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.
19 June 2026
Case information summary (as at 19 June 2026) – Cases where leave granted (PDF, 89 KB)
Case information summary (as at 19 June 2026) – Cases where leave to appeal decision not yet made (PDF, 126 KB)
All years
Case name
Beca Carter Hollings & Ferner Limited v Wellington City Council
Case number
SC 11/2023
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Beca Carter Hollings & Ferner Limited v Wellington City Council [2022] NZCA 624).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was right to conclude that the Building Act longstop provisions do not apply to a contribution claim.
21 April 2024
_________________________________________________
A The appeal is dismissed.
B The claim by Wellington City Council against Beca Carter Hollings & Ferner Ltd is not time-barred.
C The appellant must pay the respondent costs of $25,000 plus usual disbursements. We allow for second counsel. 18 September 2024
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was right to conclude that the Building Act longstop provisions do not apply to a contribution claim.
21 April 2024
_________________________________________________
A The appeal is dismissed.
B The claim by Wellington City Council against Beca Carter Hollings & Ferner Ltd is not time-barred.
C The appellant must pay the respondent costs of $25,000 plus usual disbursements. We allow for second counsel. 18 September 2024
Date of hearing
18 October 2023
Judges
Glazebrook, O’Regan, Ellen France, Williams and Kós JJ
Submissions from counsel
- Hearing date 18 October 2023 Appellant submissions (PDF, 1.2 MB)
- Hearing date 18 October 2023 Appellant Roadmap (PDF, 150 KB)
- Hearing date 18 October 2023 Respondent submissions (PDF, 1.1 MB)
Transcripts
Case Synopses
- Hearing date 18 October 2023 Case Synopsis (PDF, 380 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2024] NZSC 117 (PDF, 275 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
Videos
- SC 11 2023 Beca Carter Hollings & Ferner Ltd v Wellington City Council (Recorded, 18 October 2023)
Case name
Solicitor-General's Reference (No 1 of 2023) from CA636/2021 ([2022] NZCA 504)
Case number
SC 12/2023
Summary
Solicitor-General's Reference
Result
A We grant leave to the Solicitor-General to refer the following question of law (arising from Darling v R [2022] NZCA 504) to this Court under s 317 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011: On the facts as set out in the Court of Appeal decision and the relevant documents on which guilty pleas were entered, did Mr Anderson’s acquittal mean that Mr Darling could not, in law, have been convicted of the offence with which he was charged, despite his guilty plea?
B We appoint Ms Guy Kidd KC as counsel to assist the Court under s 318(3)(a) of the Criminal Procedure Act.
6 April 2023
__________________________________________________________
The question of law (arising from Darling v R [2022] NZCA 504) referred to this Court being whether Mr Anderson’s acquittal meant that Mr Darling could not, in law, have been convicted of the offence with which he was charged, despite his guilty plea, is answered “No”.
17 November 2023
B We appoint Ms Guy Kidd KC as counsel to assist the Court under s 318(3)(a) of the Criminal Procedure Act.
6 April 2023
__________________________________________________________
The question of law (arising from Darling v R [2022] NZCA 504) referred to this Court being whether Mr Anderson’s acquittal meant that Mr Darling could not, in law, have been convicted of the offence with which he was charged, despite his guilty plea, is answered “No”.
17 November 2023
Date of hearing
16 August 2023
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, O’Regan, Ellen France, Williams and Kós JJ; Venue: Auckland Environment Court, Courtroom 2, 41 Federal Street, Auckland
Submissions from counsel
- Hearing date 16 August 2023 Counsel to assist submissions (PDF, 408 KB)
- Hearing date 16 August 2023 Solicitor Generals submissions (PDF, 478 KB)
Transcripts
- Hearing date 16 August 2023 (PDF, 432 KB)
Case Synopses
- Hearing date 16 August 2023 (PDF, 353 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2023] NZSC 151 (PDF, 310 KB)
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
Videos
- SC 12/2023 Solicitor-General's Reference (No 1 of 2023) from CA636/2021 ([2022] NZCA 504) (Recorded, 16 August 2023)
Case name
Joshua Pera Van Silfhout v Udaya Lakshman Agas Pathirannehelage
Case number
SC 21/2023
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Van Silfhout v Pathirannehelage [2023] NZCA 5).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct in its interpretation of s 64(1) of the Prisoners’ and Victims’ Claims Act 2005 which suspends the limitation period for a victim of an offence making a claim under that Act while the offender is “serving a sentence of imprisonment” and, in particular, in concluding that time spent in pre-sentence detention counts to extend the period of suspension.
