Te Hunga Whaikaha Total Mobility

From Wednesday, 1 July 2026, the New Zealand Government has asked local councils to make changes to the Te Hunga Whaikaha Total Mobility scheme. 

These changes are being made across all regions in New Zealand. 

What is changing 

The following changes are being made to the scheme: 

• The subsidy rate will reduce from 75% to 65% 

• The maximum fare cap in the Wellington region will reduce from $80 to $70 

This means the maximum subsidy on any trip will be $45.50 
(65% of $70.00). 

Council has reduced the fare cap and changed the maximum subsidy in line with NZTA direction. 

When the changes start 

The Te Hunga Whaikaha Total Mobility subsidy changes will start from Wednesday, 1 July 2026.

Reason for the changes 

This is a national change directed by the Government. 

The change is to: 

• Support the long‑term funding of the Te Hunga Whaikaha Total Mobility scheme 

All regions in New Zealand are making these changes at the same time.

What is not changing 

Nothing else about the Te Hunga Whaikaha Total Mobility scheme is changing. This includes eligibility. 

Card holders can: 

• Keep using their Te Hunga Whaikaha Total Mobility card as they do now 

• Keep traveling with approved transport providers 

• Keep using the existing booking process

Changes to trip costs 

Because the subsidy rate is lower and the maximum fare cap is lower: 

• Card holders will pay a slightly higher share of each trip 

• Most trips will only cost a few extra dollars. 

• For longer trips, the change may be more noticeable.

Understanding the subsidy 

A subsidy is money the Government pays to help reduce the cost of your trip.

Changes to the subsidy rate 

The subsidy will be 65% of most taxi fares. The card holder will pay the rest

The maximum subsidy amount is $45.50 per trip (65% of $70). 

If the fare is more than $70: 

• Metlink will pay $45.50 

• The card holder will pay the rest

Maximum fare cap explained 

A maximum fare cap is the highest fare Te Hunga Whaikaha Total Mobility will help pay at a 65% discount. 

After this point, Te Hunga Whaikaha Total Mobility only contributes $45.50, no matter how big the fare is. 

Example: 
On a $100 fare, Te Hunga Whaikaha Total Mobility will only contribute $45.50.

Changes to the maximum fare cap 

• The maximum fare cap will reduce from $80 to $70 per trip 

• Te Hunga Whaikaha Total Mobility will help pay up to $45.50 per trip

Ministry of Transport review 

This change is separate from the Ministry of Transport review and any proposed future changes. That review is still underway, and no decisions have been made yet. 

Ongoing travel support 

The Te Hunga Whaikaha Total Mobility scheme will keep supporting access to everyday transport for eligible people. 

Managing the changes 

Regional councils and transport operators are working closely with: 

• NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi 

• The Ministry of Transport 

This is to ensure the changes are introduced smoothly and with minimal disruption. 

There are no additional changes planned at this stage. 

If anything changes card holders will be told by letter 

Help and support 

For any questions or support: 

• Call 0800 801 700 

• Email info@metlink.org.nz 

Your new Te Hunga Whaikaha Total Mobility card will come with instructions and a copy of the Terms and Conditions of Use. Please read these carefully before using your Total Mobility card for the first time.

When paying for a taxi with your Te Hunga Whaikaha Total Mobility card, Metlink will cover 75% of the fare, up to $60 per trip. Cardholders will pay the remaining 25% of the fare to the driver at the end of the trip.
If the fare is more than $60, Metlink will pay up to $60 and you will need to pay the rest.

To use your card for door to door trips:

1. Contact your preferred Te Hunga Whaikaha Total Mobility transport company to book a trip. You can find a list of providers below.
2. Give your Te Hunga Whaikaha Total Mobility card to the driver at the start of the trip.
3. Pay the driver at the end of the trip.
4. Keep a copy of your receipt for this ride.

You can download and print a copy of these instructions below:

Total Mobility flyer - English [PDF, 346 KB]

Total Mobility flyer - Māori [PDF, 368 KB]

Yes. There is no extra charge for wheelchair accessible service. When booking your ride, please let the transport operator know you need a wheelchair-accessible vehicle and are a Te Hunga Whaikaha Total Mobility member.

Please try to book your ride in advance wherever possible.

Your Te Hunga Whaikaha Total Mobility card is a Snapper card, and you can use it to get a 50% discount on Snapper adult fares – one carer is also able to travel with you for free. Simply tag your card onto the Snapper terminals on board the bus, or at your train station. You will need to remember to tag your card off at the Snapper terminals once you finish your trip on board the Metlink bus or train.

Metlink staff may ask to see your Te Hunga Whaikaha Total Mobility card or Blind Low Vision NZ membership card when travelling on buses, trains and ferries. When boarding, please let them know if your carer is travelling with you.

You can use your card to get a Total Mobility subsidy in other parts of Aotearoa. However, every region in New Zealand has their own maximum subsidy amount and approved taxi companies, so check before you travel on the Waka Kotahi website:

Total Mobility around New Zealand: a regional guide(external link)

When travelling in another region please advise the driver you are from out of town and are using a card from Wellington. You can use your Te Hunga Whaikaha Total Mobility card in the following regions:

Auckland

Bay of Plenty

Canterbury

Hawke's Bay

Horizons (Levin-Wanganui-Taumarunui-Dannevirke)

Marlborough

Northland

Otago

Southland

Taranaki

Waikato

Paper vouchers are used in Gisborne & the West Coast. If you are travelling there you will need to contact Metlink to get a book of paper vouchers posted out or they can be collected from our office.

If you have any questions about travel outside the Wellington region, contact us at 0800 801 700.

If you are visiting and you have a Total Mobility card or voucher issued by your local Regional, District or City Council then you can use the card here in the Wellington region.

• Give your card or voucher to the driver before the trip starts or you will need to pay the full fare. 
• If you have an electronic card, it can be swiped by Wellington region taxi card readers.
• If you use a voucher, please make sure to advise your driver. These are not very common and so some drivers may be unfamiliar with this process. It may be helpful if you advise them, to contact their office.

If you have any feedback about your experience here in Wellington, please contact us 0800 801 700 or info@metlink.org.nz 

Yes. You can still travel with whānau, friends or a carer in taxis (up to the maximum number of passengers allowed in the vehicle). If using your card to get the Accessible Concession on Metlink public transport, one carer can travel with you for free.

If you have lost your Te Hunga Whaikaha Total Mobility card, please call us on 0800 801 700 immediately for a replacement. We will cancel your lost card and send you a new one.

All Te Hunga Whaikaha Total Mobility cards expire if they are not used in 3 years with one of our approved taxi transport companies. Use on Metlink bus or rail services is not considered to meet this requirement.

If you think your card has expired, please contact us on 0800 801 700 for a new card.

If you have moved to the Greater Wellington region and have been using Total Mobility in another region, you can have your details transferred to be part of Wellington’s Te Hunga Whaikaha Total Mobility service.  

If you move out of the Greater Wellington region, you can request to transfer your details to the regional council area you are moving to. 

Please contact Metlink at 0800 801 700 if you have any questions.

You can download and print a copy of List of Approved Taxi Companies here.(external link)

A letter has been sent to all Te Hunga Whaikaha Total Mobility card holders to let them know we have updated the list of approved taxi companies. There are also new rules for these companies.

They must now:

• Be available to book trips 7 day a week
• Have wheelchair accessible services available
• Be available in the evening and on weekends, including wheelchair accessible services
• Not include wait time in the fare amount subsidised by Te Hunga Whaikaha Total Mobility

You can download and read the full letter here:

Te Hunga Whaikaha Total Mobility Update 1st November 2024 [PDF, 122 KB]

Te Hunga Whaikaha Total Mobility Update 1st November 2024 [DOCX, 157 KB]

You may be eligible for Te Hunga Whaikaha Total Mobility if you have a permanent impairment or illness that stops you from undertaking one or more of the following five aspects of a journey by yourself on public transport in a safe and dignified manner:

• Getting to the place where the transport departs
• Getting onto the transport
• Riding securely
• Getting off the transport
• Getting to your final destination point.

Whether or not you have access to local public transport in the area that you live or travel to/from are not taken into consideration when determining eligibility.

Call and talk to our Metlink team on 0800 801 700.

On the call we will

• Explain how Te Hunga Whaikaha Total Mobility works
• Talk about your Eligibility
• Then we will record your contact information

A few days after the call one of our team will call you touch to organize a time to have a in person conversation

Once you have applied, the assessors will contact you to confirm a time and place. 

The assessment takes 20-30 minutes. The assessor will take a photo of you for printing onto your Te Hunga Whaikaha Total Mobility card.

We will write to you within 10 days to advise the outcome of your assessment.