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
Port Otago Limited v Environmental Defence Society Incorporated, Otago Regional Council, Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand Incorporated and Marlborough District Council
Case number
SC 6/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Port Otago Ltd v Environmental Defence Society Inc [2021] NZCA 638).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
17 March 2022
______________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed.
B The order remitting the matter to the Environment Court is set aside.
C The Otago Regional Council is directed to consult the parties and any other persons it considers appropriate on a redrafted policy 4.3.7(d)–(e) in the proposed Otago Regional Policy Statement either:
(a) along the lines in paragraph [87] of this judgment or to similar effect; or
(b) otherwise to give appropriate effect to the policies of the NZCPS and their inter-relationships.
D Costs are reserved.
24 August 2023
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
17 March 2022
______________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed.
B The order remitting the matter to the Environment Court is set aside.
C The Otago Regional Council is directed to consult the parties and any other persons it considers appropriate on a redrafted policy 4.3.7(d)–(e) in the proposed Otago Regional Policy Statement either:
(a) along the lines in paragraph [87] of this judgment or to similar effect; or
(b) otherwise to give appropriate effect to the policies of the NZCPS and their inter-relationships.
D Costs are reserved.
24 August 2023
Date of hearing
11 May 2022
- 12 May 2022
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, William Young, Glazebrook, Ellen France and Williams JJ
Submissions from counsel
- Hearing date 11 and 12 May 2022 Appellant Port Otago submissions (PDF, 7.5 MB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 May 2022 Appellant Port Otago oral outline (PDF, 747 KB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 May 2022 First Respondent EDS submissions (PDF, 861 KB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 May 2022 Second Respondent ORC submissions (PDF, 335 KB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 May 2022 Second Respondent ORC oral outline (PDF, 693 KB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 May 2022 Third Respondent FB submissions (PDF, 855 KB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 May 2022 Fourth Respondent MDC submissions (PDF, 998 KB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 May 2022 Interested Party FB submissions (PDF, 671 KB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 May 2022 Interested Party NZTA submissions (PDF, 997 KB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 May 2022 Interested Party NZTA oral outline (PDF, 1 MB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 May 2022 Interested Party Auckland Council submissions (PDF, 9.2 MB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 May 2022 Interested Party Mana Whenua Parties submissions (PDF, 815 KB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 May 2022 Interested Party Mana Whenua Parties oral outline (PDF, 650 KB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 May 2022 Interested Party Ngati Whatua Orakei submissions (PDF, 695 KB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 May 2022 Interested Party Ngati Whatua Orakei oral outline (PDF, 705 KB)
Transcripts
- Hearing 11 and 12 May 2022 (PDF, 867 KB)
Case Synopses
- Hearing date 11 and 12 May 2022 (PDF, 198 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2023] NZSC 112 (PDF, 326 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
Case name
Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Authority v Averil Rosemary Norman, Warwick Bruce Norman and Auckland City Council
Case number
SC 30/2022
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 respondents costs of $2,500.
27 June 2022
B The applicant must pay the first respondents costs of $2,500.
27 June 2022
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Keith Mervyn George Hunter v Auckland Council, Philip Martin Burley and ACL Trustees Limited
Case number
SC 59/2022
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 one set of costs of $2,500 to the respondents.
2 September 2022
B The applicant must pay one set of costs of $2,500 to the respondents.
2 September 2022
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
D Newton and L Newton v Family Court at Auckland, Robyn F Von Keisenburg and B Lake
Case number
SC 60/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The interim stay of the judgment of the Court of Appeal granted in [2022] NZSC 92 is discharged.
C Leave is reserved to file memoranda on costs before 4.00 pm 4 October 2022.
27 September 2022
___________________________________________
A The applicants must pay the Attorney-General costs of $7,500.
B The applicants must pay Ms Von Keisenberg costs of $2,500.
21 March 2023
B The interim stay of the judgment of the Court of Appeal granted in [2022] NZSC 92 is discharged.
C Leave is reserved to file memoranda on costs before 4.00 pm 4 October 2022.
27 September 2022
___________________________________________
A The applicants must pay the Attorney-General costs of $7,500.
B The applicants must pay Ms Von Keisenberg costs of $2,500.
21 March 2023
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Supreme court decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Supreme court decision
Case name
D Newton and L Newton v Family Court at Auckland and B Lake
Case number
SC 62/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The interim stay of the judgment of the Court of Appeal granted in [2022] NZSC 92 is discharged.
