This clever technique means 55cm-long possum pelt can be lengthened into a maximum 120cm strip of fur. The total value of the possum-fibre industry is hard to assess, as manufacturers are secretive about their earnings, but Wool Yarns New Zealand estimates it to be worth as much as $120 million a year and risingup from around $4 million in 1995. We welcome new enquiries from prospective resellers and we can be contacted by email sales@possumpam.com. The New Zealand Brushtail Possum is a medium sized marsupial that was introduced into New Zealand from Australia during the mid 1800's. All rights reserved. It has a thick bushy tail, a pointed face, large ears, and long claws for climbing trees. In its factory the latest Italian knitting machines, looking like props from Dr Who, can be programmed to produce a new design at the touch of a computer keyboard. This market had its heyday in the 1970s and the 1980s, but went into decline from 1987 onwards. With no natural predators, numbers exploded to approximately 70 million in the 1980s. Capsules containingsufficient cyanide tokill a possum (but not alarger animal), cholecalciferol and new formulationsof brodifacoum all becameavailable during the 1990s, andencapsulated zinc phosphide will be on sale here shortly. Animal skins are very popular with interior design and add that extra wow factor in many homes and businesses throughout New Zealand. The Department of Conservation spends many millions of dollars each year on trapping and controversial poisoning campaigns in attempts to control the pest. Standard $15Rural $20 Total Purchase $121 - $199Standard $25Rural $30. Have a read through about what needs to be done to get a skin tanned, and if you have any further questions dont hesitate to contact us. Additionally we stock a range of other New Zealand icon products such as Possum and merino knitwear, Wool socks, unique tanned skins and cattle hides. Trappers are returning to the fur as a source of revenue, and boutiques all over the country are cutting out pelts and stitching up garments to supply a steadily growing trade. Research has shown that it is 55% warmer than Merino and 35% warmer than cashmere. It has a small focal length (100mm), and a 9 blade aperture with max f stop of f/2.8 creating vivid, shallow depth of field with stunning bokeh. 3. First, he cuts away the undesirable belly fur (its not strong enough to work with). Mr Bracegirdle used to specialise in skinning possums and once operated New Zealand's largest possum-skinning factory out of his garage. $). But on that note, do you leave the like, bone in for the nose or do you have to pull it out with like pliers?? Possums might be one of the New Zealands most destructive pests, destroying native forests and feeding on native birds eggs, chicks and invertebrate, but their lusturous underwool is wonderfully soft and warm. It is ideal for trim, linings and accessories. Lol.love u melvin, lol. This has been further reinforced by them achieving ISO 9001 registration in 1995, and its principles being strictly adhered to. That equated to 20,000 tonnes (or 4000 truckloads) every night! Today, possum skin cloaks remain important to Aboriginal people across the south-east of Australia with new uses and contemporary ways of making. Excellent all year due to properties of sheepskin that keep you warm in winter and cool in summer. His practiced eye and fingers can grade it, stripe it, damage any rips or holes (which, confusingly, means to fix damage) and strand it. Farmers producing beef, milk and venison are levied for possum control by the AHB. They eat buds, flowers, fruit/berries . We used to sell a lot of 60-skin throws, not so much now. I've been doin some research on tanning all kinds of critters, mostly small game, and brain tanning them seems the easiest and cheapest for me. Possum dressing, which now takes place at only two factories in New Zealandone in Woodville, one in Dunedinis an arcane craft involving vats containing secret concoctions of chemicals, flesh-scraping machines, sawdust tumblers, dry cleaning, carding, stretching and kicking machines, and a lot of hard manual labour before pelts have a . It is from a completely different family to that of the North American Opossum, and it's fur quality is similar to mink. Choose from any of our 19 different colours. A lot of people have bed footers made. Today Mooneys Furriers is a team of two. Trapping is not viable in remote areas, or where possum densities are low, and poisoning is no more popular than GM