The competition is open to children of all ages, who will be free to hunt anywhere they like, with tickets ($20) available at the Okaihau Butchery, Hunting & Fishing Kerikeri, umawerahall@gmail.com, Lance Oliver (phone 021 251 0883) and Alister Biggs (phone 027 356 9877) from Monday.
The most possums will be worth $500, while there will be three prizes for the heaviest possum, turkey, peacock, rabbit/hare and biggest goat spread, the best combo (one of each species) and the best-dressed possum.
Thousands of dollars worth of spot prizes will be handed out at the weigh-in, along with auctions and raffles. Sizzled sausages, fried bread and soft drinks will be available (cash only, no eftpos).
A hangi will be lifted at noon on the Sunday, but must be pre-ordered and paid for ($10) by Wednesday, September 4. Orders can be emailed to umawerahall@gmail.com
There will be a few basic rules — that competitors are expected to stay safe and have fun, that all pests must have been killed by a child, and that possums must be in good condition (and dead for no more than four days).
Possums will remain the property of the hall committee, which will arrange for them to be plucked, with proceeds going towards the hall's maintenance.