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
Pharmacy Care Systems Limited v The Attorney-General.
Case number
SC CIV 12/2004
Summary
Civil appeal - contract law - correct test for whether a contract or deed is voidable because it is entered into under duress - whether duress was established on the facts of this case - whether the Court of Appeal breached natural justice by finding that the applicant had affirmed the deed when affirmation was not pleaded by the respondent as a defence - whether affirmation by silence requires the respondent to have relied on that silence to its detriment. CA198/03 16 August 2004
Result
Leave to appeal refused. Costs to the respondent $1,000 plus disbursements as fixed by the Registrar. 9 November 2004
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Judgment appealed from
Case name
Leonard Murray Rohrlach
Case number
SC CRI 4/2004
Summary
Criminal appeal against conviction - Whether trial counsel error amounted to a miscarriage of justice - Whether s344A application should have been opposed by defence counsel - Whether complainant should have been cross-examined in relation to medical and ESR evidence - Whether detective should have been cross-examined in relation to record of appellant's statements - Whether appellant able to make informed decision about giving evidence at trial. CA272/03 28 April 2004
Result
30 June 2004 - No jurisdiction to entertain appeal as no consent from respondent pursuant to Section 51 (2) (d).
Judgment appealed from
not publicly available
Case name
R v Atirut Sungsuwan.
Case number
SC CRI 11/2004
Summary
Criminal appeal against conviction - whether trial counsel made a fundamental error in not making an application under s23A of the Evidence Act to admit evidence of the complainant's previous sexual history - proper approach to whether an error by counsel has resulted in a miscarriage of justice: R v Paparachi (1993) 10 CRNZ 293 (CA) and Benedetto v R [2003] 1 WLR 1545 (PC) - whether prosecutor should be allowed to make statements in closing which are known to be contradicted to be called at trial. CA479/03 11 August 2004
Result
Leave to appeal granted.
17 December 2004
______________________
Appeal dismissed.
25 August 2005
17 December 2004
______________________
Appeal dismissed.
25 August 2005
Leave judgment - leave granted
R V SUNGSUWAN SC SC CRI 11/2004 [17 December 2004] (PDF, 12 KB)
Substantive judgment
SUNGSUWAN V R SC SC 11/2004 [25 August 2005] (PDF, 146 KB)
Transcript
Case name
Jesse Michael Guild
Case number
SC CRI 17/2004
Summary
Criminal appeal against conviction - whether the Court of Appeal erred in its approach to the use of similar fact evidence - whether a substantial miscarriage of justice has occurred. CA84/04 7 April 2004CA210/04 11 October 2004
Result
Leave to appeal dismissed. 2 February 2005
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
GUILD V R SC SC CRI 17/2004 [2 February 2005] (PDF, 15 KB)
Case name
Christian Paul Clifton
Case number
SC CRI 19/2004
Summary
Criminal appeal against conviction and sentence for conspiracy to import Class B drug, importing a Class B drug, possession of a Class B drug, conspiracy to manufacture a Class B drug, possession of equipment, and possession of a precursor substance - miscarriage of justice alleged on the basis of misdirection by trial judge, time delays by the Court of Appeal in delivering judgment, error by Court of Appeal in failing to give leave to adduce fresh evidence - sentence of 6 years 10 months' imprisonment manifestly excessive. CA398/03 8 November 2004
Result
Leave to appeal dismissed. 17 February 2005
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
CLIFTON V R SC SC CRI 19/2004 [17 February 2005] (PDF, 18 KB)
Judgment appealed from
Case name
Thomas Maxwell Clark v The Queen
Case number
SC CRI 20/2004
Summary
Criminal appeal against pre-trial ruling - whether Judge erred in declining to order severance of two counts of sexual offending - whether the evidence of mutual compaints sufficiently qualified as similar fact evidence - what the appropriate test for admission of similar fact evidence should be - whether the issue of possible collusion between the two complainants should have been explored on a voir dire before trial. CA 306/04 6 December 2004
Result
Application for leave dismissed. 10 May 2005
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
CLARK V R SC CRI 20/2004 [10 May 2005] (PDF, 39 KB)
Transcript
Case name
Peter Francis Urbani v Gillions and Sons Limited
Case number
SC 2/2004
Summary
Civil appeal - standard to be applied by Court of Appeal in appeals from findings of fact whether the Court of Appeal should evaluate the relevant evidence and reach and express its own conclusions. CA 56/03 1 April 2004
Result
Leave to appeal refused.
15 July 2004
_________________________
Decision on costs.
17 August 2004
15 July 2004
_________________________
Decision on costs.
17 August 2004
Transcripts
- Hearing date 13 July 2004 (PDF, 111 KB)
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Additional document
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