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
Liyun Chen v Tawa Trade Finance Limited and LC1521319 Development Co Limited
Case number
SC 1/2026
Summary

Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal

Result

A The applications for leave to appeal are dismissed.
B The applications to file reply submissions are dismissed.
C The applications for stay of execution are dismissed.
D The application to admit new evidence is dismissed.
E The first applicant must pay each respondent costs of $2,500.
1 May 2026
______________________________________________________________________________
The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 1 May 2026 (Chen v Goodmore Investments (New Zealand) Ltd [2026] NZSC 40) is dismissed.
8 May 2026

Case name
Liyun Chen and Liyun Chen as trustee of the Royall Family Trust v Goodmore Investments (New Zealand) Limited, LC1521319 Development Co Limited and RHC Property Investment Limited
Case number
SC 2/2026
Summary

Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal

Result

A The applications for leave to appeal are dismissed.
B The applications to file reply submissions are dismissed.
C The applications for stay of execution are dismissed.
D The application to admit new evidence is dismissed.
E The first applicant must pay each respondent costs of $2,500.
1 May 2026
______________________________________________________________________________
The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 1 May 2026 (Chen v Goodmore Investments (New Zealand) Ltd [2026] NZSC 40) is dismissed.
8 May 2026

Case name
Vortac New Zealand Limited v The King
Case number
SC 6/2026
Summary

Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal

Result

The applications for an extension of time to file the applications for leave to appeal are dismissed.
21 May 2026

District Court decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Lego Holding A/S and Largo A/S v Zuru New Zealand Limited, Zuru Toys New Zealand Limited and Zuru Inc
Case number
SC 13/2026
Summary

Civil Appeal

Result

A Leave to appeal is granted (Zuru New Zealand Ltd v Lego Holding A/S [2025] NZCA 650).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to allow the appeal.
07 May 2026

Date of hearing
17 November 2026 - 18 November 2026
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Ellen France, Williams and Kós JJ
Case name
Janine Ann Wallace v Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Case number
SC 16/2026
Summary

Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal

Result

A notice of abandonment having been filed, the application for leave to appeal is abandoned.
12 May 2026

Case name
Meryl Taimania Carter, Raina Raewyn Doar, Raymond Paul Edmonds, Jonathon Pearce Edwards, Anita Lee Marsh, Taipari Barry Phillip Munro and Witiao Raewyn Paul, Trustees of Whatitiri Maori Reserves Trust and New Zealand Maori Council v Attornet-General and N
Case number
SC 19/2026
Summary

Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal

Date of Judgment
01 January 2026
High Court decision
Case name
Alisohn Joan Fielding v New Zealand Police
Case number
SC 21/2026
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. 
27 May 2026

District Court decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Grant Stanley Nicholls v The King
Case number
SC 24/2026
Summary

Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal

Result

The applications for an extension of time to file the applications for leave to appeal are dismissed.
21 May 2026

District Court decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Grayson James Ottaway v The King
Case number
SC 25/2026
Summary

Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal

Result

The applications for an extension of time to file the applications for leave to appeal are dismissed.
21 May 2026

District Court decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
NZ Premium Trading Company Limited v AFFCO New Zealand Limited
Case number
SC 28/2026
Summary

Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal