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
G (SC 130/2024) v The King
Case number
SC 130/2024
Summary

Criminal Appeal
Result

A Leave to appeal is granted ([2024] NZCA 626).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal against sentence.
04 April 2025
________________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed.
B The proceeding is remitted to the District Court for resentencing.
C The applications to adduce further evidence and for name suppression are dismissed.
D Bail is granted on the terms currently applicable, as amended by this Court’s minute of 10 March 2026. Any application for variation to bail shall be addressed by the District Court.
Date of hearing
22 July 2025
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, Williams, Kós and Miller JJ
Case Synopses
Media Releases
District Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
[2024] NZCA 626
Supreme Court - order made
Suppression application - G (SC 130/2024) v R [2025] NZSC 80 [11 July 2025] (PDF, 117 KB)
Substantive judgment
G (SC 130/2024) v R [2026] NZSC 19 [24 March 2026] (PDF, 510 KB)
Case name
Sustainable Otakiri Incorporated v Whakatāne District Council and Otakiri Springs Limited
Case number
SC 1/2023
Summary

Civil Appeal
Result

A Subject to C, the applications for leave to appeal are granted (Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa v Bay of Plenty Regional Council [2022] NZCA 598).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeals.
C The application for leave to appeal on costs is dismissed (Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa v Bay of Plenty Regional Council [2022] NZCA 598).
D An extension of time to apply for leave to appeal is granted (Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa v Bay of Plenty Regional Council [2020] NZHC 3388).
E The application for leave to appeal is granted (Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa v Bay of Plenty Regional Council [2020] NZHC 3388).
F The approved question is whether the High Court erred in upholding the Environment Court’s decision in relation to the negative tikanga effects.
17 April 2023
______________________________
A Sustainable Otakiri Inc’s appeal is dismissed.
B Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa’s appeal is dismissed.
C Costs are reserved.
12 November 2025
Date of hearing
22 November 2023 - 24 November 2023
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, Ellen France, Williams and Kós JJ
Submissions from counsel
Transcripts
Case Synopses
Media Releases
High Court decision
TE RŪNANGA O NGĀTI AWA v BAY OF PLENTY REGIONAL COUNCIL [2020] NZHC 3388 [17 December 2020]
Court of Appeal decision
TE RŪNANGA O NGĀTI AWA & ORS v BAY OF PLENTY REGIONAL COUNCIL & ORS [2022] NZCA 598 [2 December 2022]
Leave judgment - leave granted
SUSTAINABLE OTAKIRI INCORPORATED v WHAKATĀNE DISTRICT COUNCIL [2023] NZSC 35 [17 April 2023] (PDF, 213 KB)
Substantive judgment
SUSTAINABLE OTAKIRI INCORPORATED v WHAKATĀNE DISTRICT COUNCIL [2025] NZSC 158 [12 November 2025] (PDF, 839 KB)
Videos
Case name
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa v Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Otakiri Springs Limited
Case number
SC 2/2023
Summary

