease of access (such as Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Development, ACC or DHB funding).
The review will consider the barriers that exist for people who are disabled to take advantage of the Total Mobility Scheme’s services. It is important the review identifies what these barriers are and how those barriers could be removed or lessened. A key aim of this would be to improve the scheme’s outreach across New Zealand.
The review will consider whether affordability is a significant issue for users of Total Mobility, and whether the cost of services is prohibitive for users and as such, prevents Total Mobility from achieving its objective of giving effect to the Convention. If required, it will explore options for making Total Mobility more affordable. It will also consider how improving affordability would affect demand for Total Mobility services, and how that could be funded.
The review will investigate and take into account other possible costs faced by Total Mobility users while using the scheme beyond fare costs (such as card fees when paying for taxis and assessment fees).
The review will also examine any impacts of the introduction of permanent half price fares and the sustainability of this subsidy.
Any examination of affordability of Total Mobility will also consider affordability issues for public transport authorities and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
The review will examine the supply of Total Mobility services, including the availability of specialist wheelchair accessible vehicles and drivers. If necessary, it will investigate options to increase the supply of services, so that Total Mobility services are reliable, timely and consistently available throughout the day and evening. As a part of this, it should examine alternative models for the delivery of Total Mobility services (including the safety of any alternative models). This would include:
how to take advantage of new and emerging transport services, such as on-demand public transport and community transport;
the possibility of and any barriers to incorporating owners of wheelchair accessible vehicles within the disability community into the Total Mobility Scheme as operators.
The review will consider whether profitability of providing services under the Total Mobility Scheme is an issue for service providers. If necessary, it will explore options for making Total Mobility more attractive for providers to encourage them to operate these services.
It will also examine how operators are compensated, and alternative models for the ownership and financing of equipment such as wheelchair hoists (see below). The review should identify opportunities and challenges with implementing alternative delivery models.
Any examination of the supply of services should also consider the Total Mobility Scheme’s availability in rural areas and small towns, and possible ways to address the issue of a lack of supply in those areas.
The review will also consider the environmental impact of services offered to ensure these are sustainable overtime.
The review will consider the provision of wheelchair accessible vehicles. It will consider:
The review will also consider elements of Total Mobility that relate to the delivery of services by operators. It will examine whether those elements are fit-for-purpose, including:
There are significant regional variations in how Total Mobility operates. This is because of how it is administered and how funding decisions made by public transport authorities shape regional policies around Total Mobility. The review will consider how the alignment of delivery can be improved, taking into account some scope for regional variation owing to population differences and environments.
Any alignment of services offered, including the level of financial support provided to the Total Mobility Scheme’s users, should be considered in light of the scheme’s ongoing sustainability, given the current reliance on local government co-funding.
The review will consider the ability of disabled people to travel across Aotearoa, and how the operation of different Total Mobility administration requirements in each region may impact on disabled travellers.
The review will also consider the opportunities that could come from centralising some administrative aspects of Total Mobility, such as its promotion and outreach.
Individual councils own the data related to the Total Mobility Scheme. The review will examine how information can be better shared between operators, councils and Waka Kotahi, and how data can be better used for reporting purposes (taking into account privacy).
The review will examine the suitability of current technology platforms, including whether they are fit for purpose and any opportunities for improvement. It will also investigate possible other technology options that may be available.
The review will consider the appropriateness of current funding mechanisms for the Total Mobility Scheme, and if necessary, explore possible alternative means of funding the scheme. Part of this process will include considering the sustainability of funding mechanisms to ensure the longevity of any changes to the Total Mobility Scheme that may result from the review.
The Ministry of Transport will undertake the review, working with independent contractors who will assist with certain elements of the review.
The review will be informed by research commissioned by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, Transport Experiences of Disabled People in Aotearoa New Zealand(external link). This report, published in August 2022, examined the experiences of disabled New Zealanders, including an examination of any barriers that exist for people wanting to use the Total Mobility Scheme. It also involved surveys and workshops with transport providers working in areas related to the provision of Total Mobility.
The Ministry will engage regularly with Stakeholders throughout the review. These Stakeholders will include:
The Total Mobility review is being led by the Mobility and Safety team at Te Manatū Waka Ministry of Transport, reporting to the DCE System and Regulatory Design.
The Ministry has developed a timeline for the review which is set out below:
|
Action |
Proposed timing |
|
Minister agreement to the draft Terms of Reference for the review |
Completed |
|
Engage key stakeholders on the draft Terms of Reference, and incorporate feedback into a final Terms of Reference |
Completed |
|
Provide finalised Terms of Reference for Minister’s agreement |
Completed |
|
Procurement of contractors with necessary expertise to assist in the review |
Completed |
|
Development of draft discussion papers with input from stakeholders |
Mid 2024 |
|
Engagement with stakeholders on draft discussion papers |
Mid 2024 |
|
Summary of feedback prepared and key themes shared with the Minister |
Late 2024 |
|
Final recommendations and review completed |
Late 2024 |
Note: Over the course of the review the anticipated timeframes may change. Any substantial changes will be communicated to stakeholders.
If you have any questions about the review, contact us on info@transport.govt.nz.