1 Dec 2014

Legal action still worries growers' body

3:48 pm on 1 December 2014

The national kiwifruit growers' body is still concerned the legal action being taken against the Government over the Psa outbreak could ruin the industry's relationship with ministers.

A group of growers and post harvest operators, known as members of the so-called Kiwifruit Claim filed the class action lawsuit against the Government in the High Court on Friday.

The group said it had been assured by ministers there would be no back-lash over the action and was urging people who may be concerned about the Government's reaction, not to be.

However, New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated president Neil Trebilco said despite that message from the Government, damage could be done.

"I think politically the Government are going to say there'd be no come back, I don't think they could say anything else. My concern is that, for example, if we're wanting to work with Government on biosecurity, the Government is probably going to be less forthcoming in terms of working together. If holes are identified, the Government is not going to share that with us, where as if we're working together they are more likely to share that kind of information."

Mr Trebilco said he could understand why the legal action was filed because growers have lost significant amounts of money, but the industry is recovering strongly.

Mr Trebilco said the industry received legal advice on the claim, which suggested a legal case against the Government was unlikely to succeed.

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