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Fast Facts about Paihamu:

  • 70 million Paihamu in New Zealand (which is about the size of California). That is 17 Paihamu for every New Zealander (there are more Paihamu than sheep).
  • The Paihamu eat 20,000 tons of vegetation nightly, enough to fill a container ship nightly. They feast on some gorgeous plants and trees, some of which are endangered.
  • In addition to the carbon dioxide issues implicit in these numbers, this means the vegetation and habitat for other animals (as well as plants) are being destroyed.
  • Species of animals and plants (some of which exist nowhere else in the world) are in danger of extinction due to the Paihamu.
  • Paihamu can carry tuberculosis and it can spread to cattle—thus affecting other industry in New Zealand.
  • The Paihamu is non-native to New Zealand. Indeed, no mammals are native to New Zealand, save for two small species of bat.
  • Paihamu have a 30% reproductive rate which means the numbers are rising extremely quickly.
  • Because the Paihamu is non-native, it has no natural enemies to stop its huge population growth.
  • To control the numbers now, the government uses a poison (1080) that has been banned from US federal lands since 1972. NZ uses over 90% of the world’s supply of 1080.
  • This poison kills the Paihamu as well as collateral animals (birds, horses, deer, pigs, hunting dogs, pets) in what is described by observers as an “excruciating” death. As well, secondary poisoning occurs.
  • The poisoned Paihamu are not utilized by any industry, just left to rot.
  • In contrast, the Paihamu used in Wild-Wool products are killed humanely. New Zealanders are ardent in their commitment to humane trapping methods. Most are killed with cyanide bait (it is regulated, and the Paihamu are unconscious within 30 seconds and die in under two minutes), some are humanely trapped and some are hunted.
  • Many conservation groups support the marketing of Paihamu. Some support it because Paihamu crowds out native species and the other risk factors above. Others support it because they oppose the use of 1080 and marketed fur is humanely killed.
  • Fur is simply leather with the hair left on--so it is less processed than most leather.
  • The best source of leather and fur is an animal whose population requires abatement.
  • This animal is protected in its native Australia—so will not disappear.
  • Indeed, it was initially brought to New Zealand from Australia to establish a fur trade—it has a silky touch, no nap or single direction, plush underfur, low pilling, static free, strong leather (comprable to the quality of mink leather in strength, pliability and lightness), lighter than wool, warmer than wool and incredibly soft and sumptuous.
  • It is the 3rd warmest fur in the world, so one can turn down the heat when using Wild-Wool products.
  • Marketing aligns incentives. Trappers will have a financial incentive to trap more when the price and demand increase. More Paihamu collected by humane methods means less inhumane 1080 poison being used. This also means that fair wage is paid to trappers, processors and manufacturers, increasing employment (especially in rural areas) throughout New Zealand.
  • Wild-Wool products are manufactured in New Zealand supporting a small industry. New Zealand has lost many manufacturing jobs to China and Australia over the last decade.
  • Wild-Wool is naturally eco-friendly since it is biodegradable, recyclable, durable and reusable.
  • None of this fur is farmed. Indeed, it is illegal to farm Paihamu in New Zealand.
  • Faux fur is not eco-friendly. It is petroleum based and uses toxic chemicals. Sometimes, what is thought to be faux fur is actually cat or dog hair (US Humane Society).
  • The alternative of doing nothing irreparably hurts the New Zealand environment and its native animals.

Ecological Profile

New Zealand faces an ecological crisis in the form of a small, non-native animal, the Paihamu. Originally brought to New Zealand in the 1800s to establish a fur trade, the Paihamu has overrun its adoptive habitat and threatens to destroy iconic New Zealand wildlife such as the beloved native kiwi bird and many other flora and fauna.

The Paihamu had no natural enemies as it had in Australia to keep its population in check. Indeed, no mammals are endemic to New Zealand save for two small species of bats, but there are a large number of other unusual plants and animals. New Zealand's unique biodiversity is internationally significant. As the most remote landmass as well as the last major landmass to be populated out side the polar regions, New Zealand retains floral and faunal oddities —such as the dinosaur-relative the tuatara —that elsewhere died out aeons ago. The Paihamu proceeded to multiply and devour the tasty new landscape with abandon and without competition. Now the initial few hundred have become an estimated 70 million. To put that in context, there are 17 Paihamu for every single New Zealand citizen.

The ecological effect on New Zealand's forest and wildlife has been staggering. The 70 million Paihamu now occupy 99 per cent of the country and nightly consume 20,000 tons of vegetation, enough to fill a container ship. The pesky Paihamu feasts on many native trees, threatens protected native bird species, as well as insects and animals (like the weta, one of the heaviest insects on Earth). The beloved New Zealand icon, the kiwi bird, already endangered, is also susceptible to this pest. Beautiful 3-4" giant land snails, found nowhere else in the world and nearing extinction are another victim of the Paihamu's appetite.

The Paihamu is also known as the Australian brushtail possum, a very different species from the North American opossum. The Australian brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula, translating to furry-tailed little fox) has a brush tail, not a rat tail, is a different color and size, and has a fur with exceptional qualities. Although Australia is home to some 40 species of possum, this one was specifically selected to export to New Zealand because of its fur qualities which include low pilling, freedom from static, silky handle and warmth. Further, Paihamu's leather quality (strength, lightness and pliability) is on par with mink. Although the popular names of the two animals are similar, they are not closely related.

New Zealand's second favorite sport, after rugby, is trying to rid itself of this pest. Marketing products made from the fur helps, but the Department of Conservation of the government also baits Paihamu-afflicted forests with poisons, including one long-banned in the United States. This compound (1080 —sodium monofluroacetate) is spread by helicopters over large areas in cereal-based pellets, poisoning other animals such as deer, pigs and hunters' dogs. The SPCA and many local citizens are against the use of 1080. Controlling the population by hunting and trapping is a better option, turning a problem into a resource. Conservations groups support the marketing of fur products made from Paihamu.

Like the US, New Zealand has lost much of its manufacturing base, especially to China. Marketing Wild-Wool supports a small processing and manufacturing industry that has operated in New Zealand for over a century. Wild-Wool has no intention of moving manufacturing away from New Zealand; keeping manufacturing in New Zealand is consistent with its ecological ideals.

Conservation groups that support eradication and marketing of Paihamu include: The New Zealand Department of Conservation, The Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand, The Ecological Foundation, Greenpeace New Zealand, and WWF New Zealand

The use of Paihamu for luxurious and practical products emerges as the best of available options. Doing nothing could cause the extinction of native animals and plants as well as the possible spread of bovine tuberculosis. Aerial spreading of 1080 may have untold environmental consequences, causes collateral and secondary poisoning and wastes the natural resource. With marketed fur, the Paihamu are humanely collected, the animal is utilized, and New Zealand rural employment is revitalized. The best source of leather and fur is an animal whose population requires humane abatement.
info@eco-luxuryfur.com | 503.635.0002