Welcome to Furs of New Zealand.

Your home for Brushtail Opossum Fur Sizes
We sell in these basic sizes (from base of tail to shoulder):

Size 00	60cm and over
Size 0	51cm - 60cm
Size 1	42cm - 51cm
Size 2	33cm - 42cm

Our most popular size is 0/00 - 51cm and over

Basic colours are:

Dark Brown = Usually females with a longer fur type, also includes longer furred Red Browns.

Red Brown = Usually males with a shorter fur, but tend to be bigger.

Pale/Grey = Usually females with a longer fur type.

Rusty = Usually a female 'Red Neck' with longer fur, a ginger/red colour around the neck, and often sold with Red Necks (Red Neck/Rusty)

Red Neck = Usually males with a tendancy for good size and shorter fur with a ginger/red coloured neck.

Darks = A combination of Dark Brown and Red Brown.

Lights = A combination of Pale/Grey and Red Neck/Rusty.

The opossum fur takes dye well, can be bleached and dyed for lighter shades and can also be shorn successfully. Greys and Dark Browns are traditionally the preferred colours for natural use .

The opossum is a wild animal that is spread through the entire length of New Zealand. Although roughly the same size as the United Kingdom, New Zealand has a population of around 3.5 million people. This leaves much farmland, forest and native bush for the opossum to thrive in. Being wild, they have to be trapped, poisoned or shot. They also tend to have fur damage for much of the year - up to 80% of what is produced would be Ill or IV grade. To get quantities means being able to use these grades in one's production.

Shearing: To get consistent fur quality I/II grades need to be used. Shorter furred types like Red Brown and Red Neck will produce a good sized shorn skin.

Trimmings: I/11 grades will produce good trimmings. Often the larger skins will be used to complete a bigger collar in one piece. A III grade 0/00 can easily be cut and sewn to remove faults and provide a cheaper option. Some of the other multipurpose grade skins also can be worked into this type.

Multi-Purpose (1 / 11) We produce a multi-purpose grade which is a cost effective multi-use fur. If these are graded for use after dressing, trimming types can be produced with a little work and the balance are good lining material, or better.

Lining Types The IV grade is a cheaper lining type.

Dressing skins for you We can arrange for the dressing of opossum skins, which will generally produce a far better item than skins dressed overseas. Talk to us about your needs for dyed, shorn processed skins. As we have had some very bad results from overseas dressing in the past, we do encourage New Zealand dressing.

Shipping and Stocks

We hold good quantities of stock, but some grades can get short when out of season. We recommend prompt ordering to save disappointment. Previous buying seasons have produced in excess of 500,000 skins and we have the network to increase that number if needed. We can get between 1,000 and 1,500 raw skins to a wool bale. We usually pack between 40,000 and 50,000 raw opossums per 20 ft container. There is no lead time for skins in stock. 1 am sure that we have the skins to suit your budget.

Possum Merino Knitwear Possum Merino Possum Merino Clothing Possum Scarf Possum Socks

Possum Merino Yarn Merinomink Snowy Peak Possum New Zealand Possum Hat

Possum Merino Gloves Possum Merino Socks Possum Wool Possum Yarn

Shearing:	To get consistent fur quality I/II grades need to be used. Shorter furred types like Red Brown and Red Neck will produce a good sized shorn skin.
Trimmings:	I/11 grades will produce good trimmings. Often the larger skins will be used to complete a bigger collar in one piece. A III grade 0/00 can easily be cut and sewn to remove faults and provide a cheaper option. Some of the other multipurpose grade skins also can be worked into this type.
Multi-Purpose (1 / 11)	We produce a multi-purpose grade which is a cost effective multi-use fur. If these are graded for use after dressing, trimming types can be produced with a little work and the balance are good lining material, or better.
Lining Types	The IV grade is a cheaper lining type.
Dressing skins for you	We can arrange for the dressing of opossum skins, which will generally produce a far better item than skins dressed overseas. Talk to us about your needs for dyed, shorn processed skins. As we have had some very bad results from overseas dressing in the past, we do encourage New Zealand dressing.