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.
5 June 2026
Case information summary (as at 5 June 2026) – Cases where leave granted (PDF, 89 KB)
Case information summary (as at 5 June 2026) – Cases where leave to appeal decision not yet made (PDF, 124 KB)
All years
Case name
Dwayne Douglas Keats v The King
Case number
SC 47/2022
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A notice of abandonment having been filed, the application for leave to appeal is deemed to be dismissed.
15 November 2022
15 November 2022
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Case name
Robert James Cummins v Body Corporate 172108
Case number
SC 49/2022
Summary
Civil / Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for an extension of time is granted.
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
C The applicant must pay the respondent costs of $2,500.
10 August 2022
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
C The applicant must pay the respondent costs of $2,500.
10 August 2022
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Alexander Charles Mason v Vicki Ann Treizenberg and Paul Morley Dodd as Trustees of the Mamari Trust and Mamari (No 2) Trust
Case number
SC 51/2022
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 respondents costs of $2,500.
22 August 2022
B The applicant must pay the respondents costs of $2,500.
22 August 2022
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
S (SC 57/2022) v W
Case number
SC 57/2022
Summary
ORDER PROHIBITING PUBLICATION OF THE JUDGMENT AND ANY PART OF THE PROCEEDINGS (INCLUDING THE RESULT) IN NEWS MEDIA OR ON THE INTERENT OR OTHER PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATABASE UNTIL FINAL DISPOSITION OF TRIAL. PUBLICATION IN LAW REPORT OR LAW DIGEST PERMITTED.
Result
ORDER PROHIBITING PUBLICATION OF THE JUDGMENT AND ANY PART OF THE PROCEEDINGS (INCLUDING THE RESULT) IN NEWS MEDIA OR ON THE INTERNET OR OTHER PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATABASE UNTIL FINAL DISPOSITION OF TRIAL. PUBLICATION IN LAW REPORT OR LAW DIGEST PERMITTED.
15 July 2022
__________________________________________________
ORDER PROHIBITING PUBLICATION OF THE JUDGMENT AND ANY PART OF THE PROCEEDINGS (INCLUDING THE RESULT) IN NEWS MEDIA OR ON THE INTERNET OR OTHER PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATABASE UNTIL FINAL DISPOSITION OF TRIAL. PUBLICATION IN LAW REPORT OR LAW DIGEST PERMITTED.
22 December 2022
15 July 2022
__________________________________________________
ORDER PROHIBITING PUBLICATION OF THE JUDGMENT AND ANY PART OF THE PROCEEDINGS (INCLUDING THE RESULT) IN NEWS MEDIA OR ON THE INTERNET OR OTHER PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATABASE UNTIL FINAL DISPOSITION OF TRIAL. PUBLICATION IN LAW REPORT OR LAW DIGEST PERMITTED.
22 December 2022
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Case name
D Newton and L Newton v Family Court at Auckland and B Lake
Case number
SC 62/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The interim stay of the judgment of the Court of Appeal granted in [2022] NZSC 92 is discharged.
C Leave is reserved to file memoranda on costs before 4.00 pm 4 October 2022.
27 September 2022
_____________________________________________________
A The applicants must pay the Attorney-General costs of $7,500.
B The applicants must pay Ms Von Keisenberg costs of $2,500.
21 March 2023
B The interim stay of the judgment of the Court of Appeal granted in [2022] NZSC 92 is discharged.
C Leave is reserved to file memoranda on costs before 4.00 pm 4 October 2022.
27 September 2022
_____________________________________________________
A The applicants must pay the Attorney-General costs of $7,500.
B The applicants must pay Ms Von Keisenberg costs of $2,500.
21 March 2023
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Supreme court decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Supreme court decision
Case name
Justin Richard Burke v The King
Case number
SC 75/2022
Summary
Criminal Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Burke v R [2022] NZCA 279).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal correctly interpreted and applied s 66(2) of the Crimes Act 1961.
21 October 2022
__________________________________________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed.
B We seek submissions from counsel on the consequential orders that should follow, as set out at [175] of the reasons of the Court.
22 April 2024
_________________________________________________________________________________
A The appellant’s conviction for manslaughter is quashed.
B An order is made under ss 234(2) and 241(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 substituting a conviction for injuring with intent to injure under s 189(2) of the Crimes Act 1961.
C An order is made under ss 234(5) and 241(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 substituting a sentence of three years’ imprisonment.
