Having a medical condition or disability does not automatically entitle you to a mobility parking permit.
You are eligible if you meet the following criteria:
Your medical practitioner needs to confirm your eligibility unless you are renewing a long-term permit.
If you would like help completing your Mobility Parking permit application, please get in touch. We would be happy to support you through this process.
The Mobility Parking hub has a dedicated phone number. Please phone 0800 662 7275 (0800 MOB PARK) to get in touch with one of our friendly team.
“This is a tremendous help and meant an awful lot to keep me from being dependent on other people.”
– Annaleen, Mobility Parking Permit user.
After many years of planning and campaigning for a nationwide scheme of local parking concessionary schemes, CCS Disability Action announced in 1976 that their idea for a national scheme had been taken up and developed by the Minister of Transport at the time, Ross Palmer.
“Operation Mobility” was a unique idea designed around the needs of the individual who carried their concession into whatever vehicle they were in.
The scheme was launched at the Beehive on September 30,1977. Since these early beginnings, when 2,447 permits were issued in the first three months, CCS Disability Action has administered the mobility parking scheme. Today, there are now over 170,000 mobility parking permit holders in New Zealand, with a dedicated team based in Christchurch.
Mobility parking exists because people depend on it to access their local community. Permit holders pay for the right to use mobility parking spaces, but misuse is common. In fact, research conducted by CCS Disability Action suggests that nearly one-third of users of these designated spaces don’t have a permit to do so legally.
In 2009 we successfully campaigned to raise the fine for abuse to $150. After many years of campaigning a further increase to $750 will take effect in October 2024. This significantly higher fine will make a real difference for permit holders by making Kiwis think twice about whether abusing the scheme is worth the risk.
Unfortunately, lack of enforcement by local authorities means that fines alone aren’t enough to stop the misuse of these parking spaces, so we continue to campaign to improve enforcement.
We also advocate for local and national policies that ensure all people’s rights are upheld. This mahi receives no government funding, so we rely on donations to continue this work. If you would like to support us, donate today.
If you’re interested in hearing more about CCS Disability Action, join our mailing list here.
