PSA class action heads to Wellington High Court

A group made up of more than 200 Kiwifruit growers, suing the government for negligence over the way it handled the PSA outbreak, head to court today, in a multi-million dollar class action. The group called 'Kiwifruit Claim' are accusing the Ministry for Primary Industries of breaching a duty of care by letting the disease get into the country in 2010, and claiming losses of $376 million. MPI rejects the allegations. On its website it states that it acted appropriately in its treatment of PSA as a biosecurity threat, and in line with its international obligations and scientific knowledge available at the time. It says it did not 'let' PSA into the country by allowing pollen imports into New Zealand, and various studies are inconclusive as to how it entered the country. Success could expose the Government to claims by other sectors affected by disease and pests. Lynn Freeman talks to Te Puke growers Stewart and Gilly Moss who are taking part in the class action.