Aongatete Coolstores Ltd chairman Allan Dawson says he resigned from The Kiwifruit Claim committee because of concerns the claim will endanger the industry's current Single Point Entry structure.

'The overarching reason in this decision is to protect the Single Point Entry which I personally fought long and hard for,” says Allan in a letter to Aongatete growers today.

Aongatete Coolstores Ltd chairman Allan Dawson (inset).

'The likely collateral damage from the claim proceeding in its present form, in my view, puts the SPE at risk.”

He made his decision after obtaining independent expert advice from a colleague in the senior ranks of the former Ministry of Agriculture. From that advice, he decided to fully withdraw from the group claim. He resigned from the committee last Thursday.

Allan attended meetings he was invited to and heard the argument being put forward by the Plaintive group and their Counsel.

'As a person who has been involved in the industry for over 36 years, I believe that it is important to give due consideration to issues and form a reasoned opinion,” says Allan.

'There was new evidence available since the industry last considered their options. And one of my purposes for getting involved was the concern that there needed to be good governance in place for the funds collected, and possibly subsequently distributed, on behalf of Growers.

'Perhaps this should still be considered by New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc if the claim goes ahead?

'We have as a family lost a large amount of money due to Psa and the impact will continue, but there are many people who have lost a great deal more - health, family and dignity.

'It has been sobering listening to these people give their tragic stories in the last two weeks and although they are no longer in the industry, we shouldn't forget to acknowledge their plight.”

Allan's letter to growers follows Wednesday's announcement by EastPack CEO Tony Hawken of the resignation from The Kiwifruit Claim Committee.

His departure means all kiwifruit post-harvest operators, save Seeka, now oppose The Kiwifruit Claim's plans to sue the government for compensation over the outbreak of the vine disease Psa.

This now means that companies representing approximately 80 per cent of the kiwifruit postharvest industry's volume do not support the claim, says Tony.

At a meeting in Te Puke on Wednesday, around 200 growers and post-harvest operator representatives were told The Kiwifruit Claim class action for compensation over Psa will be filed in the Wellington High Court next Friday.

Those behind the action say they have registrations representing 10 per cent of the kiwifruit industry, with claims for losses against the Ministry for Primary Industries worth in excess of $200 million.