Total Mobility

TOTAL MOBILITY HANDBOOK

Read or download the Total Mobility handbook here.

WHAT IS TOTAL MOBILITY?

Total Mobility is a nationwide scheme aimed at giving people with disabilities mobility options. Waikato Regional Council administers Total Mobility in Hamilton, Taupō and Tokoroa, and Waipā. The scheme provides financial assistance, giving registered users a 50 per cent discount on taxi fares up to a maximum subsidy. 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.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

The scheme is open to people of all ages living within the city or town boundaries of Hamilton, Tokoroa and Waipā or within the defined Total Mobility zone as specified by Taupō District Council. People living in residential care facilities such as rest homes are eligible for the scheme.

People who use the scheme must have a physical, intellectual, psychological, sensory or neurological disability that prevents them from undertaking any one or more of the following components of a journey unaccompanied on a bus, train or ferry in a safe
and dignified manner.

Get to the place from where the transport departs
Get on to the transport
Ride securely
Get off the transport
Get to the final destination

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 of the time).

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, 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.

HOW CAN I JOIN?

Anyone who has a disability living within the Hamilton, Taupō, Tokoroa and Waipā town boundaries can apply for an eligibility assessment. You’ll need to be assessed by a registered assessor. You can only apply through one of the accredited support agencies participating in the scheme. They are responsible for ensuring that membership and photo ID card applications are completed correctly and returned to the Waikato Regional Council. The assessor will take an identification photo of you and collect information from you about your disability.

The Waikato Regional Council maintains a central register of people eligible to use the scheme and you must be registered before you can receive your Total Mobility ID card. The Waikato Regional Council doesn’t charge applicants a membership fee, but some agencies may charge you a fee for joining their organisation, or a one-off fee for assessing and registering your application.

DO I NEED TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF MY DISABILITY?

You may need to provide evidence of your disability if the assessor doesn’t know your history. The assessor will get your permission if they need to gather more information about your disability so you can be properly assessed. If requested, please give them the name of your caregiver, ACC assessor, GP, specialist, physiotherapist, psychiatrist, social worker or occupational therapist. Without more information you may not be able to participate in the scheme.

WHAT HAPPENS ONCE I’VE APPLIED?

Your application will be evaluated and processed by the Waikato Regional Council to ensure you meet the criteria to become a Total Mobility user.

If your application is successful you will receive a photo ID card to get you started at no charge.

A Total Mobility Management Committee can make the final decision about whether a person is eligible for membership if there’s a dispute.

It takes about two to three weeks to register a successful applicant and issue a photo ID card.

WHAT DOES THE WAIKATO REGIONAL COUNCIL DO WITH THE INFORMATION?

All information from your application will be held in the Waikato Regional Council’s database. We will ensure that all names and personal information remain private and confidential – internal access to the database is restricted to appropriate staff.

We collect statistical information so we can report on the Total Mobility Scheme and plan for its future, but this information is held separately from the information used to assess your eligibility for membership. A private company processes the photo ID card and Waikato Regional Council keeps an electronic record of the ID card application form.

CAN I USE TOTAL MOBILITY IF I GET OTHER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE?

The Total Mobility taxi scheme may only be used for journeys that are not covered by travel income or assistance from another official source. Using financial assistance as well as the Total Mobility scheme – ‘double-dipping’ – is not permitted.

Tell your assessor if you get travel income or assistance from another source or what journeys you get financial assistance for. You may not be eligible for Total Mobility if you get other general financial assistance.

HOW DOES THE TOTAL MOBILITY SYSTEM WORK?

For each trip, details of the taxi journey are electronically collected, including the cost of the fare and the discount, by using the Total Mobility Ridewise System.

The Total Mobility subsidy is used for each trip you make. A return trip in the same taxi – for instance, to the shops and back home again – is counted as two trips. The taxi cannot be kept waiting while you carry out any tasks or ‘quick stops’.

MAXIMUM SUBSIDISED FARE
Each trip entitles you to a 50 per cent discount on your taxi fare, up to a maximum fare amount. Please ensure you pay your portion of the fare at the time of the trip.

