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They’re relatively easily, speedily and cost-effectively constructed, yet a frightening number of businesses leave themselves wide open to the often difficult, protracted and expensive fallout that comes with coasting along unprotected.

As we bid farewell to another ski season, it won’t be long and our neck of the woods will be back heaving with visitors enjoying the holiday season, and fruit-picking will be in full swing. And, once again, many local employers will likely be relying on temporary migrant workers to bolster their ranks to see their businesses successfully through another busy spell.

In the wake of Canterbury’s devastating earthquakes, the Supreme Court has handed down a decision providing building owners, councils and insurers a clear steer on seismic strengthening.

In June, the High Court awarded exemplary damages against a lessee who had breached the terms of its pastoral lease, but what are “exemplary damages”? The case involved a company owned by John and Mary Lee. The company was the lessee under a pastoral lease of land in Cardrona Valley. Next door was a freehold property (“Waiorau”) owned by John and Mary Lee, on which they operated snow related businesses.