with a public that is becoming increasingly nervous about risk and increasingly distrustful of official reassurance on safety matters. Probably sharper. You have my deepest respect AND sympathy! The Netherlands. . To create a perfect-looking final product, Max must cut each skin into thin strips in a uniform width. Shop; Cowhide; Calf Skins; Chamois Skins; Deer Skins; Possum Skins; . Papadiamantis: a Passionate Saint, Modern Greek Studies: Australia & New Zealand 16-17/B (2013-2014) 369-386 . The leather is strong, and stitches well. Some knowledge of what ph means and what different chemicals do to a hide is helpful, even if those chemicals are the ones found in chicken manure, brains, wood ashes, bark, etc. I have seen too many home tanned fur skins. ( people gave em to me to make em fur hats outta . A 12-skin bed footer is 90cm long and 108cm wide and costs roughly $1800. The Possum Boutique takes pride in its luxurious selection of men's and women's clothing and accessories, including jackets, scarves, gloves, socks, and beanies. Welcome to our web site. Possum wasnt worn as a garment, says Max. One half of the company manages the fur-procurement business, contracting out to several agents who in turn employ hundreds of trappers nationwide. . But now, as global fashion trends swing back infavour of fur, the possum is again serving its original purposeif not for its fur pure and simple, then for the latest innovation, its fur as fibre. However the animals quickly got out of control because they . During the 1990s, the war against possums intensified considerably. Premium Double Sheepskin Rug US$203.02 - US$212.24 Inc GST. Hes a second-generation furrier, learning the trade from his dad. What: Mooneys Furs Possums are pests,so, as Ivan Gutsell says, Every deadpossum is a good possum.. We have the capacity to process 200,000 pelts annually. (Well, mostly predator-free. That included Heather Kirk, Maxs business partner. egg tanning a raccoon or possum. Possums were introduced to New Zealand 150 years ago to provide the base for a fur industry. The AIATSIS possum skin cloak was designed and created by Lee Darroch, a Yorta Yorta, Mutti Mutti and Boon Wurrung artist. Numbers 13 years ago were estimated at 70 million, and they devoured 8 million tonnes of vegetation annually. Superfine New Zealand Merino wool is renowned for its skin-friendly softness, all-seasons breathability and easy care durability. The traditional way of harvesting possum in New Zealand was as a fur skin. They're a great gift for use both at home and as a versatile travel companion. window.mc4wp.listeners.push( This includes; goat, deer, hare, possum, rabbit and wallaby. I forgot to add one of the more important ingredients and that is ELBOW GREASE. None of these poisons has any specificity for possumsand that can be a good thing, because rats can be killed as wellbut the NSSC sees a need for poisons with a degree of specificity, so that non-target species such as dogs can be protected. It is also more supple, has a better drape, and moves more freely. So now there's this bunch of folks making false renditions of quilled and beaded stuff on skins that aren't tanned 'period'. Each strip can be sewn to other strips to create a garment or furnishings like cushion covers and throws. A good hunter can skin a dead possum in seconds - watch Merv Allen demonstrating his technique. The easiest way to obtain the fibre, Steve tells me, is to pluck a still-warm animal by hand. Links that may be useful to hunters include: Welfare performance of animal traps. Quills, " You can't stop the waves . but, you can learn to surf.". or 6 weekly interest-free payments from US$62.75 with. 30% red and 70% grey coat colour. You have my sympathy about living in FL.. Been there 7 x. Properly treating a skin, before sending it off to a tanner, will prevent it from arriving as a smelly mess. FEATURED. Classic New Zealand is a NZ owned and operated tannery established in 1969. (function() { Efforts to reduce the millions of possums in New Zealands forests have been boosted by companies that market possum fur. The programme was started in 1994, partly in response to rising levels of unemployment in the area. Check out our product range by clicking on the "catalogue" tab. Well let me lay out my process for you if that'll help. Who: Max Wilson & Heather Kirk There is a suggestion that DNA extracted from possum droppingscould be used for this purpose. After . Basically Bush Ltd harvests, procures, processes and finishes all their