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
Cody Huritu v New Zealand Police
Case number
SC 87/2021
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.
C The applications for leave to intervene by the Auckland District Law Society Inc and the Criminal Bar Association of New Zealand are dismissed.
24 September 2021
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
C The applications for leave to intervene by the Auckland District Law Society Inc and the Criminal Bar Association of New Zealand are dismissed.
24 September 2021
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Philip Dean Taueki v New Zealand Police
Case number
SC 91/2021
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
23 September 2021
23 September 2021
District Court decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Cheyman Lee Mitchell v New Zealand Police
Case number
SC 116/2021
Summary
Criminal Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Mitchell v New Zealand Police [2021] NZCA 417).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
14 December 2021
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
The appeal is dismissed.
11 August 2023
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
14 December 2021
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
The appeal is dismissed.
11 August 2023
Date of hearing
10 May 2022
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, O’Regan, Ellen France, Williams and Kós JJ
Submissions from counsel
- Hearing date 10 May 2022 Appellant submissions (PDF, 633 KB)
- Hearing date 10 May 2022 Respondent submissions (PDF, 434 KB)
Transcripts
- Hearing date 10 May 2022 (PDF, 389 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2023] NZSC 104 (PDF, 287 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
Case name
Raymond Law v Commissioner of Police
Case number
SC 138/2021
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 deemed to be dismissed.
16 November 2021
16 November 2021
Court of Appeal decision
Case name
Paul Andrew Snowden v The Commissioner of Police
Case number
SC 153/2021
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for an extension of time to apply for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B There is no order as to costs.
8 March 2022
B There is no order as to costs.
8 March 2022
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
John Norrie Seymour v New Zealand Police
Case number
SC 159/2021
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
4 April 2022
4 April 2022
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Tyson Jack Sykes v The Queen
Case number
SC 26/2020
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to appeal
Result
A Ms Ruru’s application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B Mr Sykes’ application for an extension of time for leave to appeal is granted.
C Mr Sykes’ application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
D We make an order prohibiting publication of the judgment and any part of the proceedings (including the result) in news media or on the internet or other publicly available database until final disposition of trial. Publication in law report or law digest permitted. 11 May 2020 Order prohibiting publication of the judgment and any part of the proceedings (including the result) in news media or on the internet or other publicly available database until final disposition of trial. Publication in law report or law digest permitted.
11 May 2020
B Mr Sykes’ application for an extension of time for leave to appeal is granted.
C Mr Sykes’ application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
D We make an order prohibiting publication of the judgment and any part of the proceedings (including the result) in news media or on the internet or other publicly available database until final disposition of trial. Publication in law report or law digest permitted. 11 May 2020 Order prohibiting publication of the judgment and any part of the proceedings (including the result) in news media or on the internet or other publicly available database until final disposition of trial. Publication in law report or law digest permitted.
11 May 2020
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
MELISSA-MAE RURU v R [2020] NZSC 45 [11 May 2020] (PDF, 167 KB)
Case name
Michael Main v New Zealand Police
Case number
SC 41/2020
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
12 June 2020
12 June 2020
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
H v New Zealand Police
Case number
SC 43/2020
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
13 August 2020
13 August 2020
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Boon Hooi Cheah v Commissioner of Police
Case number
SC 54/2020
Summary
Civil appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A Notice of Withdrawal having been filed the application for leave to appeal is deemed to be dismissed.
21 August 2020
21 August 2020
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
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