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.

17 August 2026

Case information summary (as at 17 August 2026) –  Cases where leave granted (PDF, 87 KB)
Case information summary (as at 17 August 2026)  – Cases where leave to appeal decision not yet made (PDF, 128 KB) 

All years

Case name
Miles John McKelvy v United States of America and District Court at Auckland
Case number
SC 155/2025
Summary

Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal

Result

The applications for leave to appeal are dismissed.
5 May 2026

Case name
H (SC 1/2024) v The King
Case number
SC 1/2024
Summary

Criminal Appeal

Result

A The application for leave to appeal by H is granted ([H] v R [2023] NZCA 633).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeals in both CA169/2023 and CA170/2023.
C We make an interim order continuing suppression of the applicant’s name, address, occupation and identifying particulars pending further order of this Court.
15 April 2024
_____________________________________________________________

A The appeal against conviction is allowed and a discharge without conviction is substituted.
B We make an order prohibiting publication of the name, address, occupation and identifying particulars of the appellant.                                                  
10 June 2025

Date of hearing
19 August 2024
Judges
Glazebrook, Ellen France, Williams, Kós and Miller JJ | Venue: Auckland High Court Courtroom 11
Case Synopses
Media Releases
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
Case name
J, Compulsory Care Recipient, by his Welfare Guardian, T v Attorney-General, District Court at Manukau, Family Court at Manukau, Care Co-ordinator and Care Manager
Case number
SC 10/2024
Summary

Civil Appeal

Result

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
__________________________________________________

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

Date of hearing
20 August 2024 - 21 August 2024
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Ellen France, Williams, Kós and Miller JJ | Venue: Auckland High Court Courtroom 11
Case name
J, Compulsory Care Recipient, by his Welfare Guardian, T v Care Co-ordinator
Case number
SC 11/2024
Summary

Civil Appeal

Result

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
_______________________________________

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

Date of hearing
20 August 2024 - 21 August 2024
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Ellen France, Williams, Kós and Miller JJ | Venue: Auckland High Court Courtroom 11
Case name
Haydn Campbell Nicholas Hill v Te Whatu Ora: Te Whetu Tawera Mental Health Services Auckland, Police Crown Representative and Robyn Lisa Ropati
Case number
SC 39/2024
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 first and second respondents one set of costs of $2,500.
1 August 2024
Case name
Louise Buchanan, Keith Marshall and Alistair Donald as trustees of the Buchanan Marshall Family Trust v Tasman District Council
Case number
SC 49/2024
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Tasman District Council v Louise Buchanan, Keith Marshall and Alistair Donald as Trustees of the Buchanan Marshall Family Trust [2024] NZCA 133).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to hold that there was no duty of care owed by the respondent to the appellants while carrying out and making statements in relation to pool inspections under the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987.
20 August 2024
____________________________
A notice of abandonment having been filed, the appeal is abandoned.
06 March 2025
Case name
The Trustees of the Motiti Rohe Moana Trust and Te Maru o Ngāti Rangiwewehi v Bay of Plenty Regional Council
Case number
SC 51/2024
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicants must pay the respondent one set of costs of $2,500.
27 August 2024
Case name
Michael (Maxien) Stevens v Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections and Prison Director at Auckland South Corrections Facility
Case number
SC 54/2024
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B There is no order as to costs.
1 October 2024
Case name
Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Authority v Shirley Waru and Auckland Council
Case number
SC 58/2024
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 first respondent costs of $2,500.
24 September 2024
Case name
Whangarei District Council v Malcolm James Daisley
Case number
SC 59/2024
Summary

Civil Appeal

Result

A The applications for leave to appeal and cross-appeal are granted (Whangarei District Council v Daisley [2024] NZCA 161).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to (1) dismiss the appeal against the High Court’s finding that the applicant was liable in negligence; and (2) allow the appeal against the High Court’s finding that the applicant was liable for misfeasance in public office, for which it should pay exemplary damages.
25 September 2024
__________________________________________________________________________

A The appeal is allowed in part. The finding that the appellant fraudulently concealed the respondent’s right of action is set aside.
B The appeal in respect of the award of damages of $90,000 for loss of the value of the Knight Road property, and interest on that sum in the terms set out by the High Court, is dismissed.
C The damages awarded to the respondent are otherwise set aside.
D The cross-appeal is dismissed.
E The respondent must pay the appellant costs of $45,000 plus usual disbursements. We allow for second counsel.     
4 June 2026

Date of hearing
18 March 2024 - 19 March 2024
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, Ellen France, Kós and O'Regan JJ