Civil Appeal
Result

A Subject to C, the applications for leave to appeal are granted (Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa v Bay of Plenty Regional Council [2022] NZCA 598).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeals.
C The application for leave to appeal on costs is dismissed (Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa v Bay of Plenty Regional Council [2022] NZCA 598).
D An extension of time to apply for leave to appeal is granted (Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa v Bay of Plenty Regional Council [2020] NZHC 3388).
E The application for leave to appeal is granted (Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa v Bay of Plenty Regional Council [2020] NZHC 3388).
F The approved question is whether the High Court erred in upholding the Environment Court’s decision in relation to the negative tikanga effects.
17 April 2023
_______________________________
A Sustainable Otakiri Inc’s appeal is dismissed.
B Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa’s appeal is dismissed.
C Costs are reserved.
12 November 2025
Date of hearing
22 November 2023 - 24 November 2023
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, Ellen France, Williams and Kós JJ
Submissions from counsel
Case Synopses
Media Releases
High Court decision
TE RŪNANGA O NGĀTI AWA v BAY OF PLENTY REGIONAL COUNCIL [2020] NZHC 3388 [17 December 2020]
Court of Appeal decision
TE RŪNANGA O NGĀTI AWA & ORS v BAY OF PLENTY REGIONAL COUNCIL & ORS [2022] NZCA 598 [2 December 2022]
Leave judgment - leave granted
SUSTAINABLE OTAKIRI INCORPORATED v WHAKATĀNE DISTRICT COUNCIL [2023] NZSC 35 [17 April 2023 (PDF, 213 KB)
Substantive judgment
SUSTAINABLE OTAKIRI INCORPORATED v WHAKATĀNE DISTRICT COUNCIL [2025] NZSC 158 [12 November 2025] (PDF, 839 KB)
Videos
Case name
Ken Legler and Laila Sun Legler Klaui v Maria Guillaumina Cornelia Johanna Formannoij and Kaahu Trustee Limited
Case number
SC 8/2023
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Legler v Formannoij [2022] NZCA 607).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
4 May 2023
_______________________________________________
A The appeal is dismissed.
B The appellants must pay the respondents total costs of $25,000 plus usual disbursements.
18 December 2024
Date of hearing
10 October 2023
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, O'Regan, Williams and Miller JJ
Submissions from counsel
Transcripts
Case Synopses
Media Releases
High Court decision
LEGLER v FORMANNOIJ [2021] NZHC 1271 [2 June 2021
Court of Appeal decision
LEGLER v FORMANNOIJ [2022] NZCA 607 [7 December 2022
Leave judgment - leave granted
KEN LEGLER AND LAILA SUN LEGLER KLAUI v MARIA GUILLAUMINA CORNELIA JOHANNA FORMANNOIJ [2023] NZSC 46 [4 May 2023] (PDF, 32 KB)
Substantive judgment
LEGLER v FORMANNOIJ [2024] NZSC 173 [18 December 2024] (PDF, 563 KB)
Videos
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
Date of hearing
18 October 2023
Judges
Glazebrook, O’Regan, Ellen France, Williams and Kós JJ
Submissions from counsel
Transcripts
Case Synopses
Media Releases
High Court decision
BNZ BRANCH PROPERTIES LIMITED v WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL [2021] NZHC 1058 [12 May 2021]
Court of Appeal decision
BECA CARTER HOLLINGS & FERNER LIMITED v WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL [2022] NZCA 624 [14 December 2022]
Leave judgment - leave granted
BECA CARTER HOLLINGS & FERNER LIMITED v WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL [2023] NZSC 38 [21 April 2023] (PDF, 143 KB)
Substantive judgment
BECA CARTER HOLLINGS & FERNER LIMITED v WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL [2024] NZSC 117 [18 September 2024]] (PDF, 475 KB)
Videos
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
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
Transcripts
Case Synopses
Media Releases
Court of Appeal decision
DARLING v R [2022] NZCA 504 [21 October 2022]
Leave judgment - leave granted
SOLICITOR-GENERAL’S REFERENCE (NO 1 OF 2023) FROM CA636/2021 [2023] NZSC 30 [6 April 2023] (PDF, 33 KB)
Substantive judgment
SOLICITOR-GENERAL’S REFERENCE (NO 1 OF 2023) [2023] NZSC 151 [17 November 2023] (PDF, 287 KB)
Videos
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
Date of hearing
18 July 2023
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, O’Regan, Ellen France, Williams and Kós JJ
Submissions from counsel
Transcripts
Case Synopses
Media Releases
High Court decision
VAN SILFHOUT v PATHIRANNEHELAGE [2021] NZHC 2268 [31 August 2021]
Court of Appeal decision
VAN SILFHOUT v PATHIRANNEHELAGE [2023] NZCA 5 [8 February 2023]
Leave judgment - leave granted
JOSHUA PERA VAN SILFHOUT v UDAYA LAKSHMAN AGAS PATHIRANNEHELAGE [2023] NZSC 47 [4 May 2023] (PDF, 136 KB)
Substantive judgment
JOSHUA PERA VAN SILFHOUT v UDAYA LAKSHMAN AGAS [2023] NZSC 148 [6 November 2023] (PDF, 322 KB)
Videos
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
Date of hearing
31 October 2023
Judges
Glazebrook, O'Regan, Ellen France, Williams and Kós JJ
Submissions from counsel
Transcripts
Case Synopses
Media Releases
High Court decision
R v BOLEA [2022] NZHC 2998 [16 November 2022]
Court of Appeal decision
BOLEA v THE KING [2023] NZCA 39 [6 March 2023]
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
Date of hearing
01 November 2023 - 02 November 2023
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, Ellen France, Williams and Kós JJ
Submissions from counsel
Transcripts
Case Synopses
Media Releases
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
RAEWYN PHYLLIS COOPER v MARCUS ROBERT WILLIAM PINNEY [2023] NZCA 62 [13 March 2023]
Leave judgment - leave granted
RAEWYN PHYLLIS COOPER v MARCUS ROBERT WILLIAM PINNEY [2023] NZSC 80 [3 July 2023] (PDF, 158 KB)
Substantive judgment
COOPER v PINNEY [2024] NZSC 181 [20 December 2024] (PDF, 582 KB)
Videos
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
Date of hearing
12 October 2023
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, O'Regan, Williams and Kós JJ
Submissions from counsel
Transcripts
Case Synopses
Media Releases
High Court decision
THE COMMISSIONER, THE NEW ZEALAND POLICE v RAE [2020] NZHC 3132 [26 November 2020]
Court of Appeal decision
RAE v COMMISSIONER OF POLICE 2023 NZCA 4 [3 February 2023]
Court of Appeal decision
RAE v COMMISSIONER OF POLICE [2023] NZCA 38 [6 March 2023]
Supreme court decision
DAVID CHARLES RAE v COMMISSIONER OF POLICE [2023] NZSC 156 [30 November 2023 (PDF, 289 KB)
Videos
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