Don visited Possum Pam, a Christchurch company that is making a whole range of products from Australian brushtail possum pelts. The company is the brainchild of Pam and Dave McKinstry. Pam, who describes herself as ‘a guardian of New Zealand conservation’ is concerned that possums are destroying the native flora and fauna.
Too many possums
In New Zealand, the Australian brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) is a wonderful animal in the wrong spot. It was introduced to the country in 1837 to establish a fur industry, largely with government sanction. However, the fur trade died out in the 1900s and the possum population exploded. It is now estimated that there are up to 70 million brushtail possums in New Zealand, with two thirds in the North Island.
Australian plants often have defences against possums, such as spines, prickles or poisonous leaves, but New Zealand plants do not. The possums thrive on indigenous trees like the pohutukawa, rata, totara, kowhai and kohekohe. They compete with other animals for food, thus contributing to the decline of rare plants, birds and animals. They defoliate the trees, so that forest canopies are weakened and susceptible to climatic extremes and attack by pathogens and insects.
The New Zealand government began possum control operations in the late 1940s. Over the years control measures have included a bounty scheme and the use of poisons such as 1080. The government currently invests $NZ58 million per year to control possums.
Company history
Possum Pam was set up in the early 1980s, when Pam acquired a specialised fur sewing machine and began making possum fur hats. She travelled the South Island in her 1946 Dodge bus, selling the hats and a growing number of other fur products, including her famous fur nipple warmers. Dave has hunted brushtail possums since childhood. He also purchased a fur sewing machine and used it to make possum fur jackets for his friends. After Pam and Dave married in the 70s, they continued manufacturing fur products. They produced rugs, throws, bedspreads, hot water bottle covers, cushion covers, hats and scarves, as well as novelty items such as nipple warmers and willie warmers. One of their big successes has been the production of possum fur shoe insoles, which independent trials have shown give better foot odour control than other widely used insoles.
In 2001 the business was purchased by Russsell & Sue Dalzell and they shifted the home of Possum Pam to the small rural settlement of Dunsandel just south of Christchurch. Russell & Sue were already running a small sheepskin business and they saw the addition of the possum business as a good fit.
Contact information
Possum Pam
178 Hororata Dunsandel Rd, Dunsandel 7682
Ph: +64 3 325 4252 or 0274 779 754
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.possummerinonz.com
