About NPCA

The National Possum Control Agencies was established in the early 1990s to help co-ordinate possum control. In November 2001 a constitution was approved that reaffirmed NPCA's aims and objects and the importance of co-ordination in possum control.

Overall aim

To provide a co-ordinating forum that will contribute to the effectiveness of all the agencies involved with the possum problem and to assist agencies with:

  • protecting the farming industry from the effects of bovine Tb, and
  • achieving conservation benefits and positive environmental outcomes.

What we do

Our work is mainly at a national level, and includes:

  • Quality assurance initiatives in pest management to set minimum work quality standards and codes of practice for possum control. We do this by developing, reviewing and updating best practice guidelines for controlling and monitoring vertebrate pests.
  • Public relations initiatives that support the communications and public awareness work being carried out by possum control agencies.
  • Publications and audio visual media that advocate for and inform about possum control – facts, techniques and research.
  • Consultation to achieve agreed approaches to current policy and operational issues in the possum pest control industry.
  • Annual conferences to:
  • inform the industry about new technology, regulations and standards
  • inform the industry about the latest research into vertebrate pest control
  • enable people in the industry to interact.
  • Facilitate and support training and professional development opportunities within the industry.
  • Manage the accreditation register of accredited possum population monitors.

See also our operational plan.

Our membership

Any individual or organisation engaged in the vertebrate pest control industry is eligible for membership. The industry is complex, involving numerous stakeholders and operating under numerous pieces of legislation, however, the main roles and functions are shown in simplified form below.

Our Links page lists the main agencies involved with vertebrate pest control.