Paparoa School raises funds from possum cull

Possum shooters came from all over the Maungaturoto/Paparoa area for the inaugural Paparoa Primary School possum purge, held last month.

As well as eradicating about 800 possums, the event also raised $3500 for the school, which will be spent on extra-curricula activities. One of the organisers Libby Jones says 16 teams, made up of 40 adults and 25 kids, took part.

“It was a great day and given its success, we plan to make it an annual event,” she says.

The possums were plucked and the fur sent to Basically Bush in Whangarei, where it will be used to make high-end clothes and furnishings.

“It was a great outcome all round. The Northland Regional Council estimates there’s about 10 million possums in Northland – at least there’s a few less around Paparoa now.”

Organisers thanked all sponsors for their support, but Fonterra and Wilkinson Sports Shop in Whangarei were singled out for special mention.

First prize winners were Frank Manners and Gilbert de Groot ‘The Deer Hunters’ who brought in 265 possums, followed by Ross Battensby and Gary Fraser ‘Bert ‘n’ Ernie’ with 117 possums. Third were the ‘Bad Shots’, Les Tilby, Jordan Ewens and cousin Dave close behind with 97 possums.

PHOTO: Ross Battensby, who competed in the team that finished second and possum plucker Dean Tilby admire the stack of possums.