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
A, B and C v D and E Limited as Trustees of the Z Trust
Case number
SC 106/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (D and E Ltd as Trustees of the Z Trust v A, B and C [2022] NZCA 430).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to allow the appeal.
C We make an order prohibiting publication of names, addresses or identifying particulars of any persons or entities connected to this proceeding.
20 December 2022
_____________________________________
A The appeal is dismissed.
B Costs are reserved.
28 November 2024
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to allow the appeal.
C We make an order prohibiting publication of names, addresses or identifying particulars of any persons or entities connected to this proceeding.
20 December 2022
_____________________________________
A The appeal is dismissed.
B Costs are reserved.
28 November 2024
Date of hearing
13 June 2023
- 14 June 2023
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, O'Regan, Ellen France and Williams JJ
Submissions from counsel
- Hearing date 13 and 14 June 2023 Appellant submissions (PDF, 461 KB)
- Hearing date 13 and 14 June 2023 Respondent submissions (PDF, 963 KB)
- Hearing date 13 and 14 June 2023 Counsel to Assist Submissions (PDF, 257 KB)
- Hearing date 13 and 14 June 2023 Joint Chronology (PDF, 545 KB)
Transcripts
Media Releases
- MR [2024] NZSC 161 (PDF, 242 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
Case name
D (SC 115/2022) v JDN
Case number
SC 115/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
17 February 2023
__________________________________________________
A The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 17 February 2023 (D (SC 115/2022) v JDN [2023] NZSC 4) is dismissed.
B We make no order as to costs.
10 March 2023
17 February 2023
__________________________________________________
A The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 17 February 2023 (D (SC 115/2022) v JDN [2023] NZSC 4) is dismissed.
B We make no order as to costs.
10 March 2023
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Recall judgment
D (SC 115/2022) v JDN [2023] NZSC 17 [10 March 2023] (PDF, 40 KB)
Case name
DFT v JDN
Case number
SC 122/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
17 February 2023
17 February 2023
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
DFT v RMC, Attorney-General and Family Court at Manukau
Case number
SC 126/2022
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 costs of $2,500.
17 February 2023
B The applicant must pay the respondents costs of $2,500.
17 February 2023
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
SRG Global Remediation Services (NZ) Limited v Body Corporate 197281 and Maynard Marks Limited and Hobanz Project Assist Limited and Hellaby Resource Services Limited
Case number
SC 129/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal by SRG Global Remediation Services (NZ) Ltd (SRG) is dismissed.
B The application for leave to appeal by Body Corporate 197281 (the Body Corporate) is dismissed.
C There is no order as to costs in relation to the applications for leave.
D The application for a stay under r 30(5) of the Supreme Court Rules 2004 by the Body Corporate is dismissed.
E The Body Corporate must pay SRG costs of $2,500 in relation to the stay application.
20 March 2023
B The application for leave to appeal by Body Corporate 197281 (the Body Corporate) is dismissed.
C There is no order as to costs in relation to the applications for leave.
D The application for a stay under r 30(5) of the Supreme Court Rules 2004 by the Body Corporate is dismissed.
E The Body Corporate must pay SRG costs of $2,500 in relation to the stay application.
20 March 2023
High Court decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Eric Meserve Houghton v Timothy Ernest Corbett Saunders And Ors
Case number
SC 6/2021
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 costs of $2,500 to the first respondents collectively and a total of $2,500 to the second and third respondents.
6 May 2021
____________________________________________
A The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 6 May 2021 (Houghton v Saunders [2021] NZSC 38) is dismissed.
B The application for leave to file a second application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
C The application for a stay of the respondents’ application for costs in the High Court is dismissed.
D Costs are reserved.
2 July 2021
____________________________________________
A The application for recall of this Court’s recall judgment of 2 July 2021 (Houghton v Saunders [2021] NZSC 76) is dismissed.
B There is no order as to costs.
28 July 2021
B The applicant must pay costs of $2,500 to the first respondents collectively and a total of $2,500 to the second and third respondents.
6 May 2021
____________________________________________
A The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 6 May 2021 (Houghton v Saunders [2021] NZSC 38) is dismissed.
B The application for leave to file a second application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
C The application for a stay of the respondents’ application for costs in the High Court is dismissed.
D Costs are reserved.
2 July 2021
____________________________________________
A The application for recall of this Court’s recall judgment of 2 July 2021 (Houghton v Saunders [2021] NZSC 76) is dismissed.
B There is no order as to costs.
28 July 2021
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Recall judgment
Recall judgment
HOUGHTON v SAUNDERS & ORS [2021] NZSC 92 [28 July 2021] (PDF, 174 KB)
Supreme court decision
Case name
Rajendra Prasad v Indiana Publications (NZ) Limited, Irene Lal, Venkat Ram, Mahesh Parera and Chenchu Nagulu
Case number
SC 7/2021
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.
16 February 2021
B There is no order as to costs.
