Total Mobility Scheme | Ministry of Transport

What you need to know

The Total Mobility Scheme is intended to complement public transport services and ensure people with impairments can meet their daily needs in a safe and dignified manner. It is open to people with a permanent, temporary or fluctuating disability that prevents them from travelling on buses, trains or ferries, or getting to or from where the public transport starts or ends. It also provides funding assistance to purchase and install wheelchair hoists in taxi vans. The scheme has no minimum fare threshold. A 50% discount applies until a maximum subsidy is reached. The maximum subsidy varies between regions.

The work to date

Nov 2019–Present

Scheme to be reviewed

In November 2019, the Minister for Disability Issues launched the Disability Action Plan 2019–2023, which replaces the previous Disability Action Plan 2014–2018.

More information

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(external link)

New Zealand Disability Strategy 2016–2026(external link)

Mar 2002–Aug 2005

Scheme reviewed and consulted on

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.

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(external link)

Total Mobility Scheme - a guide for local authorities(external link)

1981

Scheme established

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.

More information

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