The maximum subsidised fare varies throughout the region:

In Hamilton it is $30 per trip ($15 discount)
In Taupō it is $25 ($12.50 discount)
In Tokoroa it is $15 ($7.50 discount)
In Waipā it is $25 ($12.50 discount).

For example in Hamilton, this means that if the fare is $35, the subsidy covers $15, and the user will need to pay the taxi driver $20. Please note that the subsidy varies depending on the region from which you start your Total Mobility trip.

TRIP ALLOCATION
We monitor and reserve the right to limit the number of trips you are allocated each month if our budget requires such constraint.

TOTAL MOBILITY ENTITLEMENT IS NON-TRANSFERABLE
The Total Mobility ID card can only be used by the registered Total Mobility member. Any unauthorised use could mean the cancellation of your membership. Your family, friends and caregivers (able-bodied or not) can share your taxi, but you must be in the vehicle for the entire journey.

We cannot reimburse you for any trip you undertake without having handed over your valid Total Mobility ID card at the start.

OUT OF REGION VOUCHER ALLOCATION
Vouchers will be issued on request if you notify Waikato Regional Council’s Total Mobility Coordinator of your intention to use the scheme in Hawkes Bay. The number of vouchers supplied to you will be assessed based on your need. Whilst we will always endeavour to supply the number of vouchers you have requested, we do reserve the right to limit voucher allocations if our budget requires such constraint.

WHEN NEEDED, WHO FILLS IN THE VOUCHERS?

Some regions such as the Hawkes Bay are not currently using the Ridewise electronic system and you will need a voucher for each Total Mobility trip. You would need to fill in the date, full details of the trip, your Total Mobility ID number and the number of passengers while you wait for the taxi. At the end of the trip, you would fill out the fare and discount amounts, sign the voucher and hand it to the taxi driver along with your current Total Mobility ID card. The driver can fill in the cab number, taxi company and their name.

If you have extreme difficulty filling out the voucher, or your disability makes it difficult to write your name, the taxi driver can help you.

Please note that the subsidy varies depending on the region from which you start your Total Mobility trip.

The subsidy is always 50% up to a capped maximum.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I LOSE MY TOTAL MOBILITY ID CARD?

If you lose your ID card, your replacement card will cost $10.00 payable to the Waikato Regional Council. To request and pay for a replacement card call 0800 205 305 or visit the Transport Centre at 373 Anglesea Street in Hamilton. Once requested and payment has been made, it can take up to two weeks for your new card to arrive.

WHERE DO I GET A BOOK OF VOUCHERS?

If you plan to use the scheme in Hawkes Bay please contact the Total Mobility Coordinator at Waikato Regional Council. 50% Maximum subsidy.

WHEN CAN THE TOTAL MOBILITY SCHEME BE USED?

The scheme is accessible 24 hours a day but there are some restrictions:

The scheme can’t be used where transport-related financial assistance is available from another official source (such as Workbridge or IDEA Services)
The scheme is not valid for use in association with work related travel, but it can be used to get to and from work
Residents of rest homes (not apartments) cannot use the scheme to pay for taxis for any transport such (as medical appointments) that is already covered by your residential provider
Residents of rest homes (not apartments) cannot use the scheme to pay for taxis for any transport such (as medical appointments) that is already covered by your residential provider
School children can not use the scheme for transport to and from school where the travel service is the responsibility of the Ministry of Education.

WHICH TAXIS CAN BE USED?

When able, please ring and prebook taxis, to let them know you are a Total Mobility user. Vehicles with a wheelchair hoist must be booked in advance when possible.