16 May 2024
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal correctly interpreted and applied s 66(2) of the Crimes Act 1961.
21 October 2022
__________________________________________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed.
B We seek submissions from counsel on the consequential orders that should follow, as set out at [175] of the reasons of the Court.
22 April 2024
_________________________________________________________________________________
A The appellant’s conviction for manslaughter is quashed.
B An order is made under ss 234(2) and 241(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 substituting a conviction for injuring with intent to injure under s 189(2) of the Crimes Act 1961.
C An order is made under ss 234(5) and 241(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 substituting a sentence of three years’ imprisonment.
16 May 2024
Date of hearing
20 March 2023
- 21 March 2023
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, O'Regan, Williams, Kós JJ | Venue Christchurch High Court Courtroom 12
Submissions from counsel
- Hearing 20 March 2023 Appellant Submissions (PDF, 428 KB)
- Hearing 20 March 2023 Respondent Submissions (PDF, 1.1 MB)
- Hearing 20 March 2023 Intervener Submissions CBA (PDF, 910 KB)
- Hearing 20 March 2023 Intervener Submissions (PDF, 6.4 MB)
Transcripts
Case Synopses
- Hearing date 20 March and 21 March 2023 (PDF, 334 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2024] NZSC 37 (PDF, 303 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
Substantive judgment
JUSTIN RICHARD BURKE v R [2024] NZSC 59 [16 May 2024] (PDF, 181 KB)
Videos
- Justin Richard Burke v The King SC 75/2022 - 21 March 2023 (Recorded, 21 March 2023)
- Justin Richard Burke v The King SC 75/2022 - 20 March 2023 (Recorded, 20 March 2023)
Case name
Jiaxin Finance Limited, Qiang Fu and Fuqin Che v The King
Case number
SC 76/2022
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
4 November 2022
4 November 2022
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Cloud Ocean Water Limited v Aotearoa Water Action Incorporated, Canterbury Regional Council and Southridge Holdings Limited
Case number
SC 82/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Aotearoa Water Action Inc v Canterbury Regional Council [2022] NZCA 325).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to allow the appeal.
17 November 2022
________________________________________________
A The appeal is dismissed.
B The appellant must pay the first respondent costs of $35,000 plus usual disbursements.
C There is no order as to costs in favour of or against the second or third respondent or the Intervener.
20 November 2023
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to allow the appeal.
17 November 2022
________________________________________________
A The appeal is dismissed.
B The appellant must pay the first respondent costs of $35,000 plus usual disbursements.
C There is no order as to costs in favour of or against the second or third respondent or the Intervener.
20 November 2023
Date of hearing
22 March 2023
- 23 March 2023
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, O'Regan, Williams and French JJ | Venue: Christchurch High Court Courtroom 12
Submissions from counsel
- Hearing 22 and 23 March 2023 Appellant submissions (PDF, 435 KB)
- Hearing 22 and 23 March 2023 First Respondent Submissions (PDF, 445 KB)
- Hearing 22 and 23 March 2023 Second Respondent Submissions (PDF, 174 KB)
- Hearing 22 and 23 March 2023 Third Respondent Submissions (PDF, 346 KB)
- Hearing 22 and 22 March 2023 Intervener Submissions (PDF, 333 KB)
Transcripts
- Hearing date 22 - 23 March 2023 (PDF, 948 KB)
Case Synopses
- Hearing date 22 March and 23 March 2023 (PDF, 699 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2023] NZSC 153 (PDF, 297 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
Videos
- Cloud Ocean Water Limited v Aotearoa Water Action Incorporated, Canterbury Regional Council and Rapaki Natural Resources Limited SC 82/2022 - 23 March 2023 (Recorded, 23 March 2023)
- Cloud Ocean Water Limited v Aotearoa Water Action Incorporated, Canterbury Regional Council and Rapaki Natural Resources Limited SC 82/2022 - 22 March 2023 (Recorded, 22 March 2023)
Case name
Raewyn Wallace v Attorney-General and Commissioner of Police
Case number
SC 90/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring a civil appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B There is no order as to costs.
6 June 2023
B There is no order as to costs.
6 June 2023
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
P (SC 91/2022) v High Court at Auckland, Court of Appeal, Commissioner of Inland Revenue and Attorney-General
Case number
SC 91/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring a civil appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicant must pay one set of costs of $2,500 to the third and fourth respondents.
22 November 2022
B The applicant must pay one set of costs of $2,500 to the third and fourth respondents.
22 November 2022
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
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