The recent identification of bovine tuberculosis in widely scattered populations of possums throughout New Zealand has led to a re-thinking of possum control policy and control technology, and to dramatic increases in the areas under control and monies expended.

Two organisations are involved in possum control. The Agricultural Pests Destruction Council is responsible for possums on rateable lands, while the N.Z. Forest Service is responsible for those on lands of other tenure. Together, the organisations accounted for $1.38 million in direct Tb/possum control between 1972 and March 1976, and anticipated spending a further $1.3 million in the 1977-78 financial year. Even with this effort, the elimination of local foci of bovine tuberculosis has been achieved in few instances. It is apparent that a greater understanding of the epidemiology of the disease in possums is required to reduce future cattle losses and enable the best use to be made of manpower and resources.