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
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
The applications for leave to appeal are dismissed.
5 May 2026
Criminal Appeal
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
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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
- Hearing date 19 August 2024 Case Synopsis (PDF, 464 KB)
- MR [2025] NZSC 62 (PDF, 281 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 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)
B The applicant must pay the first and second respondents one set of costs of $2,500.
1 August 2024
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
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A notice of abandonment having been filed, the appeal is abandoned.
06 March 2025
- Hearing date 11_12 March 2025 (PDF, 369 KB)
B The applicants must pay the respondent one set of costs of $2,500.
27 August 2024
B There is no order as to costs.
1 October 2024
B The applicant must pay the first respondent costs of $2,500.
24 September 2024
Civil Appeal
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
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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
- Hearing date 18 March 2025 Appellant submissions (PDF, 2.3 MB)
- Hearing date 18 March 2025 Respondent Submissions (PDF, 295 KB)
- Hearing date 18 March 2025 Cross Appellants submissions (PDF, 232 KB)
- Hearing date 18 March 2025 Cross Respondent submissions (PDF, 1.6 MB)
- Hearing date 18 March 2025 Appellant submissions on Continuing Breach (PDF, 1.5 MB)
- Hearing date 18 March 2025 Appellant oral outline (PDF, 2.4 MB)
- Hearing date 18 March 2025 Respondent oral outline on appellant's appeal (PDF, 5.6 MB)
- Hearing date 18 March 2025 Respondent oral outline on Cross Appeal (PDF, 6.3 MB)
- Hearing date 18 19 March 2025 Transcript (PDF, 990 KB)
- Hearing date 18 19 March 2025 Case Synopsis (PDF, 461 KB)
- MR [2026] NZSC 72 (PDF, 305 KB)
- SC 59/2024 Whangarei District Council v Malcolm James Daisley (Recorded, 19 March 2025)
- SC 59/2024 Whangarei District Council v Malcolm James Daisley (Recorded, 18 March 2025)