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I have a mobility impairment, rent and want to keep living independently. I rely on accessible transport and support services. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Which parties address accessible public transport and mobility access, and what would they change?
New Zealand 2026 election: accessible transport, mobility and independent living
For your situation, three policy questions are especially important when comparing parties:
- Affordable, reliable transport: whether you can get to medical appointments, shops, work and social activities without having to drive.
- Mobility support that stretches your budget: whether the Total Mobility taxi subsidy, public transport concessions and companion fares will make everyday trips affordable.
- The ability to live independently as a renter: whether disability support, accessible housing and enforceable accessibility standards will help you remain in your own home and participate in your community.
The 2026 New Zealand general election is scheduled for 7 November 2026. Recent party-policy comparisons published in October identify several differences in how parties propose to address these issues. The details below distinguish announced commitments from current government settings and policies that still need clarification. Party policies, simplified: TransportHow do the different parties fare on disability issues this election?
1. How the parties compare on accessible transport
The Total Mobility Scheme is particularly important if your impairment prevents you from using some or all ordinary public transport services. From 1 July 2026, the government reduced its taxi-fare subsidy from 75% to 65%, increasing the share of eligible fares you pay yourself. Higher taxi costs for disabled, elderly as Total Mobility subsidy cutParty policies, simplified: Transport
| Party | What it proposes on transport | What it could mean for you |
|---|---|---|
| Green Party | Restore the Total Mobility subsidy to 75%; increase the number of mobility vehicles; free public transport for Total Mobility users and several other groups; cap other bus and train fares at $2. Party policies, simplified: Transport | Lower eligible taxi costs and potentially cheaper alternatives for trips you can make on public transport. |
| Te Pāti Māori | Make public transport free for everyone within five years, with disabled people among the first groups to receive free fares if the rollout is staged. Party policies, simplified: Transport | Could reduce regular travel costs, although the timing and accessibility of individual services would matter. |
| Labour | Cap public transport spending at $20 a week in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, and $10 a week elsewhere. It did not specify a position on restoring the 75% Total Mobility subsidy in the comparison. Party policies, simplified: Transport | Could make frequent public transport use more predictable financially, but the cap does not by itself solve inaccessible routes or stops. |
| National | Keep the Total Mobility subsidy at 65%; develop a national purpose statement, review provider standards and wheelchair-accessible vehicle funding, and consider a national public transport concession for Total Mobility users, including a free companion fare. Party policies, simplified: Transport | Focuses on scheme consistency, provider safeguards and possible companion-fare savings rather than restoring the higher taxi subsidy. The companion concession is still a proposal for consideration. |
| ACT | Supports retaining the 65% Total Mobility subsidy, arguing that the previous higher subsidy caused costs to exceed available funding. It says accessibility improvements should remove barriers and remain financially sustainable. Party policies, simplified: Transport | No commitment to restoring the 75% subsidy was identified in the comparison. |
| The Opportunities Party (TOP) | Has publicly campaigned for free public transport, but did not respond directly to the disability-focused transport questions. Party policies, simplified: Transport | A potentially relevant fare policy, but you would need to check its specific commitments on accessible vehicles and disability concessions. |
| New Zealand First | Did not directly answer the transport questions in the comparison. Party policies, simplified: Transport | Its position on the Total Mobility subsidy and specific accessible transport improvements needs clarification. |
These are published proposals, not guarantees of what a future government will implement. Coalition agreements, budgets and regional transport decisions could affect the outcome.
2. Accessibility beyond fares: buses, infrastructure and enforceable rights
Cheap transport is only useful if you can actually board it, reach the stop, travel safely and get where you need to go.
The parties also differ on whether accessibility should be legally required across public infrastructure and services.
