NZ Fur Council Backs Environment Commission recommendation to do more to control possums

29 June 2016

Media Release

In the state of New Zealand’s environment report released today, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has found that pests are among the high priorities for action.

The report highlights concern that the control of possums and other pests is only happening in one–eighth of the Conservation estate, signifying that our native plants and animals are losing the war against pests.

Neil Mackie, Chair of the New Zealand Fur Council (NZFC) applauds the Commisisoner’s report and says fur recovery is a sustainable approach to winning the war against possums.

“The Fur Council is working closely with the Department of Conservation to promote fur recovery as one of the solutions for the control of possums. Last year we signed an MOU with DOC to make it easier for NZFC accredited hunters and trappers across the country to gain access to public conservation land for fur recovery operations,” says Mr Mackie.

“The possum fur industry creates an estimated $110-150 million dollars a year. It employs about 1500 people and possum fur generates wealth from an animal that is otherwise a pest.

“There is an estimated 30 million possums out there. Currently we are trapping and recovering fur from 1.2 million possums. By co-ordinating with DOC, we want to trap and recover another 2 million possums to meet the growing demand from our industry.

Mr Mackie believes DOC’s Battle for the Birds shoud be encouraged but more is needed to win the war against predators.

“We both want to bring the birds back and see enhanced flora and fauna and more dead possums, Together, we can support a new sustainable concept of ‘green fur’ that will also generate revenue for our country,” he says. Find more information on the New Zealand Fur Council

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