Kia ora,

In case you missed it, the Otago Peninsula is now officially possum free! 🎉

It’s a landmark achievement for the Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Group (OPBG), Predator Free Dunedin, and the communities who call the peninsula home — and a major step forward for biodiversity in Ōtepoti / Dunedin.

This milestone has been built on more than fifteen years of OPBG’s groundwork, thousands of hours from volunteers and commitment from landowners, as well as strong backing from funders and partners including the Department of Conservation, Otago Regional Council, Dunedin City Council, Predator Free 2050 Ltd, Halo Project and City Sanctuary.

We first shared the news at our Annual General Meeting, celebrating with OPBG, landowners, volunteers and partners who helped make a possum‑free peninsula possible. Since then, local and national outlets such as the Otago Daily Times and RNZ’s Morning Report have helped carry the story further, shining a wider spotlight on what this community has achieved.

If you’d like to dive deeper, you can read more on our website, including:

• Our 2025 Momentum Report, with news and progress from across the project area

• The Minister of Conservation’s message, recorded for our AGM

• The Otago Peninsula possum‑free story, with more on the announcement, why it matters, and what comes next for the peninsula and wider Ōtepoti / Dunedin

This is a moment worth celebrating — and one that belongs to everyone who has trapped, monitored, allowed access, reported sightings or backed this mahi over the years. Thank you for helping make it possible.

Rhys Millar

Project Lead - Predator Free Dunedin