A bad smell from a spoiled 30-million diaper deal - as consumer goods company Zuru takes its former partners to court

It's claiming tens of millions of dollars in losses from breached confidentiality and restraint provisions - after the sale of nappy business Rascals turned toxic.

The defendants will strongly contest the claims in a four-week civil trial kicking off in the High Court at Auckland today.

The case largely centres on the soured business relationship between Zuru's Nick Mowbray and Grant Taylor.

Zuru filed proceedings in 2021, a year after buying out the Taylor family.