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
Robert Erwood v Graeme Edward Minchin and Anthony David Banbrook
Case number
SC 21/2025
Summary

Civil appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal

Result

A    The application for an extension of time is dismissed.
B    Costs of $500 are awarded to the first respondent.                                                      
22 August 2025
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The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 22 September 2025 (Erwood v Minchin [2025] NZSC 122) is dismissed.
20 November 2025

Case name
Rebecca Elizabeth Lane v Anne Veronica Goldson and Benjamin James Goldson, as executors of the Estate of Donald Algernon Gifford
Case number
SC 32/2025
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 one set of costs of $2,500.
23 July 2025

Case name
James John McConnor v Auckland Transport and Baycorp (NZ) Ltd
Case number
SC 50/2025
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 one set of costs of $2,500.
1 August 2025

Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Stephen James Henare v Commissioner of Inland Revenue
Case number
SC 60/2025
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 respondent costs of $2,500.
4 August 2025

Case name
Tony James Sofus Pascoe and Debbie Ann Pascoe v Minister for Land Information
Case number
SC 81/2025
Summary

Civil Appeal - Application for leave to appeal

Result

A The application for leave to file reply submissions is dismissed.
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
C The applicants must pay the respondent one set of costs of $2,500.                                                    
10 September 2025

Case name
Tony James Sofus Pascoe and Debbie Ann Pascoe v Minister for Land Information
Case number
SC 82/2025
Summary

Civil Appeal - Application for leave to appeal

Result

A notice of abandonment having been filed, the application for leave to appeal is abandoned                            26 September 2025

Case name
Zane Edward Frankhouser v The King
Case number
SC 159/2025
Summary

Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal

Result

The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
4 May 2026

District Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Kyle James Craig v The Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections
Case number
SC 13/2024
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal and the application for an interim order are dismissed.
19 March 2024
Case name
Christine Fleming v Attorney-General and Justin James Coote
Case number
SC 42/2024
Summary

Civil Appeal

Result

A The application for leave to appeal by Ms Fleming is granted in part to the extent described below (Attorney-General v Fleming [2024] NZCA 92).
B The approved questions are whether the Court of Appeal was correct:
(i) to determine that Ms Fleming was not “engaged, employed or contracted” by the Ministry of Health | Manatū Hauora as a “homeworker” under s 5 of the Employment Relations Act 2000; and
(ii) as to the test for “work” when work is conducted by homeworkers who work overnight in their home.
C The application for leave to appeal by Mr Humphreys is granted (Attorney-General v Fleming [2024] NZCA 92).
D The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to determine that Mr Humphreys was not “engaged, employed or contracted” by the Ministry of Health | Manatū Hauora as a “homeworker” under s 5 of the Employment Relations Act 2000 for the period from August 2020 onwards when in receipt of funding under the Individualised Funding scheme.
E Counsel in both appeals are asked to address the matters set out at [1]–[2] below.
4 October 2024
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A Ms Fleming’s appeal (SC 42/2024) is allowed. 
B The Employment Court declaration as to Ms Fleming’s  employee status is reinstated.
C The question of determination of the quantum of remedies  for Ms Fleming is remitted to the Employment Court.
D Mr Humphreys’ appeal (SC 44/2024) is allowed. 
E The Employment Court declaration as to Mr Humphreys’  employee status is reinstated.
F The first respondent must pay the appellant in SC 44/2024 costs of $50,000 plus usual disbursements. We allow for second counsel.
G Subject to Order F, costs in SC 42/2024 and SC 44/2024 are otherwise reserved. If parties cannot agree on costs, counsel are to file memoranda (maximum of 5 pages) on costs; counsel for Ms Fleming by 5 February 2026 and each of the respondents by 19 February 2026.
9 December 2025

Date of hearing
29 April 2025 - 30 April 2025
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Ellen France, Williams, Kós and Miller JJ
Case name
Peter Humphreys v Attorney-General
Case number
SC 44/2024
Summary

Civil Appeal

Result

A The application for leave to appeal by Ms Fleming is granted in part to the extent described below (Attorney-General v Fleming [2024] NZCA 92).
B The approved questions are whether the Court of Appeal was correct:
(i) to determine that Ms Fleming was not “engaged, employed or contracted” by the Ministry of Health | Manatū Hauora as a “homeworker” under s 5 of the Employment Relations Act 2000; and
(ii) as to the test for “work” when work is conducted by homeworkers who work overnight in their home.
C The application for leave to appeal by Mr Humphreys is granted (Attorney-General v Fleming [2024] NZCA 92).
D The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to determine that Mr Humphreys was not “engaged, employed or contracted” by the Ministry of Health | Manatū Hauora as a “homeworker” under s 5 of the Employment Relations Act 2000 for the period from August 2020 onwards when in receipt of funding under the Individualised Funding scheme.
E Counsel in both appeals are asked to address the matters set out at [1]–[2] below.
4 October 2024
_______________________________________________________________
A Ms Fleming’s appeal (SC 42/2024) is allowed. 
B The Employment Court declaration as to Ms Fleming’s  employee status is reinstated.
C The question of determination of the quantum of remedies  for Ms Fleming is remitted to the Employment Court.
D Mr Humphreys’ appeal (SC 44/2024) is allowed. 
E The Employment Court declaration as to Mr Humphreys’  employee status is reinstated.
F The first respondent must pay the appellant in SC 44/2024 costs of $50,000 plus usual disbursements. We allow for second counsel.
G Subject to Order F, costs in SC 42/2024 and SC 44/2024 are otherwise reserved. If parties cannot agree on costs, counsel are to file memoranda (maximum of 5 pages) on costs; counsel for Ms Fleming by 5 February 2026 and each of the respondents by 19 February 2026.
9 December 2025

Date of hearing
29 April 2025 - 30 April 2025
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Ellen France, Williams, Kós and Miller JJ