Total Mobility Scheme & Cost of Living Crisis
Wednesday 16 September 2026
Our third Kōrero for Change webinar series, 2026-27, is underway! Access Matters Aotearoa is facilitating courageous conversations about ableism in key areas of life where individuals in Aotearoa New Zealand face disabling experiences.
Our first kōrero in this new series focuses on the Total Mobility Scheme & Cost of Living Crisis. We explored how changes to the Total Mobility Scheme (TMS) during a cost-of-living crisis impacts disabled people in Aotearoa New Zealand.
We brought together disabled people, transport providers, policymakers, service organisations, and community representatives to explore the real-world impacts of these challenges. The discussion examined issues such as changes to the TMS, increasing fuel and transport costs, and the effects these have on everyday life, employment opportunities, healthcare access, and social connection.
Transport is a fundamental part of being able to access the community and live an ordinary life. The Government speaks of ensuring their policies are aligned to the Enabling Good Lives principles but are we seeing these being demonstrated when funding is being allocated to the TMS and the broader supports to enable people to access the community.
By combining lived experience with policy and service perspectives, the webinar highlights the challenges facing disabled people and also explores innovative ideas and practical solutions to address them.
Through courageous conversations and cross-sector collaboration, panellists consider new approaches to transport accessibility, funding, community support, and service delivery that can help create a more equitable and inclusive Aotearoa New Zealand.
The discussion aims to inspire action, strengthen partnerships, and identify opportunities for meaningful systemic change. Identifying systemic ableism within the government funding and disabled people have access to their community.
Watch and listen to this important kōrero as we explore how we can improve transportation for all, even during difficult economic times.
Download the Webinar Transcript
Date: 16 September 2026
Time: 9am to 11am
Where: Zoom via YouTube
Master of Ceremonies: Callum McMenamin - Accessibility Consultant, Open Access
Speakers: Danny Eyre - Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT), Nick Ruane - Disability Activist & Leader
Moderators: Piotr Mierzejewski - Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers, Adrian Gordon - Access All Areas, Sean Prenter - Access All Areas
Panellists: Shara Turner - IHC New Zealand, Scott Herschberger - Access Maps, Phoebe Eden-Mann - CCS Disability Action, Jaden Movold - Athlete and Youth Leader, Kerry Barnett - Phab
Programme: Word Doc, Plain English, Large Print and PDF Glossy