Subsidy Cut Hits Disabled Travelers | Auckland News

The Total Mobility subsidy just took a hit—down from 75% to 65%—affecting 120,000 disabled New Zealanders who rely on it for affordable transport. For visually impaired Jordan Langley, that’s $60 a week more out of pocket, forcing tough choices about daily life. Transport Minister Chris Bishop says rising costs since 2022 made the program unsustainable, though the current rate is still higher than in 2022. Disability advocate Blake Forbes has launched a petition with over 5,500 signatures urging reversal, calling the subsidy vital for independence and access to care. The government also plans to review wheelchair-accessible vehicles and payment systems—last updated over 20 years ago—and explore expanding the scheme to ride-shares, while rejecting trip caps and mandatory disability proof. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/5962a8e2f56b22f7