C Leave is reserved to file memoranda on costs before 4.00 pm 4 October 2022.
27 September 2022
_____________________________________________________
A The applicants must pay the Attorney-General costs of $7,500.
B The applicants must pay Ms Von Keisenberg costs of $2,500.
21 March 2023
B The interim stay of the judgment of the Court of Appeal granted in [2022] NZSC 92 is discharged.
C Leave is reserved to file memoranda on costs before 4.00 pm 4 October 2022.
27 September 2022
_____________________________________________________
A The applicants must pay the Attorney-General costs of $7,500.
B The applicants must pay Ms Von Keisenberg costs of $2,500.
21 March 2023
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Supreme court decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Supreme court decision
Case name
Lee Vandervis v Dunedin City Council and David Benham
Case number
SC 63/2022
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 respondents (collectively) costs of $2,500.
16 September 2022
B The applicant must pay the respondents (collectively) costs of $2,500.
16 September 2022
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Cloud Ocean Water Limited v Aotearoa Water Action Incorporated, Canterbury Regional Council and Southridge Holdings Limited
Case number
SC 82/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Aotearoa Water Action Inc v Canterbury Regional Council [2022] NZCA 325).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to allow the appeal.
17 November 2022
________________________________________________
A The appeal is dismissed.
B The appellant must pay the first respondent costs of $35,000 plus usual disbursements.
C There is no order as to costs in favour of or against the second or third respondent or the Intervener.
20 November 2023
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to allow the appeal.
17 November 2022
________________________________________________
A The appeal is dismissed.
B The appellant must pay the first respondent costs of $35,000 plus usual disbursements.
C There is no order as to costs in favour of or against the second or third respondent or the Intervener.
20 November 2023
Date of hearing
22 March 2023
- 23 March 2023
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, O'Regan, Williams and French JJ | Venue: Christchurch High Court Courtroom 12
Submissions from counsel
- Hearing 22 and 23 March 2023 Appellant submissions (PDF, 435 KB)
- Hearing 22 and 23 March 2023 First Respondent Submissions (PDF, 445 KB)
- Hearing 22 and 23 March 2023 Second Respondent Submissions (PDF, 174 KB)
- Hearing 22 and 23 March 2023 Third Respondent Submissions (PDF, 346 KB)
- Hearing 22 and 22 March 2023 Intervener Submissions (PDF, 333 KB)
Transcripts
- Hearing date 22 - 23 March 2023 (PDF, 948 KB)
Case Synopses
- Hearing date 22 March and 23 March 2023 (PDF, 699 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2023] NZSC 153 (PDF, 297 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
Videos
- Cloud Ocean Water Limited v Aotearoa Water Action Incorporated, Canterbury Regional Council and Rapaki Natural Resources Limited SC 82/2022 - 23 March 2023 (Recorded, 23 March 2023)
- Cloud Ocean Water Limited v Aotearoa Water Action Incorporated, Canterbury Regional Council and Rapaki Natural Resources Limited SC 82/2022 - 22 March 2023 (Recorded, 22 March 2023)
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 83/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal in SC 83/2022 is dismissed.
B The application for leave to appeal in SC 87/2022 is dismissed.
C The applicants must pay the respondent one set of costs of $2,500.
13 December 2022
B The application for leave to appeal in SC 87/2022 is dismissed.
C The applicants must pay the respondent one set of costs of $2,500.
13 December 2022
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
The Trustees of the Motiti Rohe Moana Trust v Bay of Plenty Regional Council
Case number
SC 87/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal in SC 83/2022 is dismissed.
B The application for leave to appeal in SC 87/2022 is dismissed.
C The applicants must pay the respondent one set of costs of $2,500.
13 December 2022
B The application for leave to appeal in SC 87/2022 is dismissed.
C The applicants must pay the respondent one set of costs of $2,500.
13 December 2022
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
P (SC 91/2022) v High Court at Auckland, Court of Appeal, Commissioner of Inland Revenue and Attorney-General
Case number
SC 91/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring a civil appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicant must pay one set of costs of $2,500 to the third and fourth respondents.
22 November 2022
B The applicant must pay one set of costs of $2,500 to the third and fourth respondents.
22 November 2022
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
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