Waiheke is part of only 10 per cent of New Zealand free of the possum pest. Various sightings have been reported. At least one, when a Waiheke builder managed to run over a possum on Crescent Road East in 1999, has been verified. Others have proved to be hoaxes. However, the now infamous Rocky Bay possum, sighted by several people including former islander Peter Topzand, was never found, despite extensive searches. One such search was led by Sandra Lee.
Some smart Alec thinks it's funny to occasionally bring over a possum and drop it by the roadside on the island. Rather than create a real scare, this just causes unnecessary expense for local parks staff who have to go through the formality of sending the stiff to Christchurch so that the contents of its stomach can be confirmed as off-island. His identity is known to police, who have come to expect his call when a 'dropped' possum fails to make local news.