High Court - civil appeal case volumes - for the 12 months ending 31 December 2025

Registry   New Business Disposals Total Active as at 31/12/25
Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau 130 121 76
Whangarei Whangārei-terenga-parāoa 7 4 4
Rotorua Te Rotorua-nui-a-Kahumatamomoe 7 2 5
Tauranga Tauranga Moana 7 9 7
Hamilton Kirikiriroa 14 12 10
Wellington Te Whanganui-a-Tara 55 49 35
Napier Ahuriri 1 1 1
Palmerston North Te Papaioea 4 8 3
Whanganui Whanganui 3 1 3
Gisborne Tūranganui-a-Kiwa 0 0 0
New Plymouth Ngāmotu 12 7 9
Nelson Whakatū (Jan - Oct) 5 3 -
Blenheim Te Waiharakeke (Jan - Oct) 1 0 -
Masterton Whakaoriori 0 1 0
Christchurch Ōtautahi 24 35 17
Timaru Te Tihi-o-Maru 2 1 2
Dunedin Ōtepoti 17 22 1
Invercargill Waihōpai 19 13 11
Greymouth Māwhera 2 0 3
Nelson Whakatū (Nov - Dec) 1 0 6
Blenheim Te Waiharakeke (Nov - Dec) 0 0 1
National Total   311 289 194
Note:
Masterton is a filing-only registry for the High Court; proceedings filed in Masterton are generally heard in Wellington.

Definitions

New business

HC appeals
New business includes all civil appeals filed in the High Court.


Disposals at delivery of final judgment or earlier final outcome

HC appeals
Disposals are counted at the delivery of the final judgment, or at an earlier final outcome.


Total active cases - all cases awaiting substantive hearing, final judgment or final outcome

HC appeals
Active appeals are those cases that are proceeding to or awaiting a substantive appeal hearing or are awaiting the final judgment.