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.

17 August 2026

Case information summary (as at 17 August 2026) –  Cases where leave granted (PDF, 87 KB)
Case information summary (as at 17 August 2026)  – Cases where leave to appeal decision not yet made (PDF, 128 KB) 

All years

Case name
Sue Lynn Liow and Sai Hoe Tan v Brett Martelli and Susannah Keith
Case number
SC 52/2026
Summary

Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
High Court decision
MARTELLI and KEITH v LIOW and TAN [2024] NZHC 968 [29 April 2024]
Court of Appeal decision
LIOW v MARTELLI [2026] NZCA 101 [16 April 2026]
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
BANK OF NEW ZEALAND v LOTHIAN PARTNERS CAPITAL LTD [2023] NZHC 196 [15 February 2023]
Court of Appeal decision
KERR & ORS v BANK OF NEW ZEALAND [2024] NZCA 684 [19 December 2024]
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
KERR v BANK OF NEW ZEALAND [2025] NZSC 88 [24 July 2025] (PDF, 170 KB)
Case name
Brooke Maurice Dunn v The King
Case number
SC 64/2025
Summary

Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result

The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
18 November 2025
District Court decision
[2021] NZDC 24848
Court of Appeal decision
DUNN v R [2025] NZCA 216 [5 June 2025]
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
DUNN v R [2025] NZSC 163 [18 November 2025] (PDF, 176 KB)
Case name
Shane Keith Bullock v The King
Case number
SC 14/2024
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
7 August 2024
District Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
[2024] NZCA 3
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
SHANE KEITH BULLOCK v R [2024] NZSC 96 [7 August 2024 (PDF, 204 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
High Court decision
MOORE v THE MAORI LAND COURT & ORS [2023] NZHC 697 [31 March 2023]
Court of Appeal decision
MOORE v MĀORI LAND COURT [2024] NZCA 112 [16 April 2024]
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
KEVIN MOORE v MĀORI LAND COURT [2024] NZSC 113 [12 September 2024] (PDF, 184 KB)
Case name
Louise Buchanan, Keith Marshall and Alistair Donald as trustees of the Buchanan Marshall Family Trust v Tasman District Council
Case number
SC 49/2024
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Tasman District Council v Louise Buchanan, Keith Marshall and Alistair Donald as Trustees of the Buchanan Marshall Family Trust [2024] NZCA 133).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to hold that there was no duty of care owed by the respondent to the appellants while carrying out and making statements in relation to pool inspections under the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987.
20 August 2024
____________________________
A notice of abandonment having been filed, the appeal is abandoned.
06 March 2025
Case Synopses
High Court decision
BUCHANAN AND MARSHALL v TASMAN DISTRICT COUNCIL [2023] NZHC 53 [1 February 2023]
Court of Appeal decision
TASMAN DISTRICT COUNCIL v LOUISE BUCHANAN, KEITH MARSHALL AND ALISTAIR DONALD AS TRUSTEES OF THE BUCHANAN MARSHALL FAMILY TRUST [2024] NZCA 133 [26 April 2024]
Leave judgment - leave granted
LOUISE BUCHANAN, KEITH MARSHALL AND ALISTAIR DONALD AS TRUSTEES OF THE BUCHANAN MARSHALL FAMILY TRUST v TASMAN DISTRICT COUNCIL [2024] NZSC 103 [20 August 2024] (PDF, 182 KB)
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
High Court decision
PUBLIC TRUST v KAIN [2021] NZHC 1000 [6 May 2021]
Court of Appeal decision
KAIN v PUBLIC TRUST [2021] NZCA 685 [16 December 2021]
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
High Court decision
PUBLIC TRUST v KAIN [2021] NZHC 1000 [6 May 2021]
Court of Appeal decision
KAIN v PUBLIC TRUST [2021] NZCA 685 [16 December 2021]
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
High Court decision
HUNTER v AUCKLAND COUNCIL & ORS [2020] NZHC 1720 [16 July 2020]
Court of Appeal decision
HUNTER v AUCKLAND COUNCIL [2022] NZCA 205 [24 May 2022]
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
KEITH MERVYN GEORGE HUNTER v AUCKLAND COUNCIL [2022] NZSC 104 [2 September 2022] (PDF, 174 KB)
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
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
DANIEL GEORGE v R [2022] NZSC 128 [7 November 2022] (PDF, 163 KB)
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