Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(N.Z.) to scavenge for collectible objects.

c.1974		P.B. Orsman postcard in DNZE (1998) 624/2: Used in Wellington and Christchurch by bottle collectors, etc. ‘Their bottle collection came from poozling under old houses.’ .
1980		L. Leland Kiwi-Yankee Dict. 79: poozling: Going through abandoned houses scheduled for demolition and removing the (usually antique) fittings that strike your fancy. Until recently this was a socially acceptable practice (although not strictly legal), however, as demolition contractors catch on to the value of these fittings legal and moral pressure is exerted to discourage the practice.
1988		McGill Dict. of Kiwi Sl. 87/1: poozling scavenging in abandoned buildings before the demolisher gets there, old bottles favoured, but anything of antique significance or value.
2003		McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. [as cit. 1988].