SSNZ Total Mobility Card
Travel subsidies for people with disability or an impairment.
Visiting family or making the trip to work each day could be easier with Total Mobility, a nationwide transport scheme administered by regional councils and designed to provide mobility options for people with disabilities.
Spinal Support NZ is a registered assessor under Auckland Transport for the Spinal Cord Injury community within the Auckland area. You will also need to be a Spinal Support NZ financial member, at an annual cost of $20, to apply for a Total Mobility Card. Membership details are provided here: Membership
Please call Spinal Support New Zealand (09) 270 3526 or email info@spinalsupport.nz for more information about Total Mobility or to arrange an office assessment. Spinal Support NZ does not do home visit assessments. In other areas outside of Auckland, contact your local regional council to see how the scheme operates near you, or read the Total Mobility guide from the New Zealand Transport Agency.
The scheme provides financial assistance, providing registered users a 75% discount on taxi fares up to a maximum subsidy of $60 per trip. The user pays the other half of the fare to the taxi driver. People who use the scheme must carry a valid Total Mobility photo ID card to get the discounted fare.
The cost of a half price taxi card (Total Mobility Card) is $20 for members and $50 non-members.
Who is eligible for Total Mobility?
Anyone with disability or impairment that prevents them from undertaking any one or more of the following parts of an unaccompanied journey by public transport in a safe and dignified manner.
- Stand and wait for the bus or train (If there’s no seat)
- Get to the nearest bus stop or train station.
- Ride securely
- Get off and on public transport without assistance.
- Get to your destination safely.
The disability can be permanent, temporary (has lasted or is expected to last for six months or more) or fluctuating (able to use public transport some, but not all the time). You can only use Total Mobility for transport that is not already funded by other sources, such as the Ministry of Health or ACC.
Examples of mobility limitations which would qualify for Total Mobility:
- If you’re unable to walk to the nearest bus stop or get on and off a bus because of pain, respiratory problems, inability to see or hear, or if you rely on complex walking aids or if you need someone else’s help to get around
- Total loss of or severe impairment of vision which prevents you from using public transport alone
- Intellectual or psychiatric disabilities, which may mean you need help from someone else.
Information for Total Mobility transport operators
All Total Mobility drivers will require special training to assist passengers with special needs and safely operate hoists and ramps, if their vehicle is equipped with them.
You can find more information about driver training requirements in the Total Mobility scheme policy guide. https://www.nzta.govt.nz/assets/resources/total-mobility-council-guide/docs/total-mobility-council-guide.pdf
