New Zealand appellate courts delivered significant judgments just before Xmas in the never-ending leaky building saga.

As of 1 March 2017, the amount claimable in the District Court will increase from $200,000 to $350,000 (The District Court Act 2016). 

The Construction Contracts Act 2002, a statute designed to ensure a cash flow on building projects, now applies to building professionals (e.g. engineers, architects, quantity surveyors), carrying out work for construction projects.

A lifestyle block owner recovered from two insurers the costs of fighting a fire which spread from a burn heap on their Canterbury property to neighbouring properties.  The property was insured with AMI, and their landscaping business was insured with Lumley.

In a recent appeal from the District Court, the High Court has confirmed that unit-owners in Body Corporates cannot refuse to pay portions of the levies because they do not agree with the purpose for which levies have been struck.