possum fur skins to a high quality standard. New Zealand and international furriers are turning their attention to the luxurious lightweight possum fur skins following a global resurgence in fur skins. Max uses a special furriers sewing machine to join the strips. Step 4: Fleshing. Most of it was shipped to Korea to be used as linings in winter coats.. As a result, we advise keeping our products that have been coloured out of direct sunlight since the UV rays may fade them over time. Possum is the main fur Mooneys deals with these days. Steve Boot thinks these issues could be resolved if the relevant agencies all sat down around the table to devise a system of satisfying everyones needs.Lets exploit the little critters to the max, he says. My current one is almost done i think. Sheepskin gloves and mittens made from young lambskins for supreme softness. Seriously Twisted began as a backroom experiment in 2000, when Ross Munro, a fisherman for many years, started twisting strands of possum fur and joining them end to end to make one long filament. Heather uses her seamstress skills to attach fur trimmings meticulously, and deals At present, $111 million is spent each year on possum control and associated work and research into tuberculosis in deer and cattle. White man build big fire stand way back. The kit I refer do would do a couple of goat skins or several rabbits and the hide comes up very soft. Max came to New Zealand in 1987 to work in the Mooneys Furs workroom in Dunedin. ); I just checked one of my coon hides and it looks like its done, aside from smoking it i guess. By comparison, the Department of Conservation is controlling possums on 700,000 ha (9 per cent of the 8 million ha of public conservation land) at a cost of $21 million. Don't know about that either.. each of the times I was there I think I usually came down with gigantic headaches from the heat and humidity.. or SOMETHING.. Once lost my voice.. could barely squeak to yell at my dear dad! He reminisces about the early 80s, when the price paid for a first-grade skin topped $27. For thesedesigners, and many other garmentmakers and fur sewers around thecountry, using possum fur is an ecofriendlypractice. Being based in New Zealand gives us easy access to some of the world's best sheepskin products. This includes; goat, deer, hare, possum, rabbit and wallaby. Possum Pam is the trading name of Possum Pam NZ Ltd. We are a wholesale manufacturer of sheep and possum skin products. on: function(evt, cb) { New Zealand sheep skin rugs, natural pelt shaped - from Spring Lamb singles to huge 12-pelt floor rugs. As an . It has recently been discovered that they prey on the young of an endangered parrot in their homeland of Australia, so their carnivory is apparently no new habit. Made from a variety of lambskin and sheep skin types for softness, comfort and coziness. Native to Australia, where they are now protected, brush-tailed possums were first introduced to New Zealand in 1837 to jump-start the Possum fur trade. Enter minimum price . $1,519.00. Then place the pelt skin-side up on a fleshing beam and begin fleshing from the face down to the tail. With the large range of New Zealand farm and game animals Classic Sheepskins is now regularly tanning large amounts of all animal skins available in NZ. . For 25 years Nature's Beauty have been producing natural skin care products combining wholesome and nourishing elements from our beautiful, clean and natural New Zealand. Ref: PAColl . Animal skins are very popular with interior design and add that extra wow factor in many homes and businesses throughout New Zealand. Even a beautiful pelt is not perfect. They also use a little rabbit on academic trim (mostly imported fur), or locally sourced furs on fashion garments, such as for Dunedin design label, Lapin. We process skins ourselves and offer them as individual skins as well as manufactured skin products for purchase. There must be a good underwool the shorter, softer fibres and as little damage as possible. Since none of the possible biocontrol initiatives is close to implementation, the NSSC sees poisons and trapping as the main possum-control methods for the next decade. Wrap this modern scarf around your neck twice for a sloppy look or three times for a higher scarf option. From what I've gathered, which isnt much, bark tanned leather is more "waterproof/water-resistant" than brain tanned leather. In addition to fur we can provide yarn and products for traditional cultural purposes such as sinews and