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
George Charles Desmond Kerr, Lothian Partners Capital Limited, Glencoe Land (Joint Venture) Limited, Galt Nominees Limited and Pyne Holdings (In Receivership) v Bank of New Zealand
Case number
SC 14/2025
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application to adduce further evidence is declined.
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
C The applicants must pay the respondent one set of costs of $2,500.
24 July 2025
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
KERR v BANK OF NEW ZEALAND [2025] NZSC 88 [24 July 2025] (PDF, 170 KB)
Case name
Kevin Moore v Māori Land Court and Sheldon Ngatai, Georgina Te Otiana Johansen, Roselle Taylor, Bridget Taylor and Vincent George Brown as trustees of Waitara East Section 81B (Rohutu) Trust
Case number
SC 46/2024
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The application for a stay of enforcement of the injunction pending determination of the appeal is dismissed.
C There is no order as to costs.
12 September 2024
B The application for a stay of enforcement of the injunction pending determination of the appeal is dismissed.
C There is no order as to costs.
12 September 2024
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Jack Kain, Molly Kain, Rachel Kain, Stanley Kain, Wolsey Kain, George Couper McHardy Kain, Asta Kain, Madeline Kain, George Pavey Kain, Michael Kain, Rupert Kain, Samuel Kain and Marnie Coupie Forcer Kain v Public Trust and Georgina Kain, George Chalres K
Case number
SC 17/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The applications for leave to appeal in SC 17/2022 and SC 18/2022 are dismissed.
B Leave is reserved for submissions to be filed if costs are in issue.
24 May 2022
B Leave is reserved for submissions to be filed if costs are in issue.
24 May 2022
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
KAIN v PUBLIC TRUST [2022] NZSC 65 [24 May 2022] (PDF, 203 KB)
Case name
Georgina Kain, George Charles Kain, George Harry Couper Kain, George Michael Kain v Public Trust, Mary Hutton, Marnice Couper Forcer Kain, Jack Kain, Molly Kain, Rachel Kain, Stanley Kain, Wolsey Kain, George Couper McHardy Kain, Asta Kain, Madeline Kain,
Case number
SC 18/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The applications for leave to appeal in SC 17/2022 and SC 18/2022 are dismissed.
B Leave is reserved for submissions to be filed if costs are in issue.
24 May 2022
B Leave is reserved for submissions to be filed if costs are in issue.
24 May 2022
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
KAIN v PUBLIC TRUST [2022] NZSC 65 [24 May 2022] (PDF, 203 KB)
Case name
Keith Mervyn George Hunter v Auckland Council, Philip Martin Burley and ACL Trustees Limited
Case number
SC 59/2022
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 one set of costs of $2,500 to the respondents.
2 September 2022
B The applicant must pay one set of costs of $2,500 to the respondents.
2 September 2022
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Daniel George v The King
Case number
SC 69/2022
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
7 November 2022
7 November 2022
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
DANIEL GEORGE v R [2022] NZSC 128 [7 November 2022] (PDF, 163 KB)
Case name
Rodney George Martel v The King
Case number
SC 125/2022
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
The application for an extension of time to apply for leave to appeal is dismissed.
5 May 2023
5 May 2023
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
RODNEY GEORGE MARTEL v R [2023] NZSC 48 [5 May 2023] (PDF, 172 KB)
Case name
Te Warena Taua, George Hori Winikerei Taua, Ngarama Walker, Hamuera Taua and Miriama Tamaariki as Trustees of the Te Kaweray Iwi Tribal Authority and Te Warena Taua, George Hori Winikerei Taua, Ngarama Walker, Hamuera Taua and Miriama Tamaariki as Truste
Case number
SC 9/2021
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Taua v Tahi Enterprises Ltd [2020] NZCA 639).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
15 July 2021
_____________________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed to the extent that, by consent, the orders made in the High Court and the Court of Appeal granting discovery of the register of iwi members are set aside and the other orders set out below at [16] are substituted.
B Leave is reserved to the parties and any member of the iwi to apply to the High Court for modifications of these orders. The High Court may make such orders, including any additional or ancillary orders.
C There is no order as to costs in this Court. The costs orders made in the Court of Appeal on the appeal in that Court in favour of the respondents are set aside. The respondents must pay the appellants costs in that Court calculated for a standard appeal on a band A basis and usual disbursements. The costs orders made in the High Court stand.
15 December 2021
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
15 July 2021
_____________________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed to the extent that, by consent, the orders made in the High Court and the Court of Appeal granting discovery of the register of iwi members are set aside and the other orders set out below at [16] are substituted.
B Leave is reserved to the parties and any member of the iwi to apply to the High Court for modifications of these orders. The High Court may make such orders, including any additional or ancillary orders.
C There is no order as to costs in this Court. The costs orders made in the Court of Appeal on the appeal in that Court in favour of the respondents are set aside. The respondents must pay the appellants costs in that Court calculated for a standard appeal on a band A basis and usual disbursements. The costs orders made in the High Court stand.
15 December 2021
Date of hearing
19 November 2021
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, O'Regan, Ellen France, Williams JJ
Transcripts
- Hearing date 18 May 2021 (PDF, 202 KB)
- Hearing date 19 November 2021 (PDF, 279 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Supreme court decision
Case name
George Tama Nicholls v Mark Steven Nicholls, Airini Pirihiria Tukerangi, Delace William James, Kahutoroa Mataia Tukerangi, Viv Tama Nicholls, Anita Mari Norman and Sarah Jane Nicholls as trustees of the Ahu Whenua Trust known as The W T Nicholls Trust
Case number
SC 76/2020
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.
19 February 2021
B There is no order as to costs.
19 February 2021
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Brooke Christie Rolleston v The Queen
Case number
SC 17/2019
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Whether a member of the jury appeared biased – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing the appeal against conviction.
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted to the applicants (Rolleston v R [2018] NZCA 611).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the conviction appeals.
21 March 2019
_________________________
A The application to cross-examine the foreperson is dismissed.
B The appeals are dismissed.
C Existing suppression orders in respect of the minutes issued in relation to this matter remain in place but are varied to continue until further order of this Court.
19 November 2019
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the conviction appeals.
21 March 2019
_________________________
A The application to cross-examine the foreperson is dismissed.
B The appeals are dismissed.
C Existing suppression orders in respect of the minutes issued in relation to this matter remain in place but are varied to continue until further order of this Court.
19 November 2019
Date of hearing
13 November 2019
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, O'Regan, Ellen France and Williams JJ
Transcripts
- Hearing date 20 June 2019 SC 17/SC 18 (PDF, 197 KB)
- Hearing date 13 November 2019 (PDF, 126 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2019] NZSC 129 (PDF, 65 KB)
District Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Supreme Court - order made
Additional document
Substantive judgment
Additional document
Additional document
Page 1 of 4