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
Pierre John Parsons v Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections
Case number
SC 92/2024
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
13 December 2024
High Court decision
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS v PARSONS [2023] NZHC 2600 [18 September 2023]
Court of Appeal decision
[2024] NZCA 338
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
PARSONS v CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS [2024] NZSC 172 [13 December 2024] (PDF, 196 KB)
Case name
Christopher Walker v The King
Case number
SC 108/2024
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal.
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
14 November 2024
District Court decision
[2023] NZDC 27612
Court of Appeal decision
[2024] NZCA 440
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
WALKER v R [2024] NZSC 155 [14 November 2024] (PDF, 188 KB)
Case name
Solicitor-General's Reference (No 1 of 2024) from CA441/2023 ([2024] NZCA 318)
Case number
SC 110/2024
Summary

Criminal Appeal — Application for leave to refer a question of law
Result

A We grant leave to the Solicitor-General to refer the following questions of law (arising from Nikoloff v R [2024] NZCA 318) to this Court under s 317 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011:
Was the defect in the leave given on behalf of the Attorney-General able to be remedied or rectified by the instrument of ratification?
Was the trial at which Mr Nikoloff was convicted a nullity?
B We appoint Mr S J Shamy as counsel to assist the Court on the appeal under s 318(3)(a) of the Criminal Procedure Act.
27 November 2024
________________________________________________
We answer the questions of law as follows:
(a) Was the defect in the leave given on behalf of the Attorney-General able to be remedied or rectified by the instrument of ratification?
No.
(b) Was the trial at which Mr Nikoloff was convicted a nullity?
Yes.
18 September 2025
Date of hearing
12 March 2025
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, Williams, France and Miller JJ
Submissions from counsel
Transcripts
Case Synopses
Media Releases
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave granted
SOLICITOR-GENERAL’S REFERENCE (NO 1 OF 2024) [2024] NZSC 160 [27 November 2024] (PDF, 135 KB)
Substantive judgment
SOLICITOR-GENERAL’S REFERENCE (NO 1 OF 2024) FROM CA441/2023 ([2024] NZCA 318) [2025] NZSC 121 [18 September 2025] (PDF, 346 KB)
Videos
Case name
Richard Lincoln v Attorney-General
Case number
SC 116/2024
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.                                                                                          
28 February 2025
High Court decision
LINCOLN v THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL [2023] NZHC 3822 [20 December 2023]
Court of Appeal decision
LINCOLN v ATTORNEY-GENERAL [2024] NZCA 515 [11 October 2024]
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
RICHARD LINCOLN v ATTORNEY-GENERAL [2025] NZSC 5 [28 February 2025] (PDF, 182 KB)
Case name
Vincent Ross Siemer v Attorney-General and Registrar of the Supreme Court
Case number
SC 119/2024
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
High Court decision
SIEMER v REGISTRAR OF THE SUPREME COURT [2022] NZHC 1724 [19 July 2022]
Court of Appeal decision
ATTORNEY-GENERAL v SIEMER [2024] NZCA 435 [11 September 2024]
Supreme court decision
SIEMER v ATTORNEY-GENERAL [2025] NZSC 16 [20 March 2025] (PDF, 143 KB)
Supreme court decision
Application for review of registrar's decision: SIEMER v ATTORNEY-GENERAL & ANOR [2025] NZSC 65 [17 June 2025] (PDF, 154 KB)
Recall judgment
SIEMER v ATTORNEY-GENERAL & ANOR [2025] NZSC 106 [19 August 2025] (PDF, 190 KB)
Recall judgment
VINCENT ROSS SIEMER v ATTORNEY-GENERAL [2026] NZSC 67 [28 May 2026] (PDF, 197 KB)
Case name
Barry John Bailey v The King
Case number
SC 120/2024
Summary

Criminal Appeal
Result

A  Leave to appeal is granted (R v Bailey [2024] NZCA 552).
B  The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to allow the appeal.
5 March 2025 
__________________________________________________________

A The appeal is allowed.

B The application under s 147 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 is remitted to the District Court for rehearing.   
30 March 2026
Date of hearing
16 July 2025
Judges
Glazebrook, Ellen France, Williams, Kós and Miller JJ
Submissions from counsel
Transcripts
Case Synopses
Media Releases
District Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
[2024] NZCA 552
Leave judgment - leave granted
BAILEY v R [2025] NZSC 10 [5 March 2025] (PDF, 136 KB)
Substantive judgment
BAILEY v R [2026] NZSC 20 [30 March 2026] (PDF, 354 KB)
Case name
R (SC 121/2024) v The King
Case number
SC 121/2024
Summary
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
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
23 December 2024
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Case name
Mathew Raymond Charles Watson v The King
Case number
SC 125/2024
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.                                                          
28 March 2025
District Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
[2024] NZCA 576
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
WATSON v R [2025] NZSC 24 [28 March 2025] (PDF, 162 KB)
Case name
Jianzhong Cheng v The King
Case number
SC 126/2024
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
03 April 2025
District Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
[2024] NZCA 598
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
CHENG v R [2025] NZSC 26 [3 April 2025] (PDF, 162 KB)
Case name
Kea Investments Limited v Kenneth David Wikeley, Wikeley Family Trustee Limited (in interm liquidation), Eric John Watson, Wikeley Incorporated and USA Asset Holdings Incorporated
Case number
SC 127/2024
Summary

Civil Appeal 
Result

A    Kea Investments Ltd’s application for leave to appeal is granted (Wikeley v Kea Investments Ltd [2024] NZCA 609, [2024] 3 NZLR 901).
B    The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to discharge the permanent anti-suit and anti-enforcement injunctions awarded to Kea Investments Ltd in the High Court.
C    Counsel to assist the Court will be appointed by the Registrar.
D    The applications to adduce further evidence are dismissed.
E    The application to extend the stay in Wikeley v Kea Investments Ltd [2024] NZCA 686, (2024) 26 PRNZ 667 is granted pending determination of the appeal. 
 4 July 2025
_______________________________________
A The application for adjournment is dismissed.
B Costs are reserved.                                                                                
30 September 2025
_______________________________________

A The appeal from the decision of the Court of Appeal in Wikeley v Kea Investments Ltd [2024] NZCA 609, [2024] 3 NZLR 901 is allowed.
B The orders made by the High Court in Kea Investments Ltd v Wikeley Family Trustee Ltd (in interim liq) [2023] NZHC 3260 at [156(a)(i) - (iv)], and in Kea Investments Ltd v Wikeley Family Trustee Ltd (in interim liq) [2023] NZHC 3532 at [7], are reinstated.
C Costs are reserved. 
10 November 2025
Date of hearing
05 November 2025 - 06 November 2025
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, Williams, Kós and Miller JJ
Submissions from counsel
Transcripts
Case Synopses
High Court decision
KEA INVESTMENTS LTD v WIKELEY FAMILY TRUSTEE LTD (IN INTERIM LIQUIDATION) [2023] NZHC 3260 [17 November 2023]
Court of Appeal decision
WIKELEY v KEA INVESTMENTS LIMITED [2024] NZCA 609 [21 November 2024]
Leave judgment - leave granted
KEA INVESTMENTS LTD v WIKELEY [2025] NZSC 75 [4 July 2025] (PDF, 182 KB)
Supreme court decision
Application for adjournment - KEA INVESTMENTS LIMITED v WIKELEY [2025] NZSC 130 [30 September 2025] (PDF, 142 KB)
Substantive judgment
KEA INVESTMENTS LIMITED v WIKELEY [2025] NZSC 156 [10 November 2025] (PDF, 183 KB)
Videos
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