About
Welcome to Milner Mobility. We set ourselves apart by offering the widest range of high quality mobility vehicles in New Zealand, at the best price.
Milner Mobility is a family owned business, committed to offering an exceptional level of personal and friendly customer service with expert knowledge and support. We provide a reliable, supportive experience so that you and your family can gain your independence.
Rebranded as Milner Mobility in 2022, the family-owned Licensed Motor Vehicle Dealer opened a brand-new showroom at 9 Pacific Rise Mount Wellington.
Purpose-designed for optimum wheelchair access, it is indoors, with ample space between display vehicles, spacious seating areas and multiple accessible bathrooms. Better still, all their services – from onsite adaption to service, sales and rental divisions – are now all under one roof.
Our history
Rod Milner has spent a lifetime in the automotive industry, and for the past 40 years, has been at the helm of Rod Milner Motors - New Zealand’s largest supplier of disability vehicles.
Founded in 1982, initially as a Japanese car importer, the company took a new direction around 30 years ago when founder Rod Milner’s late wife, needed wheelchair assistance.
The high-quality mobility options in Japan were not available in New Zealand, so Rod decided to import a couple. They sold like hot cakes, and a business with a new purpose was born, gaining more traction in 2014 when Rod’s son Darren joined the company, bringing with him a wealth of engineering and electrical skills.
After Lee died in 1995, Rod was in Japan and saw some vehicles which would have been ideal - so he imported them, and set up a workshop at his Greenlane premises to install the hydraulic ramps, controls and other parts needed.
Driving the future of mobility
Fast forward to 2022, with a move to an impressive new premises in Mt Wellington, and son Darren and daughter-in-law Katie set to take over the reigns - the opportunity arose to look at the Rod Milner Motors brand and help it take a bold step forward into the future.
According to General Manager Darren Milner, the new dealership better reflects not just the Milner Mobility brand, but also their vision to give people independence and assist as many families as possible into mobility vehicles.
“We’re extremely proud of our input into the expansion of options for people needing specialised vehicles and we set ourselves apart by offering the widest range of high-quality mobility vehicles in New Zealand at the best price.”
While Aotearoa has other adaption or mobility rental companies, none offer the full end to end service that Milner Mobility provides. And that ‘service’ extends well beyond what most of us would imagine.
“We introduced factory-built ramp vehicles and have been offering specialist new vehicles from the UK since 2019,” explains Darren, who travelled to England to find alternative solutions to New Zealand’s traditional offerings.
“We’ve always felt that converting ‘tradie’ vans is not the best outcome for mobility transport and that vehicles should be inclusive and refined.”
Let the journey begin
When it comes to onsite vehicle adaption, Milner Mobility continues to blaze a trail.
“We’ve done just about everything from a brand-new Porsche and Teslas to golf carts and farm utility vehicles. We once widened a golf cart to enable wheelchair transport around a remote South Island lodge, we’ve converted a modern luxury VW Ute to accommodate two wheelchair users together, we’ve fitted hand controls for a jet sprint boat and multiple race cars. The possibilities really are endless,” says Darren.
Motorhome rental
Early in 2024, we had the pleasure to host the launch of New Zealand’s first wheelchair accessible motorhome alongside Catriona Williams and ACM Motorhomes. Featured on 1news.co.nz
High Demand for Accessible Travel - Available for rent, this motorhome is generating immense interest. The surge in inquiries highlights the strong demand for accessible travel options. Due to be on the road in Autumn, it is time to start planning that roadie!
Giving Back to the Community - In a heartwarming full-circle moment, 60% of the rental fees will be donated to The CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Research Trust, founded by Catriona Williams and The New Zealand Spinal Trust. This initiative not only provides a unique travel opportunity but also supports critical research and advocacy for spinal cord injuries.
A Landmark Achievement - Hans Wouters, CEO of the New Zealand Spinal Trust, hails this project as a groundbreaking step towards fully accessible travel in New Zealand. This motorhome allows families to create lasting memories with their loved ones, transforming a once-distant dream into reality.
Introducing mobility bikes to NZ
Milner Mobility is delighted to introduce a range of mobility electric bikes from leading international manufacturer Van Raam.
You can currently view the Opair and VeloPlus in our showroom, with the Chat and Fun2Go to be unveiled soon!
The OPair makes going for a bike ride easy. Your loved one transfers to sit comfy in the adjustable front seat, while you steer and pedal. Plus, the wheelchair section disconnects, so they can roll solo when they want, making coffee stops a must.
With the VeloPlus Wheelchair Transport Bike you can forget transfers as your loved one can stay comfy in their own chair. This clever cycle features a tilting platform that lets you easily roll almost any hand-powered wheelchair on and secure it for a ride.
"Both designs will revolutionise outdoor access for the people they are designed for, fostering a deeper sense of independence for their users. We hope they will open opportunities for people in wheelchairs to explore parks and trails and that the e-bikes will be a vehicle for new adventures in their community or retirement village,” says Darren.
