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
Case name
A, B and C v D and E Limited as Trustees of the Z Trust
Case number
SC 106/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (D and E Ltd as Trustees of the Z Trust v A, B and C [2022] NZCA 430).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to allow the appeal.
C We make an order prohibiting publication of names, addresses or identifying particulars of any persons or entities connected to this proceeding.
20 December 2022
_____________________________________
A The appeal is dismissed.
B Costs are reserved.
28 November 2024
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to allow the appeal.
C We make an order prohibiting publication of names, addresses or identifying particulars of any persons or entities connected to this proceeding.
20 December 2022
_____________________________________
A The appeal is dismissed.
B Costs are reserved.
28 November 2024
Date of hearing
13 June 2023
- 14 June 2023
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, O'Regan, Ellen France and Williams JJ
Submissions from counsel
- Hearing date 13 and 14 June 2023 Appellant submissions (PDF, 461 KB)
- Hearing date 13 and 14 June 2023 Respondent submissions (PDF, 963 KB)
- Hearing date 13 and 14 June 2023 Counsel to Assist Submissions (PDF, 257 KB)
- Hearing date 13 and 14 June 2023 Joint Chronology (PDF, 545 KB)
Transcripts
Media Releases
- MR [2024] NZSC 161 (PDF, 242 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
Case name
Yiheng Wu v Stalix Property Limited and Stress Free Chairs, Dining and Loungs Limited
Case number
SC 112/2022
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 the respondents costs of $2,500.
16 February 2023
B The applicant must pay the respondents costs of $2,500.
16 February 2023
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
SRG Global Remediation Services (NZ) Limited v Body Corporate 197281 and Maynard Marks Limited and Hobanz Project Assist Limited and Hellaby Resource Services Limited
Case number
SC 129/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal by SRG Global Remediation Services (NZ) Ltd (SRG) is dismissed.
B The application for leave to appeal by Body Corporate 197281 (the Body Corporate) is dismissed.
C There is no order as to costs in relation to the applications for leave.
D The application for a stay under r 30(5) of the Supreme Court Rules 2004 by the Body Corporate is dismissed.
E The Body Corporate must pay SRG costs of $2,500 in relation to the stay application.
20 March 2023
B The application for leave to appeal by Body Corporate 197281 (the Body Corporate) is dismissed.
C There is no order as to costs in relation to the applications for leave.
D The application for a stay under r 30(5) of the Supreme Court Rules 2004 by the Body Corporate is dismissed.
E The Body Corporate must pay SRG costs of $2,500 in relation to the stay application.
20 March 2023
High Court decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
JDA Co. Limited, Nikkyo Co. Limited and Integrity Exports Co. Limited v AIG Insurance New Zealand Limited, Vero Insurance New Zealand Limited and IAG New Zealand Limited
Case number
SC 131/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicants must pay the respondents costs of $2,500.
27 April 2023
B The applicants must pay the respondents costs of $2,500.
27 April 2023
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Gautam Jindal v Orange Capital Limited (in liquidation)
Case number
SC 133/2022
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 the respondent costs of $2,500.
19 April 2023
B The applicant must pay the respondent costs of $2,500.
19 April 2023
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Qiufen Lu and Liansen Mao v Industrial and Commerical Bank of China (New Zealand) Limited and Qian Hou
Case number
SC 3/2021
Summary
Civil Appeal - application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The applications for leave to appeal are dismissed.
B The applicants must pay the first respondent costs of $2,500.
15 April 2021
B The applicants must pay the first respondent costs of $2,500.
15 April 2021
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Rajendra Prasad v Indiana Publications (NZ) Limited, Irene Lal, Venkat Ram, Mahesh Parera and Chenchu Nagulu
Case number
SC 7/2021
Summary
Civil Appeal - application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B There is no order as to costs.
16 February 2021
B There is no order as to costs.
16 February 2021
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Te Warena Taua, George Hori Winikerei Taua, Ngarama Walker, Hamuera Taua and Miriama Tamaariki as Trustees of the Te Kaweray Iwi Tribal Authority and Te Warena Taua, George Hori Winikerei Taua, Ngarama Walker, Hamuera Taua and Miriama Tamaariki as Truste
Case number
SC 9/2021
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Taua v Tahi Enterprises Ltd [2020] NZCA 639).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
15 July 2021
_____________________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed to the extent that, by consent, the orders made in the High Court and the Court of Appeal granting discovery of the register of iwi members are set aside and the other orders set out below at [16] are substituted.
B Leave is reserved to the parties and any member of the iwi to apply to the High Court for modifications of these orders. The High Court may make such orders, including any additional or ancillary orders.
