Does New Zealand really have Possum Yarn?

August 9, 2025|Tracey Bowen

Yes, we do! Let's talk about why

The Australian brushtail possum is native to Australia, but was brought to New Zealand in the 1850s to be farmed as a fur trade item. They immediately escaped, as all introduced pest species do, and began breeding. Since then, possums have spread across our country and become one of New Zealand’s worst pests.

Current estimates for our possum population range from 30 to 50 million possums. For contrast, there are about 5.2 million people in New Zealand and about 70,000 of our native Kiwi birds left.

(Just in case you're wondering, the Australian brushtail possum is a completely different animal from the Virginia or North American opossum, although they both are marsupials. Brushtail possums also have very soft fur.)

Harm to nature

New Zealand’s plants and animals evolved without predators like possums. In fact, the only land mammals native to our islands are three bat species. We do have quite a few native sea mammals such as seals, dolphins and whales, but luckily they aren't bothering our native plants and birds.

Australian brushtail possums eat leaves, flowers, fruit, insects, eggs, and baby birds, including the eggs from our native birds such as the kererū, kiwi, fantail and tūī. They also eat the nectar and berries that native birds depend on.

Possums can strip leaves and bark from trees, killing them. When they feed heavily, the top layer of our forests can thin or disappear. This changes the kinds of plants and animals that can live here and reduces biodiversity.

Impact on farming

Possums are also a problem for farmers. They can carry the disease tuberculosis (TB), which infects cattle and deer. If farm animals catch TB, it can lead to costly testing, restrictions, and the loss of overseas markets.

Control and controversy

To control our possum population, New Zealand uses traps, ground bait, shooting, and aerial drops of a poison called 1080. 1080 can reduce possum numbers and help forests recover, however, there is a contentious and outgoing public debate in New Zealand about how humane and safe these poisons are.

Is it endangered?

You may wonder if the Australian brushtail possum is threatened in Australia? It's native to Australia and listed as protected but not endangered there. Most importantly, in Australia there are predators that keep the possum population in balance.

Here in New Zealand, the possum is considered an introduced pest species, and there are no native predators to keep the possums in check. All in all, we New Zealanders spend quite a bit of time, money and energy trying to control our possum problem.