teeth. We advise using the following preservation techniques to extend the lifeyou get from our products:As soon as possible, take care of any soiling by spot cleaning with a clean, soft, damp cloth. They are in the meat dept. Better formulations of 1080 (the mainstay, since it is so inexpensive) mean that much less poisona few grams per hectareis now required to do the job than was needed a decade ago. kero sene and baking soda works well on rabbit skins but does not come up soft and supple without hours of. The BONZ Way. In addition to this they compete directly with native birds for food and they also eat birds eggs, chicks and insects. Mooney's Furriers in Dunedin can turn a home-caught possum or rabbit skin into a gorgeous soft furnishing. We can also offer a custom rug service for non-standard or particularly large sizes - the largest rug we've had made to date was a stunning 45 pelt curly wool one! One winter the Egmont Skins and Hides team dried and sold . In the worst case scenario, if it becomes more cost efficient, farmers could start factory-farming possums, states the group. All grades are available, but our focus is on only dressing the top 20% of pelts harvested. The New Zealand recordfor skinning a possum stands at 9.5 seconds. 0. Officials in these organisations do not believe that the possum trade can ever make more than a dent in the population. NZFC report on possum skins sent to auction houses for auction evaluation 2019 (pdf) By Rachel E. Gross. Close up shot of the AIATSIS possum skin cloak with the macro lens. Scrape away as much flesh from the inside of the pelt as possible with the blade of a knife. Cream Possum Fur Throw. For instance, a major thrust in possum research over the past dozen years has been towards the development of an immunocontraceptive which would immunise female possums against sperm or even their own eggs by infecting them with a genetically-modified virus. It starts lookin all bloated. Keep warm and comfy naturally! I've been doin some research on tanning all kinds of critters, mostly small game, and brain tanning them seems the easiest and cheapest for me. Genuine medical sheepskin products from New Zealand can improve the quality of life to those confined to a bed, wheelchair or seat for prolonged periods. If you know anything more about egg tanning specifically I'd greatly appreciate it because I want to try my first tanning project on a raccoon and want to take the egg route. Yet possum-fur merchandise is meeting little consumer opposition in New Zealands retail market. Dealing with sparse populations presents new challenges. Nick Hancox, communications manager of the Animal Health Board (AHB), says the commonly quoted figure of 70 million was always a back-of-the-envelope figure.In any case, the number of possums is not relevant, he adds. Mooneys Furriers in Dunedin can turn a home-caught possum or rabbit skin into a gorgeous soft furnishing. In English this means a lens designed for capturing things 10cm or closer, with vivid, narrow focus and beautiful blurry backgrounds. Alpaca . Even determining how many possums remain in an area after poisoning is difficult. Even as late as 1936 the government refused Taranaki Acclimatisation Society permission to introduce a new strain of possums and in 1937 the Waitaki Acclimatisation Society . New Zealand (NZD The endless scarf is a large continuous circle of knitted possum wool looped around your neck. Limited time offer - Save 30% off all videos, use code: 30OFFVIDEO. But if the tanner needs to clean the skin further, or theres any damage that makes their job harder, they may charge more. Sweden. It was an interesting and a busy time. Through Classic's unique tanning process, skilled tanners adhering to strict quality control, turn quality raw material into superior handcrafted products made to stringent Wool Mark standards and specifications. The best furs are collected in autumn and winter. I highly recommend getting a fleshing knife for this task. Image reference number: 1/2-110438-F. Dan Dawson118 Crinan St Invercargill9812 New Zealand, dan@animalskintanningservices.co.nz027 281 3026. New Zealand (NZD Mi Woollies Premium Grade Possum Skins are the ultimateas astylish accessory. Nevertheless, Peter OHara, chairman of the NSSC, says: If possum vaccination extends the interval between major aerial poison drops, it will be worthwhile.. This was a worthwhile move, as many bodies have a stake in possum control and face common problems, but do not necessarily have a direct