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
Philip William Routhan and Julie Veronica Routhan as Trustees of the Kaniere Family Trust v PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited
Case number
SC 45/2023
Summary

Civil Appeal and Cross-Appeal
Result

A The application for an extension of time to apply for leave to cross-appeal is granted.
B Leave to appeal and cross-appeal is granted in part (PGG Wrightson Real Estate Ltd v Routhan [2023] NZCA 123).
C The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct in varying the damages awarded in the High Court.
D The applications for leave to appeal and cross-appeal are otherwise dismissed.
22 September 2023
____________________________________________________________________________________________

A The appeal is allowed. We fix damages payable by the respondent at $780,500, with interest as specified at [234].
B The cross-appeal is dismissed.
C The respondent must pay the appellants one set of costs of $50,000 plus usual disbursements. We allow for second counsel.                                                          
26 June 2025
Date of hearing
11 March 2024 - 12 March 2024
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, Ellen France, Kós and Miller JJ | Venue: Christchurch High Court Courtroom 12
Submissions from counsel
Transcripts
Case Synopses
Media Releases
High Court decision
ROUTHAN v PGG WRIGHTSON REAL ESTATE LIMITED [2021] NZHC 3585 [21 December 2021]
Court of Appeal decision
PGG WRIGHTSON REAL ESTATE LTD v ROUTHAN [2023] NZCA 123 [24 April 2023]
Leave judgment - leave granted
ROUTHAN v PGG WRIGHTSON REAL ESTATE LIMITED [2023] NZSC 127 [22 September 2023] (PDF, 201 KB)
Substantive judgment
ROUTHAN AND ANOR AS TRUSTEES OF THE KANIERE FAMILY TRUST v PGG WRIGHTSON REAL ESTATE LIMITED [2025] NZSC 68 [26 June 2025] (PDF, 1017 KB)
Videos
Case name
Christopher Joseph O'Neill v Judicial Conduct Commissioner
Case number
SC 55/2023
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B There is no order as to costs. 21 July 2023
High Court decision
O’NEILL v RITCHIE [2022] NZHC 1225 [30 May 2022]
Court of Appeal decision
[2023] NZCA 152
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
CHRISTOPHER JOSEPH O’NEILL v JUDICIAL CONDUCT COMMISSIONER [2023] NZSC 88 [21 July 2023] (PDF, 143 KB)
Case name
Christopher Joseph O'Neill v Judiciary of Auckland High Court, Registry of Auckland High Court and persons as yet unknown
Case number
SC 56/2023
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B There is no order as to costs.
10 August 2023
High Court decision
O’NEILL v THE JUDICIARY OF AUCKLAND HIGH COURT & Ors [2022] NZHC 2359 [14 September 2022]
Court of Appeal decision
O’NEILL v JUDICIARY OF AUCKLAND HIGH COURT, REGISTRY OF AUCKLAND HIGH COURT AND PERSONS AS YET UNKNOWN 2023] NZCA 153 [5 May 2023
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
CHRISTOPHER JOSEPH O’NEILL v JUDICIARY OF AUCKLAND HIGH COURT & ORS [2023] NZSC 105 [10 August 2023] (PDF, 168 KB)
Case name
W (SC 60/2023) v The King
Case number
SC 60/2023
Summary
Criminal Appeal
Result
A Mr Hoggart’s application for an extension of time to apply for leave to appeal is granted.
B The applications for leave to appeal are granted in part ([W] v R [2023] NZCA 155). The approved questions are:
1 Whether the Court of Appeal was correct to conclude that a media take down order was not required in the circumstances of this case.
2 Whether the Court of Appeal was correct to conclude that the verdicts were not unreasonable in light of admissible evidence relating to the potential culpability of Lester Hamilton (deceased).
C The applications for leave to appeal are otherwise dismissed.
D Interim order suppressing the name of W and any identifying particulars made on 9 June 2023 is to continue until further order.
12 December 2023
Date of hearing
06 August 2024 - 07 August 2024
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, Williams, Kós and Miller JJ
Case Synopses
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave granted
W (SC 60/2023) v R and MARK JOSEPH HOGGART v R [2023] NZSC 164 [12 December 2023] (PDF, 197 KB)
Case name
Damien Shane Kuru v The King
Case number
SC 61/2023
Summary
Criminal Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Kuru v R [2023] NZCA 150).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
10 August 2023
__________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed.
B The appellant’s conviction is set aside.
C Order under ss 233(3)(a) and 241(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 that a judgment of acquittal be entered.
20 December 2024
Date of hearing
04 March 2024
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, Ellen France, Williams and Kós JJ
Submissions from counsel
Transcripts
Case Synopses
Media Releases
Leave judgment - leave granted
DAMIEN SHANE KURU v R [2023] NZSC 102 [10 August 2023] (PDF, 156 KB)
Substantive judgment
