A Christchurch-based Korean developer who tried to build a food court in a heritage listed building without the appropriate consents has tried to claim damages for loss of business from his contractors in the High Court at Christchurch.

But he sought too much – $7.17 million in fact – and a judge has given him until this week to reapply so long as he sticks to the High Court rules and doesn’t seek more than the $30,000 for which the contractor in question was liable.

Westpac’s challenge against the Commissioner of Inland Revenue over a tax avoidance bill of more than $900 million has been dismissed in the Auckland High Court.

The bank had challenged amended assessments issued by the IRD relating to nine structured finance transactions Westpac (ASX)(NZX) had entered into with overseas counterparties between 1998 and 2002.