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
TUV v The Chief of New Zealand Defence Force
Case number
SC 14/2020
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (TUV v Chief of New Zealand Defence Force [2020] NZCA 12).
B The approved ground is:
(i) Does the test in O’Connor v Hart [1985] 1 NZLR 159 (PC) (that a contract is not voidable for mental incapacity unless the other contracting party has actual or constructive knowledge of the incapacity, or equitable fraud is established) apply in the employment jurisdiction (in particular, to a settlement agreement that has been certified under s 149 of the Employment Relations Act 2000)?
(ii) If not, what is the relevant test and should the settlement agreement have been set aside in this case on the grounds of mental incapacity?
15 May 2020
___________________________________________________________________________
A The appeal is dismissed.
B The Courts below were correct not to set aside the settlement agreement in this case on the grounds of mental incapacity.
C There is no order as to costs.
3 June 2022
B The approved ground is:
(i) Does the test in O’Connor v Hart [1985] 1 NZLR 159 (PC) (that a contract is not voidable for mental incapacity unless the other contracting party has actual or constructive knowledge of the incapacity, or equitable fraud is established) apply in the employment jurisdiction (in particular, to a settlement agreement that has been certified under s 149 of the Employment Relations Act 2000)?
(ii) If not, what is the relevant test and should the settlement agreement have been set aside in this case on the grounds of mental incapacity?
15 May 2020
___________________________________________________________________________
A The appeal is dismissed.
B The Courts below were correct not to set aside the settlement agreement in this case on the grounds of mental incapacity.
C There is no order as to costs.
3 June 2022
Transcripts
- Hearing date 27 September 2021 (PDF, 298 KB)
- Hearing date 8 September 2020 (PDF, 712 KB)
Media Releases
- MR 2022 NZSC 69 (PDF, 195 KB)
Employment Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
Case name
Kiwi Party of New Zealand v The Attorney General
Case number
SC 27/2020
Summary
Civil appeal - application for leave to bring appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicant must pay costs of $2,500 to the respondent.
6 July 2020
B The applicant must pay costs of $2,500 to the respondent.
6 July 2020
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Trans-Tasman Resources Limited v The Taranaki-Whanganui Conservation Board and Ors
Case number
SC 28/2020
Summary
Civil appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Trans-Tasman Resources Ltd v Taranaki Whanganui Conservation Board [2020] NZCA 86).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
17 July 2020
____________________________________________________________
A The appeal is dismissed.
B Leave is reserved to a party to apply to the High Court for directions if necessary.
C Costs are reserved.
30 September 2021
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
17 July 2020
____________________________________________________________
A The appeal is dismissed.
B Leave is reserved to a party to apply to the High Court for directions if necessary.
C Costs are reserved.
30 September 2021
Date of hearing
17 November 2020
- 19 November 2020
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, William Young, Glazebrook, Ellen France and Williams JJ
Transcripts
- Hearing date 17-19 November 2020 (PDF, 1.3 MB)
Media Releases
- MR [2021] NZSC 127 (PDF, 193 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
Supreme court decision
Case name
Bathurst Resources Limited & Buller Coal Limited v L&M Coal Holdings Limited
Case number
SC 29/2020
Summary
Civil appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is granted (Bathurst Resources Ltd v L&M Coal Holdings Ltd [2020] NZCA 113).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
27 July 2020
________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed. The judgments of the High Court and Court of Appeal are set aside and judgment is entered for the appellants.
B The application to adduce further evidence is dismissed.
C The respondent must pay the appellants costs of $30,000 plus usual disbursements. We certify for second counsel.
D Costs should be re-determined in the Courts below in light of this judgment.
14 July 2021
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
27 July 2020
________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed. The judgments of the High Court and Court of Appeal are set aside and judgment is entered for the appellants.
B The application to adduce further evidence is dismissed.
C The respondent must pay the appellants costs of $30,000 plus usual disbursements. We certify for second counsel.
D Costs should be re-determined in the Courts below in light of this judgment.
14 July 2021
Date of hearing
08 October 2020
- 09 October 2020
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, O’Regan, Ellen France, Williams JJ
Transcripts
Media Releases
- MR [2021] NZSC 85 (PDF, 289 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
Case name
Peter William Mawhinney v The Commissioner of Inland Revenue
Case number
SC 32/2020
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.
11 August 2020
B The applicant must pay the respondent costs of $2,500.
11 August 2020
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Commissioner of Inland Revenue v The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Trust Board and Paul Ross Coward
Case number
SC 38/2020
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 costs of $4,500 plus usual disbursements.
30 September 2020
B The applicant must pay costs of $4,500 plus usual disbursements.
30 September 2020
Date of hearing
15 September 2020
Judges
O'Regan, Ellen France and Williams JJ
Transcripts
- Hearing date 15 September 2020 (PDF, 255 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
John Frederick Ericson v Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections
Case number
SC 46/2020
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring civil 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 There is no order as to costs.
23 July 2020
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
C There is no order as to costs.
23 July 2020
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
[2020] NZSC 69 (PDF, 40 KB)
Case name
Pauline Janice Harrison v Adrienne Harrison and Graeme Ross Harrison
Case number
SC 48/2020
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.
20 August 2020
B There is no order as to costs.
20 August 2020
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Fredrick Hill v Māori Trustee and Official Assignee
Case number
SC 49/2020
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for an oral hearing is dismissed.
B The application to adduce further evidence is dismissed.
C The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
D The applicant must pay the respondent costs of $2,500.
1 September 2020
B The application to adduce further evidence is dismissed.
C The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
D The applicant must pay the respondent costs of $2,500.
1 September 2020
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Glenn William Schaeffer v James Joseph Murren as Trustee of the James J Murren Spendthrift Trust and and Daniel Lee
Case number
SC 50/2020
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.
22 September 2020
B The applicant must pay the respondents costs of $2,500.
22 September 2020
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
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