A group of kiwifruit growers suing the Government for hundreds of millions of dollars says it expects nine out of 10 orchardists to sign up within a month.
An alliance of growers is seeking $885 million in compensation for an outbreak of the vine disease Psa in 2010.
The growers say an independent report in 2012 put the blame on Biosecurity New Zealand for failing to protect the kiwifruit industry.
Group chairman John Cameron said on Firstline the aftermath of the "absolutely devastating" outbreak is still being felt by growers.
"It's been four years, there's been lots of divorces, there's been lots of people walking away, they lost everything they've had.
"If it wasn't for the banks being a little bit supportive, lots of others would have gone as well."
The delay in launching the case was due to how long it had taken for the group's legal team to compile the evidence required.
"We'll be expecting growers to join up with this claim and once we've got the total amount of claimants in that'll give us an indication of what that claim is likely to be," Mr Cameron said.
He believes Biosecurity NZ is solely to blame for extent of the damage caused by Psa.
"There is no question and the evidence will come out in court."
3 News
source: newshub archive
