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
James Dillon Stevens v The King
Case number
SC 73/2022
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
18 October 2022
18 October 2022
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Jeremy James McGuire v Secretary for Justice
Case number
SC 4/2021
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 respondent costs of $2,500.
18 March 2021
B The applicant must pay the respondent costs of $2,500.
18 March 2021
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Trevor James Murray v West Coast Holdings Limited
Case number
SC 13/2021
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 There is no order as to costs.
3 June 2021
__________________________________________________________
A The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 3 June 2021 (Murray v West Coast Holdings Ltd [2021] NZSC 55) is dismissed.
B There is no order as to costs.
9 September 2021
B There is no order as to costs.
3 June 2021
__________________________________________________________
A The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 3 June 2021 (Murray v West Coast Holdings Ltd [2021] NZSC 55) is dismissed.
B There is no order as to costs.
9 September 2021
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Recall judgment
Case name
Mark McKinney v New Zealand Police
Case number
SC 30/2021
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application to adduce evidence in support of the application is dismissed.
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
21 June 2021
_______________________________________________________
The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 21 June 2021 (McKinney v New Zealand Police [2021] NZSC 68) is dismissed.
25 March 2022
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
21 June 2021
_______________________________________________________
The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 21 June 2021 (McKinney v New Zealand Police [2021] NZSC 68) is dismissed.
25 March 2022
District Court decision
Not publicly available
High Court decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Recall judgment
Case name
Jamie Anthony Foster v The Queen
Case number
SC 40/2021
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
19 July 2021
_____________________________________________________
The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 19 July 2021
(Foster v R [2021] NZSC 90) as reissued on 12 August 2021 is dismissed.
7 October 2021
19 July 2021
_____________________________________________________
The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 19 July 2021
(Foster v R [2021] NZSC 90) as reissued on 12 August 2021 is dismissed.
7 October 2021
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
JAMIE ANTHONY FOSTER v R [2021] NZSC 90 [19 July 2021] (PDF, 184 KB)
Recall judgment
Case name
Peter Gomm, Jennifer Mary Shipley and Clive William Charles Tilby v Mainzeal Property and Construction Limited (in liquidation), Andrew James Bethell, Richard Ciliang Yan and Andrew McKay
Case number
SC 52/2021
Summary
Civil Appeal and Cross Appeal
Result
A The appeals by the directors are dismissed.
B The cross-appeal by the liquidators is allowed to the extent that in lieu of the remittal of the proceedings back to the High Court, we order the directors to contribute to the assets of Mainzeal $39.8 million together with interest at prescribed rates since 28 February 2013 with the liabilities of Dame Jennifer Shipley and Messrs Tilby and Gomm each limited to $6.6 million and interest.
C The directors are to pay costs in the sum of $65,000 together with reasonable disbursements.
25 August 2023
B The cross-appeal by the liquidators is allowed to the extent that in lieu of the remittal of the proceedings back to the High Court, we order the directors to contribute to the assets of Mainzeal $39.8 million together with interest at prescribed rates since 28 February 2013 with the liabilities of Dame Jennifer Shipley and Messrs Tilby and Gomm each limited to $6.6 million and interest.
C The directors are to pay costs in the sum of $65,000 together with reasonable disbursements.
25 August 2023
Date of hearing
07 March 2022
- 11 March 2022
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, William Young, Glazebrook, O'Regan and Ellen France JJ
Transcripts
- Hearing date 7 - 11 March 2022 (PDF, 2 MB)
Case Synopses
- Hearing Mon 7 March - Fri 11 March 2022 (PDF, 436 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2023] NZSC 113 (PDF, 342 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
Case name
Melco Property Holdings (NZ) Limited v Anthony John Hall
Case number
SC 64/2021
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Melco Property Holdings (NZ) 2012 Ltd v Hall [2021] NZCA 184).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
3 September 2021
________________________________________________________
A The application for leave to adduce new evidence (the email chain) is dismissed.
B The appeal is allowed. The decisions of the Court of Appeal and High Court refusing to sustain the caveat are set aside.
C Order made that caveat No. 11659182.1 lodged by Melco on 16 January 2020 over the title to the property at 5 Parliament Street, Lower Hutt (WN13A/124), not lapse.
D Costs are reserved.
06 May 2022
__________________________________________
A The respondent must pay the appellant costs in this Court of $22,500 plus usual disbursements.
B The costs award made in the Court of Appeal is quashed. The appellant is awarded costs in that Court on a band A basis together with usual disbursements.
