Annual statistics

Statistics are provided for 31 December year-ends.

The Supreme Court is New Zealand's final court of appeal. It deals with criminal and civil appeals from the lower courts. The Supreme Court must grant leave before an appeal can begin.

  • Applications for leave

    During 1 January 2023 – 31 December 2023, 148 applications for leave were filed in the Court. 88 were civil applications and 60 were criminal applications.

    During 1 January 2023 – 31 December 2023, 137 applications for leave were resolved.

     

    27 applications were granted leave (12 civil and 15 criminal)

    100 applications were declined leave (60 civil and 40 criminal)

    10 applications were abandoned (4 civil and 6 criminal)

     

    Substantive appeals

    During 1 January 2023 – 31 December 2023, 22 substantive appeals were resolved.

    8 appeals were allowed (4 civil and 4 criminal)

    14 appeals were dismissed (12 civil and 2 criminal)

     

    Note: Data is sourced from the Ministry’s electronic Appeal Management System (AMS)

  • Applications for leave

    During 1 January 2022 – 31 December 2022, 136 applications for leave were filed in the Court. 84 were civil applications and 52 were criminal applications.

    During 1 January 2022 – 31 December 2022, 129 applications for leave were resolved.

     

    19 applications were granted leave (15 civil and 4 criminal)

    102 applications were declined leave (62 civil and 40 criminal)

    8 applications were abandoned (5 civil and 3 criminal)

     

    Substantive appeals

    During 1 January 2022 – 31 December 2022, 19 substantive appeals were resolved.

    11 appeals were allowed (6 civil and 5 criminal)

    8 appeals were dismissed (7 civil and 1 criminal)

     

    Note: Data is sourced from the Ministry’s electronic Appeal Management System (AMS)

  • Applications for leave

    During 1 January 2021 – 31 December 2021, 157 applications for leave were filed in the Court. 96 were civil applications and 61 were criminal applications.

    During 1 January 2021 – 31 December 2021, 150 applications for leave were resolved .

    20 applications were granted leave (16 civil and 4 criminal)

    125 applications were declined leave (73 civil and 52 criminal)

    5 applications were abandoned (3 civil and 2 criminal)

     

    Substantive appeals

    During 1 January 2021 – 31 December 2021, 15 substantive appeals were resolved.

    6 appeals were allowed (4 civil and 2 criminal)

    6 appeals were dismissed (6 civil)

    2 appeals were abandoned (1 civil and 1 criminal)

    1 appeal stayed (civil)

     

    Note: Data is sourced from the Ministry’s electronic Appeal Management System (AMS)

     

  • During 1 July 2020 -  30 June 2021, 147 applications for leave to appeal were filed in the Court

    During 1 July 2020 -  30 June 2021, 122 judgments on applications for leave to appeal were delivered by the Court, dealing with 127 applications for leave.

    During 1 July 2020- 30 June 2021, 20 substantive judgments were delivered by the Court dealing with 25 appeals.                                

     

  • Workload statistics for 1 January 2020 – 31 December 2020 are as follows:

    During 1 January 2020 – 31 December 2020, 117 applications for leave were filed in the Court. 59 were civil applications and 58 were criminal applications.

    During 1 January 2020 – 31 December 2020, 115 leave judgments were delivered by the Court. 18 applications were granted leave (10 civil and 8 criminal) and 103 applications were declined leave (52 civil and 51 criminal).

    During 1 January 2020 – 31 December 2020, 21 substantive judgments were delivered by the Court.

     

    Workload statistics for 1 July 2019 – 30 June 2020 are as follows:

    During 1 July 2019 -  30 June 2020, 135 applications for leave to appeal were filed in the Court. 

    During 1 July 2019 - 30 June 2020, 117 judgments on applications for leave to appeal were delivered by the Court, dealing with 123 applications for leave to appeal. 

    During 1 July 2019 - 30 June 2020, 13 substantive judgments were delivered by the Court, dealing with 14 appeals.

     

    Workload statistics for 1 January 2019 – 31 December 2019 are as follows:

    During 1 January 2019 – 31 December 2019, 141 applications for leave were filed in the Court. 78 were civil applications and 63 were criminal applications.

    During 1 January 2019 – 31 December 2019, 132 leave judgments were delivered by the Court. 32 applications were granted leave (16 civil and 16 criminal) and 100 applications declined leave (52 civil and 48 criminal).

    During 1 January 2019 – 31 December 2019, 16 substantive judgments were delivered by the Court.

     

    Workload statistics for 1 July 2018 - 30 June 2019 are as follows:

    During 1 July 2018 - 30 June 2019, 125 applications for leave to appeal were filed in the Court.

    During 1 July 2018 - 30 June 2019, 105 judgments on applications for leave to appeal were delivered by the Court, dealing with 112 applications for leave to appeal.

    During 1 July 2018 - 30 June 2019, 16 substantive judgments were delivered by the Court, dealing with 16 appeals.

     

    Workload statistics for 1 January 2018 - 31 December 2018 are as follows:

    During 1 January 2018 – 31 December 2018, 119 applications for leave were filed in the Court. 59 were civil applications and 60 were criminal applications.

    During 1 January 2018 – 31 December 2018, 101 leave judgments were delivered by the Court. 18 applications were granted leave (12 civil and 6 criminal) and 83 applications declined leave (46 civil and 37 criminal).

    During 1 January 2018 – 31 December 2018, 16 substantive judgments were delivered by the Court.

     

    Workload statistics for 1 July 2017 - 30 June 2018 are as follows:

    During 1 July 2017 - 30 June 2018, 117 applications for leave to appeal were filed in the Court.

    During 1 July 2017 - 30 June 2018, 122 judgments on applications for leave to appeal were delivered by the Court, dealing with 122 applications for leave to appeal.

    During 1 July 2017 - 30 June 2018, 28 substantive judgments were delivered by the Court, dealing with 28 appeals.

     

    Archived statistics

    All annual workload statistics covering data up to 31 December 2017 can be accessed here

  • Email: seniorcourtsmedia@courts.govt.nz

    Phone: 027 286 0198 or 027 369 6701