Total Mobility scheme strengthened following review

The Government is making changes to strengthen the Total Mobility scheme and give disabled people greater transport choice, Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston have announced.

“Total Mobility provides subsidised transport through approved providers for disabled people and older New Zealanders with age-related impairments when regular public transport is not an accessible option,” Mr Bishop says.

“The scheme plays an important role in supporting people to live independently and participate in community life by ensuring they can get to appointments, do their shopping, and spend time with friends and whānau.

“As New Zealand’s population continues to grow and age, it is important that Total Mobility evolves to remain financially sustainable and accessible for the people who need it.

“In December 2025, the Government announced funding changes to ensure the scheme remained viable over the short term, which took effect on 1 July. We also launched public consultation on options to strengthen Total Mobility and improve how it operates into the future.

The Government has now made decisions on the six proposals put forward, and has agreed to:

adopt a national purpose statement for Total Mobility to provide clearer, more consistent direction for how the scheme operates across New Zealand
ask the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to review funding settings for wheelchair accessible vehicles, including the per-trip payment to drivers, which has remained unchanged since 2005
ask NZTA to review provider standards and safeguards to ensure they remain fit for purpose as the transport market evolves, including considering a wider range of providers such as ride-hail services
ask officials to develop a proposal for a national public transport concession for Total Mobility users, including a free companion fare, for future Cabinet consideration.

Ms Upston says the Government carefully considered the feedback received from disabled people, advocacy organisations, transport providers, and regional councils.

“We also heard clear concerns about some of the proposals we consulted on. After considering the feedback, the Government has decided not to proceed with mandatory documentary evidence requirements, mandatory periodic reassessments, or nationally mandated trip caps. On balance, we do not believe the additional burden these changes would place on disabled people is justified,” Ms Upston says.

“These decisions reflect what we heard through consultation and strike the right balance between ensuring the scheme remains sustainable while continuing to support the independence and mobility of those who rely on it.

“I want to sincerely thank the more than 500 people who made written submissions, and the around 200 people who attended meetings during the consultation process.

“Your experiences, perspectives and ideas have directly informed the Government’s decisions, and we are grateful for the time and care you took to help shape the future of the Total Mobility scheme.”

Notes for editors:

Total Mobility is a subsidised door-to-door transport scheme for disabled people and older New Zealanders with age-related impairments when regular public transport is not an accessible option. It is jointly funded by the Crown, the National Land Transport Fund and participating regional councils.
Funding changes announced on 16 December 2025 reduced the fare subsidy from 75 per cent to 65 per cent and reduced regional fare caps by an average of 10 per cent across the country. These changes took effect on 1 July 2026.
Crown savings are being reinvested to help address funding shortfalls faced by public transport authorities. Together, the package is expected to reduce the combined funding shortfall across the Crown, the National Land Transport Fund and regional councils from around $236 million to $26 million over 2025-2030.
The former Ministry of Transport, now part of the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT), consulted publicly on six proposals between 16 December 2025 and 22 March 2026. It received 564 written submissions and around 200 people participated in public and targeted meetings.
Final decisions on any national public transport concession, including its scope, design, funding and timing, will be considered by Cabinet at a later date.
Decisions on wheelchair accessible vehicle incentive settings and the review of provider standards and safeguards will be made by NZTA, which is responsible for the operational settings of the scheme and investment decisions under the National Land Transport Fund.
Further information on the review is available on MCERT’s Total Mobility Review webpage.