C The appellant is awarded costs in the High Court on a 2B basis together with reasonable disbursements, to be fixed by the Registrar if necessary.
24 August 2022
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
3 September 2021
________________________________________________________
A The application for leave to adduce new evidence (the email chain) is dismissed.
B The appeal is allowed. The decisions of the Court of Appeal and High Court refusing to sustain the caveat are set aside.
C Order made that caveat No. 11659182.1 lodged by Melco on 16 January 2020 over the title to the property at 5 Parliament Street, Lower Hutt (WN13A/124), not lapse.
D Costs are reserved.
06 May 2022
__________________________________________
A The respondent must pay the appellant costs in this Court of $22,500 plus usual disbursements.
B The costs award made in the Court of Appeal is quashed. The appellant is awarded costs in that Court on a band A basis together with usual disbursements.
C The appellant is awarded costs in the High Court on a 2B basis together with reasonable disbursements, to be fixed by the Registrar if necessary.
24 August 2022
Date of hearing
23 February 2022
Judges
William Young, Glazebrook, O'Regan, Ellen France, Williams JJ
Transcripts
- Hearing date 23 February 2022 (PDF, 253 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2022] NZSC 60 (PDF, 232 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Supreme court decision
Supreme court decision
Supreme court decision
Case name
Mark Anthony Whittington v UDC Finance Limited
Case number
SC 92/2021
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
The application for a stay is dismissed.
27 August 2021
_______________________________________________________________
A The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 27 August 2021 (Whittington v UDC Finance Ltd [2021] NZSC 106) is dismissed.
B The application to adduce evidence is dismissed.
10 September 2021
_________________________________________________________________
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicant must pay the respondent costs of $2,500.
19 October 2021
_________________________________________________________________
A The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 27 August 2021 (Whittington v UDC Finance Ltd [2021] NZSC 106) is dismissed.
B The application for stay of the High Court’s order of 25 March 2021 (UDC Finance Ltd v Whittington [2021] NZHC 627) is dismissed.
C The applicant must pay the respondent costs of $2,500.
3 July 2024
27 August 2021
_______________________________________________________________
A The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 27 August 2021 (Whittington v UDC Finance Ltd [2021] NZSC 106) is dismissed.
B The application to adduce evidence is dismissed.
10 September 2021
_________________________________________________________________
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicant must pay the respondent costs of $2,500.
19 October 2021
_________________________________________________________________
A The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 27 August 2021 (Whittington v UDC Finance Ltd [2021] NZSC 106) is dismissed.
B The application for stay of the High Court’s order of 25 March 2021 (UDC Finance Ltd v Whittington [2021] NZHC 627) is dismissed.
C The applicant must pay the respondent costs of $2,500.
3 July 2024
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Supreme court decision
Recall judgment
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Recall judgment
Case name
Anthony Pratt Kaye and Morva Kaye v Norris Ward McKinnon
Case number
SC 125/2021
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 applicants must pay the respondent costs of $2,500.
3 December 2021
___________________________________________________________
A The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 3 December 2021 (Kaye v Norris Ward McKinnon [2021] NZSC 168) is dismissed.
B There is no order as to costs.
23 April 2024
___________________________________________________________
A The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 23 April 2024 (Kaye v Norris Ward McKinnon [2024] NZSC 39) is dismissed.
B There is no order as to costs.
C The Registrar is directed not to accept for filing any further documents from the applicants relating to this matter.
15 October 2024
B The applicants must pay the respondent costs of $2,500.
3 December 2021
___________________________________________________________
A The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 3 December 2021 (Kaye v Norris Ward McKinnon [2021] NZSC 168) is dismissed.
B There is no order as to costs.
23 April 2024
___________________________________________________________
A The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 23 April 2024 (Kaye v Norris Ward McKinnon [2024] NZSC 39) is dismissed.
B There is no order as to costs.
C The Registrar is directed not to accept for filing any further documents from the applicants relating to this matter.
15 October 2024
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Recall judgment
Recall judgment
Case name
Keanu Head, James Logie Wright, Samuel Gregory, Rebecca Langford, Ashleigh Crichton, Tamara Joan Evans, Dylan Crook and Wendy Kain v Chief Executive of the Inland Revenue Department and Madison Recruitment Limited
Case number
SC 131/2021
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 granted.
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
C The applicants must pay each respondent costs of $2,500.
2 March 2022
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
C The applicants must pay each respondent costs of $2,500.
2 March 2022
Employment Court decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Page 6 of 19