Total Mobility Scheme Te Kaupapa Nekeneke

In July 2023, the Minister of Transport agreed the Terms of Reference (scope) of the review. The Terms of Reference was developed in consultation with key Total Mobility stakeholders. You can read the Terms of Reference here. 

The guide, first published by the New Zealand Transport Agency in 2008, sets out the requirements, policy, principles, processes, and explanatory notes to manage the Total Mobility scheme. 

The purpose of the guide is to achieve a nationally consistent approach for local authorities to administer the Total Mobility scheme in their respective regions.

Link to the guidelines on NZTA website - https://nzta.govt.nz/assets/resources/total-mobility-council-guide/Total-mobility-scheme-local-authorities.pdf

In November 2019, the Minister for Disability Issues launched the Disability Action Plan 2019–2023, which replaces the previous Disability Action Plan 2014–2018. As part of the Disability Action Plan, we will conduct a strategic assessment of the services provided for people with different transport needs. This includes a review of the Total Mobility Scheme. We have yet to confirm when this review will start.

The new Disability Action Plan was developed by the Office for Disability Issues in collaboration with the Disabled People’s Organisations Coalition and a range of government departments. It consists of 25 significant programmes of work to address key issues for disabled people, and will be carried out through 14 government agencies. The new plan aims to deliver the 8 outcomes in the New Zealand Disability Strategy 2016–2026.

A combined Ministry of Transport and Waka Kotahi Action Plan will outline how both agencies will put transport-related actions in the new Disability Action Plan in place.

The new Disability Action Plan and New Zealand Disability strategy are available on the Office for Disability Issues website.

Disability Action Plan 2019–2023

New Zealand Disability Strategy 2016–2026

In March 2002 Cabinet agreed to a review of the scheme, which Transfund New Zealand carried out later in 2002 as part of the Passenger Transport Social Services Review. We extended the review in September 2004 when the Minister of Transport agreed to new Terms of Reference for identifying options to improve the scheme’s services.

The major focus of the extended review was to support and strengthen the scheme’s policy foundation, and find ways to improve the services it offers. As part of the review we developed a profile of the scheme, identified key issues and potential improvements.

How we carried out the review

Our initial policy analysis identified the scheme’s 6 fundamental components:

• purpose
• eligibility
• entitlement
• assessment services
• administration
• transport operators.

We held a series of meetings with regional council transport managers and scheme coordinators around the country that clarified the issues with each component and identified potential improvements. These consultations and the associated analysis informed a consultation document.

The consultation process included launching the consultation document at meetings with national disability sector representatives and officials from other government agencies. We also held a series of 16 consultation meetings in 6 cities around New Zealand.

We received over 400 submissions in response to the consultation document. The subsequent report presented an overarching policy framework for the Total Mobility Scheme, with 35 recommendations. Waka Kotahi worked with regional councils to put most of the recommendations in place.

The report also noted that:

• in its present form, the scheme can never meet the transport needs of all those who may depend on its services, and
• there remains an outstanding need to develop a wider public transport policy framework for improving access and mobility for all New Zealanders.

Total Mobility around New Zealand - user guide

Total Mobility Scheme - a guide for local authorities

The scheme’s goal was to increase mobility for people with serious mobility constraints, encourage participation in society, provide for personal independence, reduce pressure on caregivers and allow people to continue to live for longer in their own homes. 

The scheme was not intended to be a substitute for transport services that are the responsibility of other government agencies or rest home providers.