| Party | Accessibility and infrastructure commitments | Relevance to independent living |
|---|---|---|
| Green Party | Proposes a disability rights law with enforceable accessibility standards for transport and public infrastructure. Its 2026 manifesto also addresses accessible housing and disability support. Party policies, simplified: AccessibilityManifesto 2026 | Relevant if you want accessibility to be a legal requirement rather than dependent on individual organisations choosing to make improvements. |
| Te Pāti Māori | Proposes implementing recommendations for an accessibility legislative framework, including an Accessibility Act and legislated standards. Party policies, simplified: Accessibility | Relevant if you want consistent accessibility requirements across public services and infrastructure. |
| Labour | Is open to accessibility reform but has raised concerns about the proposed Accessibility Standards Bill. Its disability policy proposes incorporating the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into law and requiring at least 25% of new Kāinga Ora homes to be accessible. Party policies, simplified: AccessibilityDisability | Relevant to accessible public housing and stronger disability rights, although the accessible-housing target concerns Kāinga Ora builds, not private rental properties generally. |
| National | Supports practical accessibility initiatives, including continuing to develop the Access Activator programme, and says it will take advice from Whaikaha. Party policies, simplified: Accessibility | Focuses on practical improvements and programmes rather than committing to a new, enforceable national accessibility law. |
| ACT | Supports practical changes that remove barriers to participation and independence, with a focus on measurable outcomes. It would consider the Accessibility Standards Bill on its merits. Party policies, simplified: Accessibility | Its stated approach emphasises targeted results rather than committing to the proposed legislation. |
| New Zealand First | Introduced the proposed Accessibility Standards Bill, intended to establish standards that remove barriers for disabled people. Party policies, simplified: Accessibility | Relevant to accessibility standards, but its wider transport and independent-living commitments need clarification. |
| TOP | Did not respond to the accessibility-policy questions. Party policies, simplified: Accessibility | There is insufficient information in this comparison to establish a specific commitment on accessible infrastructure. |
3. What about renting and staying independent?
Because you rent, accessible housing policy deserves separate attention. A target for accessible public housing will not automatically make your current private rental more accessible or guarantee that you can afford to remain there.
Labour has published specific commitments to accessible Kāinga Ora housing and disability rights. The Green Party's 2026 manifesto also addresses safe, accessible and affordable housing in the community of a disabled person's choice. DisabilityManifesto 2026
For your circumstances, I would also check each party's position on three practical issues:
- Home modifications: Will funding be available for ramps, bathroom alterations, widened doorways or other adaptations in a rented home? Who would pay, and what happens if you need to move?
- Support services: Will you be able to access the personal care and daily-living assistance you need, with sufficient flexibility to choose how and where you live?
- Security and affordability: What will the party do about accessible housing supply, rental affordability and continuity of support if your housing situation changes?
The published transport comparison does not establish clear, comparable commitments from every party on these questions. Labour and the Greens have identifiable housing and disability-policy proposals, while the wider disability-policy comparison identifies distinct approaches from Te Pāti Māori and National as well. DisabilityManifesto 2026How do the different parties fare on disability issues this election?
4. Questions worth asking candidates before you vote
These questions can help you distinguish a broad promise to improve accessibility from a commitment that could make a measurable difference to your life.
Candidate question checklist
Tick each question you want answered. You can use this list when contacting candidates or attending an election meeting.
Will you restore the Total Mobility taxi subsidy to 75%, or introduce another measure that reduces my out-of-pocket costs?
Will you guarantee a free companion fare or concession for eligible disabled passengers?
What will you do to increase the availability and reliability of wheelchair-accessible taxis and other mobility vehicles, including outside major centres?
Will you introduce enforceable accessibility standards for public transport, stations, stops, footpaths and public buildings?
What funding and protections will help disabled renters make necessary home modifications and remain in their communities?
How will you ensure disability support services are adequately funded and flexible enough to support independent living?
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5. Where to verify the policies
These resources provide more detail and are useful for checking whether a commitment has changed or been expanded during the campaign.
- The D*List — 2026 transport policy comparison — includes the parties' responses on Total Mobility and public transport fares.
- The D*List — 2026 accessibility policy comparison — compares proposed accessibility legislation and standards.
- Green Party — 2026 manifesto — covers transport, disability and housing.
- Labour — disability policy — covers disability rights, support services and accessible housing.
How to use this comparison for your decision
The key distinction is between reducing the cost of transport you can already use and making a wider range of transport and community spaces accessible in the first place. These are separate issues, and a policy can address one without addressing the other.
You may also want to distinguish between commitments that directly affect your weekly budget, such as taxi subsidies and fare caps, and longer-term changes such as accessibility legislation and accessible housing construction.
No party's published commitments should be treated as a guarantee of delivery. Checking funding, implementation dates, eligibility rules and accountability mechanisms will help you assess what each proposal could mean in practice.
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