interest in each others work. Kaipara South Head is now free of Tb, as are the Akaroa side of Banks Peninsula and the area around Springfield. Just getting zinc phosphide registered for use in New Zealand has cost half a million dollars. And since the most likely routefor administration is a bait containingBCGa debilitated versionof Tb whichhas been used tovaccinate humansfor generations,but without greatbenefitwouldnt itmake more sense simplyto poison the possums? Historical Photo Above:- Two unidentified men with a substantial opposum catch. The other immunological approach the committee is recommending is immunising possums against Tb though this option is more a Band-Aid than a solution. The other half operates a training programme, teaching people how to trap possums. Their insatiable appetite threatens the survival of many of our native plants, insects and birds, including our national bird the kiwi. For NZ wide domestic shipping. ; Reduces the use of nasty chemicals in our environment Legally classified as pests, the brushtail possum is New Zealand's biggest ecological threat.It is only found in Australasia and was introduced to New Zealand in 1837 from Australia. . From the forests of New Zealand to luxury markets around the world Basically Bush supply fabulous wild possum fur. We were doing lots of exotic furs, which are no longer acceptable. Cow Hides make a great feature piece for any home or a stunning unique gift. Mooneys started in the 1920s as skin merchants, with manufacturing bases in Dunedin, Wellington and Auckland. Paul Livingstone thinks that the spread is due to hunters shifting and releasing wild pigs whichunknown to themare infected with Tb. While waiting to see how far the price rises, Evan has turned to the academic world and is writing a masters thesis on New Zealands fur industry over the past century. Steve Boot, another ex-trapper from the possum-fur heyday of the 1970s and 80s and now responsible for procuring fur for Snowy Peak, draws attention to the rapid growth of the fibre industry. Levies raised $37 million in 2002, and the government gave the board a further $25 million to enable it to carry out possum control over an area of 4.2 million hectares, one fifth of it public conservation land. Because most of what I've found says that you need two hides, one for the top middle, the other for the sides. Ecowool have been selling the finest quality sheepskin, woollen and natural products since 1987, and online since 2001. Keep your feet comfy and warm with our sheepskin slipper range made in New Zealand to our exacting standards. Fashion is cyclical so within a year fur was back in fashion, and weve had lots of work since then, says Heather. Such garments are a far cry from the early years of the possum-fur industry, which can still be glimpsed in Dunedins North East Valley, under the creaking gables of Fur Dressers and Dyers NZ Ltd. Leather is tanned, fur is dressed, Evan Tosh tells me as he leads the way through the factory. This is a lovely soft & warm large scarf in four tones of topaz, coral, silver and charcoal. However, the protests were soonmuffled by the sound of credit-cardtransactions as the jackets sold forover $A2000 each. He cuts, then severs the skin at the edge. { PA, funny that you mentioned bark tanning because I was just lookin it up today. NZFur+Skin, Wellington Waterfront, 2 Taranaki . window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { After only 18 years well over 10,000 . Possums currently eat about 20,000 tons of native vegetation each night. In June 2001, there were 414 infected cattle herds and 92 infected deer herdsa combined prevalence of 1.38 per cent, and 70 per cent less than the number of infected herds in 1994. FREE SHIPPING for any orders over $200. 100% Genuine Ethically Sourced Sustainable Animal Hide By Product. The problem of dealing with a cold carcassdifficult, if not impossible, to pluck by handhas been overcome by the advent of portable plucking machines. Around Taumarunui, infection is being pushed back into the Hauhungaroa Range. Unlike inferior imitations our slippers are only made from real sheepskins with the wool pile still attached to the fleece's leather for best comfort and durability. A primitive skills and aboriginal technology message board for those interested in Stone Age, Bushcraft, Survival skills and Pal. Direct from Southland forrestry to us, to you. Prices for tanning vary. You dont want what we call windows, which are the bald bits. Stock photos, 360 images, vectors