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.
31 July 2026
Case information summary (as at 31 July 2026) – Cases where leave granted (PDF, 87 KB)
Case information summary (as at 31 July 2026) – Cases where leave to appeal decision not yet made (PDF, 131 KB)
All years
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
A The applications to adduce further evidence are dismissed.
B Mr Wikeley’s application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
C The applicant must pay the respondents one set of costs of $2,500.
4 July 2025
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
A notice of abandonment having been filed, the application for leave to appeal is abandoned
23 June 2025
Civil Appeal
A Subject to C, the applications for leave to appeal are granted (Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa v Bay of Plenty Regional Council [2022] NZCA 598).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeals.
C The application for leave to appeal on costs is dismissed (Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa v Bay of Plenty Regional Council [2022] NZCA 598).
D An extension of time to apply for leave to appeal is granted (Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa v Bay of Plenty Regional Council [2020] NZHC 3388).
E The application for leave to appeal is granted (Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa v Bay of Plenty Regional Council [2020] NZHC 3388).
F The approved question is whether the High Court erred in upholding the Environment Court’s decision in relation to the negative tikanga effects.
17 April 2023
______________________________
A Sustainable Otakiri Inc’s appeal is dismissed.
B Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa’s appeal is dismissed.
C Costs are reserved.
12 November 2025
- Hearing date 22 -24 Nov 2023 Appellant submissions (PDF, 1.4 MB)
- Hearing date 22 - 24 Nov 2023 First Respondent subsmissions (PDF, 365 KB)
- Hearing date 22 - 24 Nov 2023 Second Respondent submisisons (PDF, 498 KB)
- Hearing date 22 Nov - 24 Nov 2023 Joint Chronology (PDF, 161 KB)
- Hearing date 22 -24 November 2023 transcript (PDF, 1.6 MB)
- Hearing date 22 Nov_24 Nov 2023 (PDF, 481 KB)
- MR [2025] NZSC 158 (PDF, 288 KB)
- SC 1/2023 and SC 2/2023 (Recorded, 24 November 2023)
- SC 1/2023 and SC2/2023 (Recorded, 23 November 2023)
- SC 1/2023 and SC2/2023 (Recorded, 22 November 2023)
Civil Appeal
A Subject to C, the applications for leave to appeal are granted (Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa v Bay of Plenty Regional Council [2022] NZCA 598).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeals.
C The application for leave to appeal on costs is dismissed (Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa v Bay of Plenty Regional Council [2022] NZCA 598).
D An extension of time to apply for leave to appeal is granted (Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa v Bay of Plenty Regional Council [2020] NZHC 3388).
E The application for leave to appeal is granted (Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa v Bay of Plenty Regional Council [2020] NZHC 3388).
F The approved question is whether the High Court erred in upholding the Environment Court’s decision in relation to the negative tikanga effects.
17 April 2023
_______________________________
A Sustainable Otakiri Inc’s appeal is dismissed.
B Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa’s appeal is dismissed.
C Costs are reserved.
12 November 2025
- Hearing date 22-24 Nov 2023 Appellant submissions (PDF, 1.1 MB)
- Hearing 22 - 24 Nov 2023 Appellant Roadmap (PDF, 111 KB)
- Hearing date 22-24 Nov 2023 First Respondent Submissions (PDF, 637 KB)
- Hearing 22 - 24 Nov 2023 First Respondent Outline (PDF, 165 KB)
- Hearing date 22-24 Nov 2023 Second Respondent Submissions (PDF, 515 KB)
- Hearing date 22-24 Nov 2023 Joint Chronology (PDF, 161 KB)
- Hearing date 22 Nov_24 Nov 2023 (PDF, 481 KB)
- MR [2025] NZSC 158 (PDF, 288 KB)
- SC 1/2023 and SC 2/2023 (Recorded, 24 November 2023)
- SC 1/2023 and SC2/2023 (Recorded, 23 November 2023)
- SC 1/2023 and SC2/2023 (Recorded, 22 November 2023)
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
The application for an extension of time to apply for leave to appeal is dismissed.
29 July 2025
Civil Appeal and Cross-Appeal
A The application for an extension of time to apply for leave to cross-appeal is granted.
B Leave to appeal and cross-appeal is granted in part (PGG Wrightson Real Estate Ltd v Routhan [2023] NZCA 123).
C The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct in varying the damages awarded in the High Court.