KURU v R [2024] NZSC 184 [20 December 2024] (PDF, 829 KB)
Videos
Case name
James Howard Nigel Smalley v Grant Robert Williamson, Ian Perry, David Michael Hayes, Grant Trevor Davies and Jeremy Daniel Sullivan
Case number
SC 66/2023
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 costs of $2,500.
10 August 2023
High Court decision
[2022] NZHC 1452
Court of Appeal decision
SMALLEY v WILLIAMSON [2023] NZCA 174 [16 May 2023]
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
JAMES HOWARD NIGEL SMALLEY v GRANT ROBERT WILLIAMSON, IAN PERRY, DAVID MICHAEL HAYES, GRANT TREVOR DAVIES and JEREMY DANIEL SULLIVAN [2023] NZSC 101 [10 August 2023] (PDF, 173 KB)
Case name
Paki Nikora and Parearau Polly Alice Nikora on behalf of Te Kaunihera Kaumātua o Tūhoe v Tāmati Kruger on behalf of Tūhoe - Te Uru Taumatua Trust
Case number
SC 67/2023
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Kruger on behalf of Tūhoe Te Uru Taumatua Trust v Nikora on behalf of Te Kaunihera Kaumātua o Tūhoe [2023] NZCA 179).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal erred in allowing the respondent’s appeal to that Court.
28 August 2023
_____________________________________________________________
A The application by the respondent to adduce the evidence of Te Whenua Te Kurapa is granted.
B The appeal is allowed.
C The orders made by the Māori Land Court in relation to trustee elections of the Tūhoe – Te Uru Taumatua Trust are reinstated (Nikora on behalf of Te Kaunihera Kaumātua o Tūhoe v Trustees of Tūhoe – Te Uru Taumatua (2021) 252 Waiariki MB 157 (252 WAR 157) at [85]).
D The trustees of the Tūhoe – Te Uru Taumatua Trust must pay the appellants their actual and reasonable legal costs and disbursements in connection with the appeal to this Court out of the assets of the Trust. If the parties are unable to agree on the amount of costs and disbursements payable, that will be determined by the Registrar of this Court.
E Any outstanding issues relating to costs in the Courts below are to be determined by those Courts, in light of this judgment.
3 October 2024
Date of hearing
27 February 2024
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, Williams, O'Regan, Collins JJ
Submissions from counsel
Transcripts
Case Synopses
Media Releases
Additional document
Kruger v Nikora - Tuhoe -Te Uru Taumatua [2021] Māori Appellate Court MB 444 (2021 APPEAL 444)
Court of Appeal decision
TĀMATI KRUGER ON BEHALF OF TŪHOE TE URU TAUMATUA TRUST v PAKI NIKORA ON BEHALF OF TE KAUNIHERA KAUMĀTUA O TŪHOE [2023] NZCA 179 [18 May 2023]
Leave judgment - leave granted
PAKI NIKORA ON BEHALF OF TE KAUNIHERA KAUMĀTUA O TŪHOE v TAMATI KRUGER ON BEHALF OF TŪHOE TE URU TAUMATUA TRUST [2023] NZSC 114 [28 August 2023] (PDF, 137 KB)
Substantive judgment
PAKI NIKORA AND PAREARAU POLLY ALICE NIKORA ON BEHALF OF TE KAUNIHERA KAUMĀTUA O TŪHOE v TĀMATI KRUGER ON BEHALF OF TŪHOE – TE URU TAUMATUA TRUST [2024] NZSC 130 [3 October 2024] (PDF, 411 KB)
Videos
Case name
H (SC 69/2023) v The King
Case number
SC 69/2023
Summary
Criminal 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.
20 December 2023
District Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
H (CA225/2022) v R [2023] NZCA 83 [30 March 2023
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
[2023] NZSC 166 (PDF, 155 KB)
Case name
A (SC 72/2023) v Attorney-General
Case number
SC 72/2023
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.
C There is no award as to costs.
1 November 2023
High Court decision
A v ATTORNEY-GENERAL [2020] NZHC 3401 [17 December 2020]
Court of Appeal decision
A (CA41/2021) v ATTORNEY-GENERAL [2023] NZCA 166 [12 May 2023]
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
A (SC 72/2023) v ATTORNEY-GENERAL [2023] NZSC 144 [1 November 2023 (PDF, 157 KB)
Case name
Damon Exley v NZME Publishing Limited and The King
Case number
SC 76/2023
Summary

Criminal Appeal
Result

A Leave to appeal is granted (NZME Publishing Ltd v E [2023] NZCA 258).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to quash the High Court takedown order.
19 October 2023
_________________________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed.
B The Court of Appeal was not correct to quash the High Court takedown order insofar as it related to the specific URLs identified in the takedown application.
30 July 2025
Date of hearing
06 August 2024 - 07 August 2024
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, Williams, Kós and Miller JJ
Case Synopses
Media Releases
Substantive judgment
EXLEY v NZME PUBLISHING LIMITED [2025] NZSC 90 [30 July 2025] (PDF, 371 KB)
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Supreme court decision
Pre-trial judgment: E (SC 76/2023) v NZME PUBLISHING LIMITED [2023] NZSC 85 [11 July 2023] (PDF, 172 KB)
Leave judgment - leave granted
DAMON EXLEY v NZME PUBLISHING LIMITED [2023] NZSC 136 [19 October 2023] (PDF, 190 KB)
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