About the Total Mobility scheme

This guide provides an overview and contact information for Total Mobility scheme users who are planning to visit another city in New Zealand.

What is the Total Mobility scheme?What is the Total Mobility scheme?

Funded in partnership by local and central government, the Total Mobility scheme subsidises licensed taxi services to assist eligible people with impairments to access appropriate transport to enhance their community participation.serious mobility constraints that prevent them from using public transport.

It provides:

• vouchers or electronic cards to eligible scheme members that discount the normal taxi (or specialist transport provider) fare by 50 percent up to a maximum fare (set by the relevant regional council, or Auckland Transport)50%
• funding to scheme providers to help purchase and install wheelchair hoists in taxi vans
• payment to the ownersowner of hoist vehiclesthe vehicle for each Total Mobility Scheme member who requires the use of a wheelchairevery hoist on a trip.trip made.

Who administers the scheme?Who administers the scheme?

The scheme is managed and operated by mobility coordinators in regional councils.

How does the voucher system work?How does the voucher system work?

Scheme users are typically issued with a book of taxi vouchers. Auckland, WellingtonAuckland and ChristchurchWellington are now using electronic cards. You can obtain vouchers from the relevant regional Total Mobility coordinator. Contact the coordinator at least 10 days before a planned trip, which will allow time for vouchers to be posted if required. When travelling in another region, it is a good idea to advise the taxi driver at the start of the trip if you are using vouchers from your home town.

Read more about the scheme

For general information about the scheme, visit:
www.transport.govt.nz/ourwork/Land/the-Total-Mobility-Scheme/

For information on recent improvements made to the scheme, visit: www.nzta.govt.nz/planning/process/public-transport.html#accessible

While this guide provides information about the Total Mobility scheme, it does not guarantee travel. Factors outside of the control of the NZ Transport Agency may influence the availability of travel to users, such as individual regional council policies on subsidising out-of-town travel.

In addition, while the scheme has widespread support, individual taxi drivers may refuse to honour the vouchers. We recommend that you book your licensed taxi by phone or check with the driver that they accept vouchers before you start your journey.