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
Robert Matti Neho v The Queen
Case number
SC 131/2019
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
4 March 2020
4 March 2020
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
ROBERT MATTI NEHO v R [2020] NZSC 13 [4 March 2020] (PDF, 156 KB)
Case name
Mikaere Oketopa AKA Michael Wayne October v The Queen
Case number
SC 140/2019
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.
31 July 2020
appeal is dismissed.
31 July 2020
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
MIKAERE OKETOPA v R [2020] NZSC 75 [31 July 2020] (PDF, 61 KB)
Case name
Akosita Vaeafisi v The Queen
Case number
SC 2/2018
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing the sentence appeal.
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
17 April 2018
17 April 2018
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
AKOSITA VAEAFISI v R [2018] NZSC 33 [17 April 2018] (PDF, 229 KB)
Case name
Leonard Gus Nattrass-Bergquist v The Queen
Case number
SC 3/2018
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Evidence Act 2006, s 124 – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing the applicant’s appeal against conviction – Whether the trial Judge was required to give a lies direction – Whether the trial Judge misdirected the jury.
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
13 April 2018
13 April 2018
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Orlando Shepherd v Auckland Council
Case number
SC 6/2018
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Whether the High Court erred in its application of s 58 of the Dog Control Act 1996 – Whether the conviction entered is inconsistent with s 25(c) of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990.
Result
A The application for an extension of time to appeal is allowed. B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed. 27 March 2018
High Court decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
T v The Queen
Case number
SC 8/2018
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing the appeals against conviction and sentence.
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
16 April 2018
16 April 2018
District Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
T (SC 8/2018) v R [2018] NZSC 31 [16 April 2018] (PDF, 206 KB)
Case name
Wayne Jones v The Queen
Case number
SC 13/2018
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing the applicant’s appeal against conviction – Whether the persons called by the Crown to give evidence met the definition of “witness” in s 4 of the Evidence Act 2006 – Whether the trial Judge erred in allowing the Crown to call knowingly hostile witnesses.
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
10 May 2018
10 May 2018
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
WAYNE JONES v R [2018] NZSC 44 [10 May 2018] (PDF, 197 KB)
Case name
John William Ross v The Queen
Case number
SC 14/2018
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing the appeal against conviction – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in its application of s 122 of the Evidence Act 2006.
Result
A The application for an extension of time is granted.
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
30 April 2018
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
30 April 2018
District Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
JOHN WILLIAM ROSS v R [2018] NZSC 38 [30 April 2018] (PDF, 229 KB)
Case name
W v The Queen
Case number
SC 16/2018
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Whether trial counsel’s failure to follow applicant’s instructions was grounds for a mistrial – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing the appeal against conviction.
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
14 May 2018
14 May 2018
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
W (SC 16/2018) v R [2018] NZSC 46 [14 May 2018] (PDF, 203 KB)
Case name
Gavin Graham Jardine v The Queen
Case number
SC 20/2018
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing the appeal against conviction and sentence – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in finding that there had not been an abuse of process
Result
A An extension of time to apply for leave to appeal is granted.
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
16 May 2018
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
16 May 2018
District Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
GAVIN GRAHAM JARDINE v R [2018] NZSC 47 [16 May 2018] (PDF, 195 KB)
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