C There is no order as to costs in this Court. The costs orders made in the Court of Appeal on the appeal in that Court in favour of the respondents are set aside. The respondents must pay the appellants costs in that Court calculated for a standard appeal on a band A basis and usual disbursements. The costs orders made in the High Court stand.
15 December 2021
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
15 July 2021
_____________________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed to the extent that, by consent, the orders made in the High Court and the Court of Appeal granting discovery of the register of iwi members are set aside and the other orders set out below at [16] are substituted.
B Leave is reserved to the parties and any member of the iwi to apply to the High Court for modifications of these orders. The High Court may make such orders, including any additional or ancillary orders.
C There is no order as to costs in this Court. The costs orders made in the Court of Appeal on the appeal in that Court in favour of the respondents are set aside. The respondents must pay the appellants costs in that Court calculated for a standard appeal on a band A basis and usual disbursements. The costs orders made in the High Court stand.
15 December 2021
Date of hearing
19 November 2021
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, O'Regan, Ellen France, Williams JJ
Transcripts
- Hearing date 18 May 2021 (PDF, 202 KB)
- Hearing date 19 November 2021 (PDF, 279 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Supreme court decision
Case name
Katharine Elizabeth Preston v Grant Lee Preston and Grant Lee Preston and Fisher Partners Limited as Trustees of the Grant Preston Family Trust
Case number
SC 10/2021
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Preston v Preston [2020] NZCA 679).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss Ms Preston’s appeal in relation to her claim for an award of part of the assets of the Grant Preston Family Trust under s 182 of the Family Proceedings Act 1980.
12 May 2021
____________________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed.
B Orders are made that the Grant Preston Family Trust pay the Huntbos Family Trust $141,000 and release any claim to the $192,000 of the funds held on joint account (the Grant Preston Family Trust share of these funds is $102,000 and the Huntbos Family Trust share is $90,000).
C The Grant Preston Family Trust deed is amended by removing the appellant as a discretionary beneficiary.
D Leave is reserved to the parties to seek further directions or orders that may be necessary to give effect to this judgment.
E The first respondent must pay the appellant costs of $25,000 plus usual disbursements. We certify for second counsel. Unless the parties can agree, costs in the Courts below are to be redetermined in those Courts in accordance with this judgment.
9 November 2021
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss Ms Preston’s appeal in relation to her claim for an award of part of the assets of the Grant Preston Family Trust under s 182 of the Family Proceedings Act 1980.
12 May 2021
____________________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed.
B Orders are made that the Grant Preston Family Trust pay the Huntbos Family Trust $141,000 and release any claim to the $192,000 of the funds held on joint account (the Grant Preston Family Trust share of these funds is $102,000 and the Huntbos Family Trust share is $90,000).
C The Grant Preston Family Trust deed is amended by removing the appellant as a discretionary beneficiary.
D Leave is reserved to the parties to seek further directions or orders that may be necessary to give effect to this judgment.
E The first respondent must pay the appellant costs of $25,000 plus usual disbursements. We certify for second counsel. Unless the parties can agree, costs in the Courts below are to be redetermined in those Courts in accordance with this judgment.
9 November 2021
Date of hearing
03 August 2021
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, O’Regan, Ellen France and Williams JJ
Transcripts
- Hearing date 3 August 2021 (PDF, 444 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2021] NZSC 154 (PDF, 195 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
Case name
Chesterfield Preschools Limited (In Liquidation) and Therese Anne Sisson v Commissioner of Inland Revenue
Case number
SC 12/2021
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The applications for leave to appeal are dismissed.
B The application for leave to adduce further evidence is dismissed.
C The applicant must pay costs of $3,000 to the Commissioner and $1,500 to Chesterfields Preschools Ltd (in liq) plus usual disbursements.
12 July 2021
_________________________________________________________________
A The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 12 July 2021 (Chesterfields Preschools Ltd (in liq) v
Commissioner of Inland Revenue [2021] NZSC 83) is dismissed.
B The applicant must pay costs of $500 to the Commissioner of Inland Revenue.
8 October 2021
B The application for leave to adduce further evidence is dismissed.
C The applicant must pay costs of $3,000 to the Commissioner and $1,500 to Chesterfields Preschools Ltd (in liq) plus usual disbursements.
12 July 2021
_________________________________________________________________
A The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 12 July 2021 (Chesterfields Preschools Ltd (in liq) v
Commissioner of Inland Revenue [2021] NZSC 83) is dismissed.
B The applicant must pay costs of $500 to the Commissioner of Inland Revenue.
8 October 2021
Transcripts
- Hearing date 22 June 2021 (PDF, 229 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Recall judgment
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