16 February 2021
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Katharine Elizabeth Preston v Grant Lee Preston and Grant Lee Preston and Fisher Partners Limited as Trustees of the Grant Preston Family Trust
Case number
SC 10/2021
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Preston v Preston [2020] NZCA 679).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss Ms Preston’s appeal in relation to her claim for an award of part of the assets of the Grant Preston Family Trust under s 182 of the Family Proceedings Act 1980.
12 May 2021
____________________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed.
B Orders are made that the Grant Preston Family Trust pay the Huntbos Family Trust $141,000 and release any claim to the $192,000 of the funds held on joint account (the Grant Preston Family Trust share of these funds is $102,000 and the Huntbos Family Trust share is $90,000).
C The Grant Preston Family Trust deed is amended by removing the appellant as a discretionary beneficiary.
D Leave is reserved to the parties to seek further directions or orders that may be necessary to give effect to this judgment.
E The first respondent must pay the appellant costs of $25,000 plus usual disbursements. We certify for second counsel. Unless the parties can agree, costs in the Courts below are to be redetermined in those Courts in accordance with this judgment.
9 November 2021
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss Ms Preston’s appeal in relation to her claim for an award of part of the assets of the Grant Preston Family Trust under s 182 of the Family Proceedings Act 1980.
12 May 2021
____________________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed.
B Orders are made that the Grant Preston Family Trust pay the Huntbos Family Trust $141,000 and release any claim to the $192,000 of the funds held on joint account (the Grant Preston Family Trust share of these funds is $102,000 and the Huntbos Family Trust share is $90,000).
C The Grant Preston Family Trust deed is amended by removing the appellant as a discretionary beneficiary.
D Leave is reserved to the parties to seek further directions or orders that may be necessary to give effect to this judgment.
E The first respondent must pay the appellant costs of $25,000 plus usual disbursements. We certify for second counsel. Unless the parties can agree, costs in the Courts below are to be redetermined in those Courts in accordance with this judgment.
9 November 2021
Date of hearing
03 August 2021
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, O’Regan, Ellen France and Williams JJ
Transcripts
- Hearing date 3 August 2021 (PDF, 444 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2021] NZSC 154 (PDF, 195 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
Case name
Poutama Kaitiaki Charitable Trust and D & T Pascoe v Taranaki Regional Council, New Plymouth District Council and New Zealand Transport Agency
Case number
SC 31/2021
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 The applicants must pay three sets of costs: $500 jointly to the first and second respondents, $2,500 to the third respondent and $1,500 to the interested party.
15 July 2021
_____________________________________________
A The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 15 July 2021 (Poutama Kaitiaki Charitable Trust v Taranaki Regional Council [2021] NZSC 87) is allowed only to make the changes identified at [2] below.
B The [2021] NZSC 87 judgment is reissued with these changes.
23 September 2021
____________________________________________
The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 15 July 2021 (Poutama Kaitiaki Charitable Trust v Taranaki Regional Council [2021] NZSC 87) as reissued on 23 September 2021 is dismissed.
8 November 2021
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
C The applicants must pay three sets of costs: $500 jointly to the first and second respondents, $2,500 to the third respondent and $1,500 to the interested party.
15 July 2021
_____________________________________________
A The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 15 July 2021 (Poutama Kaitiaki Charitable Trust v Taranaki Regional Council [2021] NZSC 87) is allowed only to make the changes identified at [2] below.
B The [2021] NZSC 87 judgment is reissued with these changes.
23 September 2021
____________________________________________
The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 15 July 2021 (Poutama Kaitiaki Charitable Trust v Taranaki Regional Council [2021] NZSC 87) as reissued on 23 September 2021 is dismissed.
8 November 2021
High Court decision
Recall judgment
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Recall judgment
Case name
Ahmed Alcazaz v Enterprise IT Limited
Case number
SC 39/2021
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for stay is dismissed.
B The application for an extension of time to file submissions is dismissed.
11 June 2021
___________________________________________________
A The application for stay is dismissed.
B The application for an extension of time to file submissions is dismissed.
16 August 2021
___________________________________________________
A The application for an extension of time to apply for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 11 June 2021 (AlKazaz v Enterprise IT Ltd [2021] NZSC 59) is allowed only to make the corrections identified at [8] of the judgment.
C The [2021] NZSC 59 judgment is reissued with those corrections.
D The applicant must pay the respondent costs of $2,500.
16 August 2021
B The application for an extension of time to file submissions is dismissed.
11 June 2021
___________________________________________________
A The application for stay is dismissed.
B The application for an extension of time to file submissions is dismissed.
16 August 2021
___________________________________________________
A The application for an extension of time to apply for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 11 June 2021 (AlKazaz v Enterprise IT Ltd [2021] NZSC 59) is allowed only to make the corrections identified at [8] of the judgment.
C The [2021] NZSC 59 judgment is reissued with those corrections.
D The applicant must pay the respondent costs of $2,500.
16 August 2021
Employment Court decision
Supreme court decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
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