and videos. The cloak tells the story of AIATSIS as a national cultural institution. He pencils in lines in 1cm increments; any wider and the difference in the hair starts to show on the pelt-side. . callback: cb Now numbering near 30 million in a country the size of . Glenorchy designer Dan Kelly pushes the eco line with his range of clothing marketed under the Pest Control label. Possum Pam is the trading name of Possum Pam NZ Ltd. We are a wholesale manufacturer of sheep and possum skin products. The most common brushtail possum was first introduced to New Zealand and Australia for the fur trade.. See the fact file below for more information on the possums or alternatively, you can download our 24-page Possum worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment. Kiwi Sheepskin carefully select the very best from the two major New Zealand sheepskin tanning companies. Today possums occupy nearly 99 percent of the country, according . Then have a close look at the skin to check it for quality. In mid-2002, the committee produced a draft strategy that suggests goals for the next decade and beyond, and sets out a framework and timetable for achieving those goals. This is because it is without doubt the most versatile method and gives many outstanding properties needed for leathers. Komodo Joe's in-kart model has a silver spike on his head, much like his Crash 2 model. 100% New Zealand Made. From: NZD $82.00. All young females that were wreaking havoc in my neighbors backyard. A woman who would never consider wearing a fur coat might not think twice about wearing a garment made from possum-merino blend.. Evan is the last working member of a once-booming family business which spanned three generations. A possum skin cloak, sewn in a traditional way, but using skins from New Zealand possums. The threat. On the first two its just the pelts, but on the 3rd i managed to get the whole face without too many mistakes i think. Caught red-pawed, a possum is filmed taking and eating an egg from a kokako nest in a Bat of Plenty forest. Tanning primitive IS great..long as you realize early on that it IS a luxury People tanning to make any kind of living are NOT generally all that TRADISH. I think YOU are about and hour from my dear friend BGP! Aboriginal artist Alice Pepper is creating a possum skin cloak that tells the story of the East Gippsland community coming together to heal on country after drought, bushfire and the COVID-19 . Dan Dawson118 Crinan St Invercargill9812 New Zealand, dan@animalskintanningservices.co.nz027 281 3026. Available for both RF and RM licensing. Even with the special products folks can barely skin flesh and thin skins and stake them to get their furs softened nicely. breaking'. Here Evan Toshs prediction is being borne out. Established in 1969, Classic Sheepskins is New Zealand's longest established privately owned sheepskin tannery. The committee points out that biological control (of which an immunocontraceptive is only one approach) is the only alternative to poisoning and trapping. } with sales. In the 1990s it was discovered that when possum fur was spun with merino wool, a light, stable, and strong yarn is produced with superior heat retaining properties. I find it quite creative, working with your hands. A glorious fluffy Possum fur hide could be just the thing for your next project! Customers who buy this label make a strong link to the concept of pest control: one garment means one less possum.Possum-fur company Seriously Twisted, in Port Chalmers, also promotes its products on the basis of environmental concern. He sent the spun yarn to Peri Drysdale, CEO of Snowy Peak, a manufacturer of woollen garments, and she devised a couple of creations that went on to win first prize for Huitema in the Manawatu Royal Show. They are also very popular to wear as a scarf around your neck. European settlers aiming to establish a wild source for food and fibre and fur pelts for clothing introduced the common brushtail possum from Australia (from Victorian and Tasmanian populations) to New Zealand in the 1850s. The primary purpose that the possum was brought over to New Zealand's green rolling hills was to begin a regular business of hunting and skinning of their hyde to sell the fur for trade and significant profit. There is a natural taper to a possum, and the hair is longer at the top than at the bottom. Animal Skin Tanning Services. From the forests of New Zealand to luxury markets around the world Basically Bush supply fabulous wild possum fur.