Supreme Court case information
Listed below are the substantive Supreme Court cases for the year along with appeals still to be determined or cases awaiting hearing.
Information giving an overview of the case is included along with media releases and links to judgments being appealed when available.
All 2024 - 2014 Supreme Court cases dismissed or deemed to be dismissed where a notice of abandonment was received can be found here.
Transcripts for cases heard before the Supreme Court are included provided they are not suppressed. Transcripts from pre-trial hearings are not published until the final disposition of trial. These are unedited transcripts and they are not a formal record of the Court’s proceedings. The Ministry of Justice does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any material and recommends that users exercise their own skill and care with respect to its use.
28 November 2025
Case information summary 2025 (as at 28 November 2025) – Cases where leave granted (PDF, 87 KB)
Case information summary 2025 (as at 28 November 2025) – Cases where leave to appeal decision not yet made (PDF, 120 KB)
All years
Case name
Louise Buchanan, Keith Marshall and Alistair Donald as trustees of the Buchanan Marshall Family Trust v Tasman District Council
Case number
SC 49/2024
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Tasman District Council v Louise Buchanan, Keith Marshall and Alistair Donald as Trustees of the Buchanan Marshall Family Trust [2024] NZCA 133).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to hold that there was no duty of care owed by the respondent to the appellants while carrying out and making statements in relation to pool inspections under the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987.
20 August 2024
____________________________
A notice of abandonment having been filed, the appeal is abandoned.
06 March 2025
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to hold that there was no duty of care owed by the respondent to the appellants while carrying out and making statements in relation to pool inspections under the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987.
20 August 2024
____________________________
A notice of abandonment having been filed, the appeal is abandoned.
06 March 2025
Case Synopses
- Hearing date 11_12 March 2025 (PDF, 369 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Case name
Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses (Australasia) Limited v Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-Based Institutions and Attorney-General
Case number
SC 50/2024
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to exceed the ten-page limit is dismissed.
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
C The applicant must pay the second respondent costs of $2,500.
13 September 2024
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
C The applicant must pay the second respondent costs of $2,500.
13 September 2024
Court of Appeal decision
Case name
The Trustees of the Motiti Rohe Moana Trust and Te Maru o Ngāti Rangiwewehi v Bay of Plenty Regional Council
Case number
SC 51/2024
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicants must pay the respondent one set of costs of $2,500.
27 August 2024
B The applicants must pay the respondent one set of costs of $2,500.
27 August 2024
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Serenity Pilgrim, Anna Courage, Rose Standtrue, Crystal Loyal, Pearl Valor and Virginia Courage v Howard Temple, Samuel Valor, Faithful Pilgrim, Noah Hopeful and Stephen Standfast
Case number
SC 52/2024
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicants must pay the respondents costs of $2,500.
5 August 2024
B The applicants must pay the respondents costs of $2,500.
5 August 2024
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Mark Anthony Whittington v Solicitor-General
Case number
SC 53/2024
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B There is no order as to costs.
5 August 2024
B There is no order as to costs.
5 August 2024
High Court decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Michael (Maxien) Stevens v Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections and Prison Director at Auckland South Corrections Facility
Case number
SC 54/2024
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B There is no order as to costs.
1 October 2024
B There is no order as to costs.
1 October 2024
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Students for Climate Solutions Incorporated v Minister of Energy and Resources
Case number
SC 55/2024
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Students for Climate Solutions Inc v Minister of Energy and Resources [2024] NZCA 152, [2024] 2 NZLR 822).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
24 February 2025
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
24 February 2025
Date of hearing
06 May 2025
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Ellen France, Williams, Kós and Miller JJ
Submissions from counsel
- Hearing date 6 May 2025 Appellant's submissions (PDF, 691 KB)
- Hearing date 6 May 2025 Respondent's submissions (PDF, 595 KB)
- Hearing date 6 May 2025 Intervener Submissions (PDF, 215 KB)
Transcripts
- Hearing date 19 November 2024 Transcript (PDF, 305 KB)
- Hearing date 6 May 2025 Transcript (PDF, 658 KB)
Case Synopses
- Hearing date 6 May 2025 Case Synopsis (PDF, 487 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Videos
- SC 55/2024 Students for Climate Solutions Incorporated v Minister of Energy and Resources (Recorded, 6 May 2025)
Case name
Peter Morrison Strange (AKA Peter Morrison Petryszick) v Casey Farms Limited, Brosna Farms Limited, JOTAC Limited, WG Broadbent & Co Trustees Limited and PB and BL Casey Partnership
Case number
SC 56/2024
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for recusal is dismissed.
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
C The applicant must pay the second, third and fifth respondents one set of costs of $1,250 and the fourth respondent costs of $1,250.
30 August 2024
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
C The applicant must pay the second, third and fifth respondents one set of costs of $1,250 and the fourth respondent costs of $1,250.
30 August 2024
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Kyle James Craig v Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections
Case number
SC 57/2024
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring civil appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
13 August 2024
13 August 2024
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Authority v Shirley Waru and Auckland Council
Case number
SC 58/2024
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicant must pay the first respondent costs of $2,500.
24 September 2024
B The applicant must pay the first respondent costs of $2,500.
24 September 2024
High Court decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
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