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Submissions

Strengthening Total Mobility

Posted in Submission, Government; Tagged Transport, Accessibility; Posted 23 days ago by DPA Less than a minute to read

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To: Ministry of Transport
Date: March 2026

 

Purpose

The purpose of this submission is to feedback on the Government’s proposed changes to the Total Mobility (TM) scheme. This followed the conclusion of the first phase of a review that had started under the previous government in 2023.

Summary of DPA submission

One of the key issues has been the inconsistency in how TM works around the country.  Another key issue has been the need for a stronger funding model for TM.

DPA welcomed some proposals in this paper, including the need to create better consistency in terms of service standards and vehicle accessibility requirements.

However, we are concerned that many of the proposals made in this paper don’t address the issues that have been identified by both scheme users and providers.

 

DPA opposes

  • the lowering of TM fare caps and subsidy levels,
  • stricter evidence requirements,
  • the need for more medical evidence,
  • and periodic reassessments.

 

Recommendations

DPA’s key recommendations were:

1. that government not reduce fare subsidies nor introduce maximum fare caps on July 1, 2026, and that these proposals are permanently scrapped,

2. that central government increase its contribution, as a part of a revised funding model, to reflect inflation and real transport costs, ensuring consistent subsidies across regions,

3. that central government index funding, within a revised funding model, to reflect consumer price inflation or equivalent transport cost indices to provide stability over time. 

4. that central government fund an increased share of the TM budget, as part of a revised funding model, to take the pressure off local councils while maintaining councils as community-based administrators of the scheme,

5. the introduction of strong, robust national minimum service standards for all TM providers including ride-hailing and rideshare services.

 

 
 

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DPA Submission 2603 Strengthening Total Mobility (DOCX)

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