National possum control agencies
The National Possum Control Agencies was established in the early 1990's to co-ordinate strategic planning, standardise quality control and provide training and information exchange between agencies for possum control. The NPCA also provides public information on possum control which is available from the Wellington based office.
The member agencies of the NPCA are:
Animal Health Board:
The Animal Health Board is charged with eradication of Bovine Tuberculosis in farmed cattle and deer. To do this, the AHB needs to control possums, which carry the disease in the wild and re-infect herds of animals adjacent to bush pasture margins.
Regional Councils:
Regional Councils have biosecurity obligations to control possums for animal health and conservation priorities. Councils are actively involved in possum control in urban and rural areas to reduce the spread of Tb and to protect forestry and conservation values.
Department of Conservation:
DOC is charged with the care of New Zealand's native plants and wildlife. Possums are a threat to these values and in fact, the survival of whole ecosystems is affected by the possum. The Department of Conservation commits resources to possum control at priority sites to ensure long term survival of species and the ecosystems that support them.
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry:
MAF is the government agency that has overall responsibility for biosecurity issues. Possums are a threat to New Zealand's export potential because of the disease threat that possums pose. MAF keeps a close eye on all aspects of control operations.
Updates
There are bound to be more valuable pieces of information come to hand as research develops. The NPCA will up date this page regularly as developments occur.