THESE TAXI COMPANIES PARTICIPATE IN THE TOTAL MOBILITY SCHEME:

Hamilton
HAMILTON TAXI SOCIETY	RED CABS
Phone 0800 477 477 or 07 847 7477	Phone 07 839 3939
TRIKISO BUSES LTD	DRIVING MISS DAISY HAMILTON WEST
Phone 07 847 2203 or 0800 874 547 (bookings required)	Phone 07 856 0112 or 0800 948 432 (bookings required)
FREEDOM DRIVERS	DRIVING MISS DAISY HAMILTON EAST
Phone 07 855 5253 (bookings required)	Phone 07 856 8865 or 0800 948 432 (bookings required).
Tokoroa
TOKOROA TAXI SOCIETY
Phone 07 886 6099
TAUPŌ
TAUPŌ TAXIS	GREAT LAKE TAXIS
Phone 07 378 5100 (bookings preferred)	Phone 07 377 8990
SHARON’S COMPANION DRIVING SERVICE
Phone 07 378 1568 (bookings required)
WAIPĀ
DRIVING MISS DAISY	FREEDOM DRIVERS
Phone 07 823 1998 (bookings required)	Phone 07 823 2600 or 0800 956 956
MFT TAXIS – TE AWAMUTU	MFT TAXIS – CAMBRIDGE
Phone 07 870 1332	Phone 07 282 1405
RESTHAVEN TO & FRO
Phone 07 839 4222

WHAT AGENCIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR TOTAL MOBILITY ASSESSMENTS AND INFORMATION?

HAMILTON AGENCIES
Age Concern Hamilton	07 838 2266
Aspire	07 839 0183
Blind Foundation	0800 24 33 33
CCS Disability Action	07 853 9761
Community Living Trust	07 834 3700
Enrich +	0800 367 424
Epilepsy Association	07 834 3556
IDEA Services	07 834 7200
LIFE Unlimited	07 839 5506
MS Waikato Regional Council	07 834 4740
Parkinsons Waikato	07 839 9038
Stroke Foundation	07 849 2065

TAUPŌ AGENCIES
Age Concern	07 378 9712
Blind Foundation	0800 24 33 33
CCS Disability Action	07 578 0063
Epilepsy Association	07 346 3912
IDEA Services	07 378 1328

TOKOROA AGENCIES
Epilepsy Association	07 834 3556
South Waikato Pacific Islands Community Services (SWPICS)	07 886 0010

WAIPĀ AGENCIES
Age Concern	07 838 2266
Blind Foundation	0800 24 33 33
Cambridge Community House	07 827 5402
CCS Disability	07 853 9761
Community Living Trust	07 834 3700
Enrich +	0800 367 424
Epilepsy Association	07 834 3556
IDEA Services	07 834 7200
LIFE Unlimited	07 839 5506
MS Waikato	07 834 4740
Parkinsons Waikato	07 839 9038
Stroke Foundation Waipa	021 962 380

WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?

Contact your disability agency or the Total Mobility Coordinator on the Waikato Regional Council’s freephone 0800 205 305.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE RULES ARE BROKEN?

It’s important that you follow the policies and rules governing the scheme or you could be excluded from the scheme.

WHICH OTHER AREAS HAVE TOTAL MOBILITY?

Total Mobility operates in other areas.

You can use your Total Mobility card in:

• Northland (within Whāngārei urban area)
• Auckland
• Bay of Plenty, including Rotorua, Tauranga, Te Puke, Mt Maunganui, Papamoa
and Whakatāne (limited service) – Vouchers required
• Waikato, including Hamilton, Taupo, Tokoroa and Waipa
• Hawke’s Bay, including Napier, Hastings and Wairoa (on-demand service) –
Vouchers required
• Gisborne
• Taranaki, including Stratford, New Plymouth, Waitara and Hāwera
• Manawatū-Whanganui, including Feilding, Palmerston North, Levin, Marton
and Whanganui
• Wellington
• Nelson and Tasman, including Nelson city, Richmond, Brightwater, Wakefield,
Māpua and Motueka (Golden Bay excluded)
• Marlborough including Blenheim
• West Coast, including Greymouth, Hokitika and Westport
• Canterbury, including Christchurch, Ashburton, Timaru and Waimate
• Otago, including Alexandra, Ōamaru, Balclutha, Queenstown, Wānaka and Dunedin
• Southland, including Invercargill and Gore

Before you board a taxi in another region, confirm with the driver that they are
an approved Total Mobility provider and will accept your electronic ID (or ID card
and voucher). If not, you will need to check with another taxi provider.