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.
22 September 2026
Case information summary (as at 18 September 2026) – Cases where leave granted (PDF, 112 KB)
Case information summary (as at 18 September 2026) – Currently unavailable
All years
Case name
G (SC 50/2023) v Commissioner of Police, Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections and District Court at Wellington
Case number
SC 50/2023
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 costs of $2,500.
14 September 2023
B The applicant must pay the first and second respondents costs of $2,500.
14 September 2023
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
L (SC 71/2023) v Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections
Case number
SC 71/2023
Summary
Order prohibiting publication of the judgment and any part of the proceedings (including the result) in news media or on the internet or other publicly available database until final disposition of trial. publication in law report or law digest permitted.
Result
Order prohibiting publication of the judgment and any part of the proceedings (including the result) in news media or on the internet or other publicly available database until final disposition of trial. publication in law report or law digest permitted.
16 August 2022
16 August 2022
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Case name
W v Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections
Case number
SC 85/2023
Summary
Order prohibiting publication of the judgment and any part of the proceedings (including the result) in news media or on the internet or other publicly available database until final disposition of trial. Publication in law report or law digest permitted.
Result
Order prohibiting publication of the judgment and any part of the proceedings (including the result) in news media or on the internet or other publicly available database until final disposition of trial. Publication in law report or law digest permitted.
5 October 2022
5 October 2022
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Case name
Tommy Apera Pori v Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections
Case number
SC 108/2023
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.
5 March 2024
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
5 March 2024
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
S v Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections
Case number
SC 109/2023
Summary
Order prohibiting publication of the judgment and any part of the proceedings (including the result) in news media or on the internet or other publicly available database until final disposition of trial. Publication in law report or law digest permitted.
Result
Order prohibiting publication of the judgment and any part of the proceedings (including the result) in news media or on the internet or other publicly available database until final disposition of trial. Publication in law report or law digest permitted.
14 May 2024
____________________________________________________________________
Order prohibiting publication of the judgment and any part of the proceedings (including the result) in news media or on the internet or other publicly available database until final disposition of trial remains in force. Publication in law report or law digest permitted. 8 November 2024
14 May 2024
____________________________________________________________________
Order prohibiting publication of the judgment and any part of the proceedings (including the result) in news media or on the internet or other publicly available database until final disposition of trial remains in force. Publication in law report or law digest permitted. 8 November 2024
Date of hearing
15 August 2024
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, Ellen France, Williams and Kós JJ
District Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Case name
Razdan Rafiq v Chief Executive for the Department of Internal Affairs and Minister of Internal Affairs
Case number
SC 115/2023
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 one set of costs of $2,500.
19 April 2024
________________________________________________________________________
A The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 19 April 2024 (Rafiq v Chief Executive for the Department of Internal Affairs [2024] NZSC 36) is dismissed.
B There is no order as to costs.
17 June 2024
B The applicant must pay the respondents one set of costs of $2,500.
19 April 2024
________________________________________________________________________
A The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 19 April 2024 (Rafiq v Chief Executive for the Department of Internal Affairs [2024] NZSC 36) is dismissed.
B There is no order as to costs.
17 June 2024
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Recall judgment
Case name
Damin Peter Cook v The King
Case number
SC 120/2023
Summary
Criminal 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 granted (Cook v R [2023] NZCA 342).
C The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to treat Mr Cook’s defence as insane automatism.
19 February 2024
_______________________________________________________________________
The appeal is dismissed.
28 April 2025
Date of hearing
23 July 2024
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, Williams, Kós and O'Regan JJ
Submissions from counsel
- Hearing 23 and 24 July 2024 Appellant submissions (PDF, 359 KB)
- Hearing 23 and 24 July 2024 Respondent submissions (PDF, 1015 KB)
Transcripts
- Hearing date 23 July 2024 Transcript (PDF, 560 KB)
Case Synopses
- Hearing date 23 and 24 July 2024 Case Synopsis (PDF, 470 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2025] NZSC 44 (PDF, 285 KB)
Substantive judgment
COOK v R [2025] NZSC 44 [28 April 2025] (PDF, 582 KB)
District Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
DAMIN PETER COOK v R [2024] NZSC 12 [19 February 2024] (PDF, 136 KB)
Videos
- SC 120/2023 Damin Peter Cook v The King (Recorded, 23 July 2024)
Case name
Abdullah Robert Boyd v Australian Federal Police, New South Wales Legal Aid, New Zealand Defence Force, New Zealand Police, Attorney-General, Office of the Inspectorate, Canterbury Intelligence Team and Ministry of Health
Case number
SC 134/2023
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
7 February 2024
7 February 2024
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Basil Steven Mist v Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections
Case number
SC 135/2023
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
5 March 2024
5 March 2024
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
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
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