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.

28 November 2025

Case information summary 2025 (as at 28 November 2025) –  Cases where leave granted (PDF, 87 KB)
Case information summary 2025 (as at 28 November 2025)  – Cases where leave to appeal decision not yet made (PDF, 120 KB)

All years

Case name
Makshud Ahmed v The King
Case number
SC 102/2022
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring a criminal appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
23 February 2023
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
MAKSHUD AHMED v R [2023] NZSC 8 [23 February 2023] (PDF, 45 KB)
Case name
Joseph Karaitiana Wheeler v The King
Case number
SC 104/2022
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring a criminal appeal
Result
The application for an extension of time to apply for leave to appeal is dismissed.
10 November 2022
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
JOSEPH KARAITIANA WHEELER v R [2022] NZSC 129 [10 November 2022] (PDF, 139 KB)
Case name
Te Ata Patricia Mesman v The King
Case number
SC 105/2022
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring a criminal appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
23 March 2023
Court of Appeal decision
TE ATA PATRICIA MESMAN v R [2022] NZCA 418 [7 September 2022]
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
TE ATA PATRICIA MESMAN v R [2023] NZSC 25 [23 March 2023] (PDF, 46 KB)
Case name
Robert Terry Frank v New Zealand Police
Case number
SC 107/2022
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring a criminal appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
30 November 2022
High Court decision
TERRY v POLICE [2020] NZHC 3173 [2 December 2020]
Court of Appeal decision
TERRY v NEW ZEALAND POLICE [2022] NZCA 198 [19 May 2022
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
ROBERT FRANK TERRY v NEW ZEALAND POLICE [2022] NZSC 137 [30 November 2022] (PDF, 149 KB)
Case name
J v The King
Case number
SC 116/2022
Summary
Criminal Appeal.
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 retrial. Publication in law report or law digest permitted.
Result
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 retrial. Publication in law report or law digest permitted. 17 November 2023
Case name
Paul Nils Herlund v The King
Case number
SC 117/2022
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
28 February 2023
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
PAUL NILS HERLUND v R [2023] NZSC 9 [28 February 2023] (PDF, 166 KB)
Case name
W (SC 120/2022) v The King
Case number
SC 120/2022
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
12 May 2023
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
W (SC 120/2022) v R [2023] NZSC 50 [12 May 2023] (PDF, 187 KB)
Case name
M (SC 123/2022) v The King and Anor
Case number
SC 123/2022
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
14 March 2023
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
M (SC 123/2022) v R [2023] NZSC 19 [14 March 2023] (PDF, 182 KB)
Case name
Corey John Taylor v The King
Case number
SC 124/2022
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
8 March 2023
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
COREY JOHN TAYLOR v R [2023] NZSC 15 [8 March 2023] (PDF, 42 KB)
Case name
Rodney George Martel v The King
Case number
SC 125/2022
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
The application for an extension of time to apply for leave to appeal is dismissed.
5 May 2023
High Court decision
R v MARTEL & ORS [2017] NZHC 1878 [8 August 2017]
Court of Appeal decision
MARTEL & ORS v R [2018] NZCA 305 [10 August 2018]
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
RODNEY GEORGE MARTEL v R [2023] NZSC 48 [5 May 2023] (PDF, 172 KB)
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