4 May 2023
_________________________________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed.
B The award of $5,000 to the respondent made by the Victims’ Special Claims Tribunal is set aside.
6 November 2023
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct in its interpretation of s 64(1) of the Prisoners’ and Victims’ Claims Act 2005 which suspends the limitation period for a victim of an offence making a claim under that Act while the offender is “serving a sentence of imprisonment” and, in particular, in concluding that time spent in pre-sentence detention counts to extend the period of suspension.
4 May 2023
_________________________________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed.
B The award of $5,000 to the respondent made by the Victims’ Special Claims Tribunal is set aside.
6 November 2023
Date of hearing
18 July 2023
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, O’Regan, Ellen France, Williams and Kós JJ
Submissions from counsel
- Hearing date 18 July 2023 Appellant's Submissions (PDF, 268 KB)
- Hearing date 18 July 2023 Secretary for Justice's Submissions (PDF, 1021 KB)
- Hearing date 18 July 2023 Joint Chronology (PDF, 68 KB)
Transcripts
- Hearing date 18 July Transcript (PDF, 449 KB)
Case Synopses
- Hearing date 18 July 2023 SC 21_2023 (PDF, 310 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2023] NZSC 148 (PDF, 396 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
Videos
- Joshua Pera Van Silfhout v Udaya Lakshman Agas Pathirannehelage (Recorded, 18 July 2023)
Case name
Elizabeth Maria Bolea v The King
Case number
SC 25/2023
Summary
Criminal Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Bolea v R [2023] NZCA 39).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
22 June 2023
__________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed.
B The conviction for participating in an organised criminal group is quashed.
C The application for a discharge without conviction is remitted to the High Court for reconsideration.
3 May 2024
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
22 June 2023
__________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed.
B The conviction for participating in an organised criminal group is quashed.
C The application for a discharge without conviction is remitted to the High Court for reconsideration.
3 May 2024
Date of hearing
31 October 2023
Judges
Glazebrook, O'Regan, Ellen France, Williams and Kós JJ
Submissions from counsel
- Hearing date 31 October 2023 Appellant submissions (PDF, 2.4 MB)
- Hearing date 31 October 2023 Respondent submissions (PDF, 401 KB)
- Hearing date 31 October 2023 Respondent Oral Outline (PDF, 157 KB)
- Hearing date 31 October 2023 Appellant Oral Outline (PDF, 204 KB)
Transcripts
- Hearing date 31 October 2023 SC 25_2023 (PDF, 442 KB)
Case Synopses
- Hearing date 31 October 2023 (PDF, 444 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2024] NZSC 46 (PDF, 539 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
ELIZABETH MARIA BOLEA v R [2023] NZSC 72 [22 June 2023] (PDF, 130 KB)
Substantive judgment
ELIZABETH MARIA BOLEA v R [2024] NZSC 46 [3 May 2024] (PDF, 301 KB)
Case name
Raewyn Phyllis Cooper v Marcus Robert William Pinney
Case number
SC 32/2023
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Cooper v Pinney [2023] NZCA 62).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the applicant’s appeal to that Court.
3 July 2023
_______________________________
A The appeal is dismissed.
B Costs are reserved.
20 December 2024
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the applicant’s appeal to that Court.
3 July 2023
_______________________________
A The appeal is dismissed.
B Costs are reserved.