D The applications for leave to appeal and cross-appeal are otherwise dismissed.
22 September 2023
____________________________________________________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed. We fix damages payable by the respondent at $780,500, with interest as specified at [234].
B The cross-appeal is dismissed.
C The respondent must pay the appellants one set of costs of $50,000 plus usual disbursements. We allow for second counsel.
26 June 2025
- Hearing 11 and 12 March 2024 Appellant submissions (PDF, 12 MB)
- Hearing 11 and 12 March 2024 Respondent submissions (PDF, 1.5 MB)
- Hearing 11 and 12 March 2024 Cross Appellant submissions (PDF, 221 KB)
- Hearing 11 and 12 March 2024 Cross Respondent submissions (PDF, 354 KB)
- Hearing 11 and 12 March 2024 Joint Chronology (PDF, 258 KB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 March 2024 Appellant oral outline (PDF, 934 KB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 March 2024 Cross Respondent oral outline (PDF, 174 KB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 March 2024 Respondent oral outline (PDF, 258 KB)
- Hearing 11-12 March 2024 (PDF, 1016 KB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 March 2024 SC 45/2023 (PDF, 450 KB)
- MR [2025] NZSC 68 (PDF, 292 KB)
- SC 45/2023 Philip William Routhan and Julie Veronica Routhan as Trustees of the Kaniere Family Trust v PGG Wrightson Real Estate Ltd (Recorded, 12 March 2024)
- SC 45/2023 Philip William Routhan and Julie Veronica Routhan as Trustees of the Kaniere Family Trust v PGG Wrightson Real Estate Ltd (Recorded, 11 March 2024)
Criminal Appeal
A Mr Hoggart’s application for an extension of time to apply for leave to appeal is granted.
B The applications for leave to appeal are granted in part ([W] v R [2023] NZCA 155). The approved questions are:
1 Whether the Court of Appeal was correct to conclude that a media take down order was not required in the circumstances of this case.
2 Whether the Court of Appeal was correct to conclude that the verdicts were not unreasonable in light of admissible evidence relating to the potential culpability of Lester Hamilton (deceased).
C The applications for leave to appeal are otherwise dismissed.
D Interim order suppressing the name of W and any identifying particulars made on 9 June 2023 is to continue until further order.
12 December 2023
_____________________________________________
A The appeals are allowed.
B The appellants’ convictions are set aside.
C An order is made under ss 233(3)(a) and 241(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 that judgments of acquittal be entered.
D The interim order suppressing Mr Wilson’s name and any identifying particulars made on 9 June 2023 is to expire on the release of this judgment.
7 July 2026
- Hearing date 6_7 August 2024 (PDF, 490 KB)
- MR [2026] NZSC 88 (PDF, 302 KB)
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
A notice of abandonment having been filed, the application for leave to appeal is abandoned
14 August 2025
Criminal Appeal
A Leave to appeal is granted (NZME Publishing Ltd v E [2023] NZCA 258).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to quash the High Court takedown order.
19 October 2023
_________________________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed.
B The Court of Appeal was not correct to quash the High Court takedown order insofar as it related to the specific URLs identified in the takedown application.
30 July 2025
- Hearing date 6_7 August 2024 (PDF, 490 KB)
- MR [2025] NZSC 90 (PDF, 292 KB)
Criminal Appeal
A Mr Hoggart’s application for an extension of time to apply for leave to appeal is granted.
B The applications for leave to appeal are granted in part ([W] v R [2023] NZCA 155). The approved questions are:
1 Whether the Court of Appeal was correct to conclude that a media take down order was not required in the circumstances of this case.
2 Whether the Court of Appeal was correct to conclude that the verdicts were not unreasonable in light of admissible evidence relating to the potential culpability of Lester Hamilton (deceased).
C The applications for leave to appeal are otherwise dismissed.
D Interim order suppressing the name of W and any identifying particulars made on 9 June 2023 is to continue until further order.
12 December 2023
_____________________________________________________
A The appeals are allowed.
B The appellants’ convictions are set aside.
C An order is made under ss 233(3)(a) and 241(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 that judgments of acquittal be entered.
D The interim order suppressing Mr Wilson’s name and any identifying particulars made on 9 June 2023 is to expire on the release of this judgment.
7 July 2026
- Hearing date 6_7 August 2024 (PDF, 490 KB)
- MR [2026] NZSC 88 (PDF, 302 KB)