Possum fur ripe for export growth

New Zealand's possum fur industry, as a possum-control mechanism, needs more recognition, says the New Zealand Fur Council and Textiles NZ.
Speaking in response to the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment's report on Evaluating the Use of 1080, New Zealand Fur Council chairman Steve Boot said the report's mention of the economic value from pests without undermining conservation did not go far enough.
"Trials have already commenced that show fur harvesters can make money for themselves whilst reducing the cost of possum control to ratepayers and taxpayers", said Boot.
"We are in talks with DoC and the AHB (Animal Health Board), but we need a stronger commitment from them to work with the fur industry.
"I also call upon the regional councils around New Zealand to work more closely with the fur industry.
"There are vast tracts of land under their management from which we could be harvesting possum fur," said Boot.
The possum fur pelt and fibre industry harvests two million possums annually. It already has an economic value of $100 million per year and employs over 1200 New Zealanders.
Without the large and unique New Zealand manufacture of possum/merino clothing and its use of high-tech whole-of-garment knitting machines New Zealand's manufactured knitting industry would be virtually at a standstill.
Textiles New Zealand chief executive Elizabeth Tennet said: "The possum/merino industry is a significant part of the textiles industry in New Zealand and helps support New Zealand wool growers.
"New Zealand is the only country in the world producing possum/merino products. If the right policy framework was in place this industry could double its export growth in five years and create hundreds more jobs provided it has increased access to possum fibre.
"It's a no-brainer that fur harvesting can be integrated into the many activities of possum pest control."