20 December 2024
Date of hearing
01 November 2023
- 02 November 2023
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, Ellen France, Williams and Kós JJ
Submissions from counsel
- Hearing 1 and 2 November 2023 Appellant Submissions (PDF, 451 KB)
- Hearing 1 and 2 Nov 2023 Appellant Chronology (PDF, 199 KB)
- Hearing 1 and 2 November 2023 Appellant oral outline (PDF, 167 KB)
- Hearing 1 and 2 November 2023 Respondent Submissions (PDF, 1 MB)
- Hearing 1 and 2 November 2023 Respondent Oral Outline (PDF, 246 KB)
- Hearing 1 and 2 November 2023 Interested Party Submissions (PDF, 292 KB)
- Hearing 1 and 2 November 2023 Interested Party Oral Outline (PDF, 358 KB)
Transcripts
- Hearing date 1 - 2 November 2023 Transcript (PDF, 1 MB)
Case Synopses
- Hearing date 1 and 2 November 2023 (PDF, 452 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2024] NZSC 181 (PDF, 310 KB)
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
COOPER v PINNEY [2024] NZSC 181 [20 December 2024] (PDF, 582 KB)
Videos
- SC 32/2023 Raewyn Phyllis Cooper v Marcus Robert William Pinney (Recorded, 2 November 2023)
- SC 32/2023 Raewyn Phyllis Cooper v Marcus Robert William Pinney (Recorded, 1 November 2023)
Case name
David Charles Rae v Commissioner of Police
Case number
SC 33/2023
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal against the Court of Appeal’s recall judgment (Rae v Commissioner of Police [2023] NZCA 38) is dismissed.
B The application for an extension of time to apply for leave to appeal against the Court of Appeal’s substantive judgment (Rae v Commissioner of Police [2023] NZCA 4) is granted.
C Leave to appeal is granted.
D The appeal is dismissed.
E There is no order as to costs.
30 November 2023
B The application for an extension of time to apply for leave to appeal against the Court of Appeal’s substantive judgment (Rae v Commissioner of Police [2023] NZCA 4) is granted.
C Leave to appeal is granted.
D The appeal is dismissed.
E There is no order as to costs.
30 November 2023
Date of hearing
12 October 2023
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, O'Regan, Williams and Kós JJ
Submissions from counsel
- Hearing date 12 October 2023 Applicant submissions (PDF, 1 MB)
- Hearing date 12 October 2023 Respondent submissions (PDF, 554 KB)
- Hearing date 12 October 2023 Counsel to Assist Submissions (PDF, 238 KB)
Transcripts
- Hearing date 12 October 2023 Trans 15 (PDF, 357 KB)
Case Synopses
- Hearing date 12 October 2023 Case Synopsis (PDF, 469 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2023] NZSC 156 (PDF, 325 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Court of Appeal decision
Supreme court decision
Videos
- SC 33/2023 David Charles Rae v Commissioner of New Zealand Police (Recorded, 12 October 2023)
Case name
Philip William Routhan and Julie Veronica Routhan as Trustees of the Kaniere Family Trust v PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited
Case number
SC 45/2023
Summary
Civil Appeal and Cross-Appeal
Result
A The application for an extension of time to apply for leave to cross-appeal is granted.
B Leave to appeal and cross-appeal is granted in part (PGG Wrightson Real Estate Ltd v Routhan [2023] NZCA 123).
C The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct in varying the damages awarded in the High Court.
D The applications for leave to appeal and cross-appeal are otherwise dismissed.
22 September 2023
____________________________________________________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed. We fix damages payable by the respondent at $780,500, with interest as specified at [234].
B The cross-appeal is dismissed.
C The respondent must pay the appellants one set of costs of $50,000 plus usual disbursements. We allow for second counsel.
