*Watch the full story in the video below*
The landmark High Court decision to hold the Ministry for Primary Industries responsible for approving the imports that led to the kiwifruit disease PSA taking hold in New Zealand has significant implications for the Government. That’s according to Bell Gully partner Tim Smith, an expert in systemic failure and state liability.
In 2010, officials of what was then called the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry granted an import licence for Chinese kiwifruit pollen, which turned out to contain PSA. The mistake led to the widespread destruction of North Island kiwifruit orchards and hundreds of millions of dollars in losses for growers.
In this video interview with Newsroom business editor Nikki Mandow, Smith explains how the court’s rejection of a key ‘floodgate argument’ has repercussions for government liability in other cases in the future.
Bell Gully is a foundation supporter of newsroom.co.nz
