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.
4 September 2026
Case information summary (as at 4 September 2026) – Cases where leave granted (PDF, 116 KB)
Case information summary (as at 4 September 2026) – Cases where leave to appeal decision not yet made (PDF, 132 KB)
All years
Civil appeal - application for leave to bring an appeal
A The applications for leave to appeal are dismissed.
B The applications to file reply submissions are dismissed.
C The applications for stay of execution are dismissed.
D The application to admit new evidence is dismissed.
E The first applicant must pay each respondent costs of $2,500.
1 May 2026
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A The application for recall of this Court’s judgments of 1 May 2026 (Chen v Goodmore Investments (New Zealand) Ltd [2026] NZSC 40) and 8 May 2026 (Chen v Goodmore Investments (New Zealand) Ltd [2026] NZSC 54) is dismissed.
B The first applicant must pay the respondent in SC 175/2025 and SC 2/2026 costs of $1,200.
C The Registrar is directed not to accept for filing any further applications for recall in this proceeding.
26 May 2026
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The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 1 May 2026 (Chen v Goodmore Investments (New Zealand) Ltd [2026] NZSC 40) is dismissed.
8 May 2026
Civil appeal - application for leave to bring an appeal
A The applications for leave to appeal are dismissed.
B The applications to file reply submissions are dismissed.
C The applications for stay of execution are dismissed.
D The application to admit new evidence is dismissed.
E The first applicant must pay each respondent costs of $2,500.
1 May 2026
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A The application for recall of this Court’s judgments of 1 May 2026 (Chen v Goodmore Investments (New Zealand) Ltd [2026] NZSC 40) and 8 May 2026 (Chen v Goodmore Investments (New Zealand) Ltd [2026] NZSC 54) is dismissed.
B The first applicant must pay the respondent in SC 175/2025 and SC 2/2026 costs of $1,200.
C The Registrar is directed not to accept for filing any further applications for recall in this proceeding.
26 May 2026
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The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 1 May 2026 (Chen v Goodmore Investments (New Zealand) Ltd [2026] NZSC 40) is dismissed.
8 May 2026
Civil appeal
A Leave to appeal is granted in part (Estate of Ruru v Attorney- General [2025] NZCA 597).
B The approved questions are:
(a) whether the Court of Appeal erred in its approach to the requirements for resumption in s 8HB of the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975; and
(b) whether the Court of Appeal erred in its approach to the Waitangi Tribunal’s discretion to award compensation under sch 1 of the Crown Forest Assets Act 1989.
C The application for leave to appeal is otherwise dismissed.
10 June 2026
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
A notice of abandonment having been filed, the application for leave to appeal is abandoned.
10 March 2026
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
The applications for leave to appeal are dismissed.
4 June 2026
B There is no order as to costs.
6 May 2024
B The first applicant must pay the respondent costs of $2,500.
31 May 2024
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
2 May 2024
Civil Appeal
A The applications for extensions of time to apply for leave to appeal are granted.
B Leave to appeal is granted (J v Attorney-General [2023] NZCA 660).
C The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeals.
18 April 2024
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A The appeal is allowed in part. The approach of the Court of Appeal to s 85 of the Intellectual Disability (Compulsory Care and Rehabilitation) Act 2003 was incorrect. The Family Court, in considering this matter in the context of a review under Part 6 of the Act, is to address J’s condition and status in accordance with our approach to s 85.
B The further evidence described below at [156] is admitted.
C The application for recall of this Court’s leave judgment of 18 April 2024 (J, Compulsory Care Recipient, by his Welfare Guardian, T v Attorney General [2024] NZSC 34) is allowed only to clarify the matters which are properly before the Court.
D The judgment of this Court of 18 April 2024 (J, Compulsory Care Recipient, by his Welfare Guardian, Tv Attorney General [2024] NZSC 34) is reissued accordingly.
E Costs are reserved.
15 August 2025
- Hearing 20 and 21 August 2024 Appellant submissions (PDF, 390 KB)
- Hearing date 20 and 21 August 2024 Transcript (PDF, 836 KB)
- Hearing date 20 and 21 August 2024 (PDF, 482 KB)
- MR [2025] NZSC 103 (PDF, 286 KB)
Civil Appeal
A The applications for extensions of time to apply for leave to appeal are granted.
B Leave to appeal is granted (J v Attorney-General [2023] NZCA 660).
C The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeals.
18 April 2024
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A The appeal is allowed in part. The approach of the Court of Appeal to s 85 of the Intellectual Disability (Compulsory Care and Rehabilitation) Act 2003 was incorrect. The Family Court, in considering this matter in the context of a review under Part 6 of the Act, is to address J’s condition and status in accordance with our approach to s 85.
B The further evidence described below at [156] is admitted.
C The application for recall of this Court’s leave judgment of 18 April 2024 (J, Compulsory Care Recipient, by his Welfare Guardian, T v Attorney General [2024] NZSC 34) is allowed only to clarify the matters which are properly before the Court.
D The judgment of this Court of 18 April 2024 (J, Compulsory Care Recipient, by his Welfare Guardian, Tv Attorney General [2024] NZSC 34) is reissued accordingly.
E Costs are reserved. 15 August 2025
- Hearing 20 and 21 August 2024 Appellant submissions (PDF, 390 KB)
- Hearing date 20 and 21 August 2024 (PDF, 482 KB)
- MR [2025] NZSC 103 (PDF, 286 KB)