26 June 2025
Date of hearing
11 March 2024
- 12 March 2024
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, Ellen France, Kós and Miller JJ | Venue: Christchurch High Court Courtroom 12
Submissions from counsel
- Hearing 11 and 12 March 2024 Appellant submissions (PDF, 12 MB)
- Hearing 11 and 12 March 2024 Respondent submissions (PDF, 1.5 MB)
- Hearing 11 and 12 March 2024 Cross Appellant submissions (PDF, 221 KB)
- Hearing 11 and 12 March 2024 Cross Respondent submissions (PDF, 354 KB)
- Hearing 11 and 12 March 2024 Joint Chronology (PDF, 258 KB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 March 2024 Appellant oral outline (PDF, 934 KB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 March 2024 Cross Respondent oral outline (PDF, 174 KB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 March 2024 Respondent oral outline (PDF, 258 KB)
Transcripts
- Hearing 11-12 March 2024 (PDF, 1016 KB)
Case Synopses
- Hearing date 11 and 12 March 2024 SC 45/2023 (PDF, 450 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2025] NZSC 68 (PDF, 292 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
Videos
- SC 45/2023 Philip William Routhan and Julie Veronica Routhan as Trustees of the Kaniere Family Trust v PGG Wrightson Real Estate Ltd (Recorded, 12 March 2024)
- SC 45/2023 Philip William Routhan and Julie Veronica Routhan as Trustees of the Kaniere Family Trust v PGG Wrightson Real Estate Ltd (Recorded, 11 March 2024)
Case name
Catherine Anne Sixtus v Jacinda Ardern, Kris Faafoi, Andrew Little and Ashley Bloomfield
Case number
SC 49/2023
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Result
A The application for an extension of time to apply for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicant must pay the respondents one set of costs of $1,000. 12 July 2023
B The applicant must pay the respondents one set of costs of $1,000. 12 July 2023
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
W (SC 60/2023) v The King
Case number
SC 60/2023
Summary
Criminal Appeal
Result
A Mr Hoggart’s application for an extension of time to apply for leave to appeal is granted.
B The applications for leave to appeal are granted in part ([W] v R [2023] NZCA 155). The approved questions are:
1 Whether the Court of Appeal was correct to conclude that a media take down order was not required in the circumstances of this case.
2 Whether the Court of Appeal was correct to conclude that the verdicts were not unreasonable in light of admissible evidence relating to the potential culpability of Lester Hamilton (deceased).
C The applications for leave to appeal are otherwise dismissed.
D Interim order suppressing the name of W and any identifying particulars made on 9 June 2023 is to continue until further order.
12 December 2023
B The applications for leave to appeal are granted in part ([W] v R [2023] NZCA 155). The approved questions are:
1 Whether the Court of Appeal was correct to conclude that a media take down order was not required in the circumstances of this case.
2 Whether the Court of Appeal was correct to conclude that the verdicts were not unreasonable in light of admissible evidence relating to the potential culpability of Lester Hamilton (deceased).
C The applications for leave to appeal are otherwise dismissed.
D Interim order suppressing the name of W and any identifying particulars made on 9 June 2023 is to continue until further order.
12 December 2023
Date of hearing
06 August 2024
- 07 August 2024
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, Williams, Kós and Miller JJ
Case Synopses
- Hearing date 6_7 August 2024 (PDF, 490 KB)
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave granted
Case name
Damien Shane Kuru v The King
Case number
SC 61/2023
Summary
Criminal Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Kuru v R [2023] NZCA 150).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
10 August 2023
__________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed.
B The appellant’s conviction is set aside.
C Order under ss 233(3)(a) and 241(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 that a judgment of acquittal be entered.
20 December 2024
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
10 August 2023
__________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed.
B The appellant’s conviction is set aside.
C Order under ss 233(3)(a) and 241(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 that a judgment of acquittal be entered.
20 December 2024
Date of hearing
04 March 2024
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, Ellen France, Williams and Kós JJ
Submissions from counsel
- Hearing date 4 March 2024 Appellant submissions (PDF, 579 KB)
- Hearing date 4 March 2024 Respondent submissions (PDF, 1.6 MB)
Transcripts
- Hearing date 4 March 2024 transcript (PDF, 614 KB)
Case Synopses
- Hearing date 4 March 2024 SC 61/2023 (PDF, 454 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2024] NZSC 184 (PDF, 305 KB)
Leave judgment - leave granted
DAMIEN SHANE KURU v R [2023] NZSC 102 [10 August 2023] (PDF, 156 KB)
Substantive judgment
KURU v R [2024] NZSC 184 [20 December 2024] (PDF, 829 KB)
Videos
- SC 61/2023 Kuru v The King (Recorded, 4 March 2024)
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