Upcoming cases - Supreme Court

Sitting Terms 

The sitting terms for the Supreme Court are as follows: 

Waitangi Term                                        February to May 
Matariki Term July to August 
Kōanga Term October to November 

 

Hearings in the Supreme Court will be allocated dates available within these terms.

Urgent hearings may be allocated dates outside these terms.

 

Fixtures

Fixtures are set out in the monthly fixtures list.

August 2026 fixture list

October 2026 fixture list

November 2026 fixture list

Latest updated 5 August 2026.

  • Monday 3 - Tuesday 4 August 2026   

    Case number SC 157/2025 

    Case name 

    Lori-Lea Wairoa Wade Te Wini
    C W J Stevenson KC and O H Fredrickson 

    v 

    The King
    Z R Johnston and M R Davie

    The Law Association of New Zealand as Intervener 
    E P Priest and S V Wood 

    Judges: Winkelmann CJ, Williams, Kós, Cooke and Campbell JJ

    SC 157/2025

     

    Monday 3 - Tuesday 4 August 2026  

    Case number SC 158/2025 

    Case name 

    Courtney Pauline Churchward
    H G de Groot, T J Conder and R H Hohaia

    v 

    The King
    Z R Johnston and M R Davie

    The Law Association of New Zealand as Intervener 
    E P Priest and S V Wood 

    Judges: Winkelmann CJ, Williams, Kós, Cooke and Campbell JJ

    SC 158/2025

     

    Thursday 6 August 2026  

    Case number SC 166/2025 

    Case name 

    Jinxing Liu
    A T Grant and D E Archibald 

    v

    Hua Wu
    S W B Foote KC and A E Simkiss

    Judges: Winkelmann CJ, Ellen France, Williams, Kós and Campbell JJ

    SC 166/2025

     

    Monday 17 - Wednesday 19 August 2026   

    Case number SC 10/2025 

    Case name 

    Michael John Smith 
    D M Salmon KC, M Heard and N R Coates

    v

    Attorney-General
    A Martin and J M Prebble


    Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa | The Māori Law Society as Intervener
    H K Irwin-Easthope, B C K Murfitt and M K Mahuika

    Te Kahui Tika Tangata | Human Rights Commission as Intervener
    A S Butler KC and R A Kirkness


    Judges:     Winkelmann CJ, Ellen France, Williams, Kós and Cooke JJ

    Venue: Auckland High Court, Courtroom 11

    SC 10/2025

     

     

  • Wednesday 7 - Thursday 8 October 2026   

    Case number SC 8/2026 

    Case name 

    Russell Thomas Hoban
    R A Kirkness, M D N Harris and M P Handford 

    v

    Attorney-General
    D J Perkins and O Kiel


    Te Kāhui Tika Tangata | Human Rights Commission as Intervener
    A S Butler KC, T W M Pilkington and S C Burton

    Judges: Winkelmann CJ, Ellen France, Williams, Kós and Campbell JJ

    SC 8/2026

    Tuesday 20 - Wednesday 21 October 2026   

    Case number SC 109/2025 

    Case name 

    Scott Watson 
    N P Chisnall KC and K H Cook

    v

    The King
    M F Laracy, T R Simpson and S Baker

    Judges: Winkelmann CJ, Ellen France, Williams, Kós and Cooke JJ

    SC 109/2025

     

     

  • Tuesday 17 - Wednesday 18 November 2026   

    Case number SC 13/2026 

    Case name 

    Lego Holding A/S and Lego A/S
    A R Galbraith KC, K T Glover KC and J K Scragg

    v

    Zuru New Zealand Limited, Zuru Toys New Zealand Limited and Zuru Inc
    J G Miles KC, J W J Graham and T F Cleary

    Judges: Winkelmann CJ, Ellen France, Williams, Kós and Campbell JJ

    SC 13/2026

     

     

     

  • Tuesday 8 - Thursday 10 December 2026   

    Case number SC 178/2025 

    Case name 

    Estate of Eric John Tupai Ruru And Alan Parekura Torohina Haronga

    v

    Attorney-General, Waitangi Tribunal, Tanya Rogers and David Brown, Owen Lloyd, David Thomas Hawea and Anthony Tapp

    Judges: Winkelmann CJ, Ellen France, Williams, Kós and Campbell JJ

    SC 178/2025