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.

17 August 2026

Case information summary (as at 17 August 2026) –  Cases where leave granted (PDF, 87 KB)
Case information summary (as at 17 August 2026)  – Cases where leave to appeal decision not yet made (PDF, 128 KB) 

All years

Case name
Ryan Warren Geary-Smart v The Queen
Case number
SC 139/2016
Summary
Criminal appeal – Evidence Act 2006, s 62 – Whether the Court of Appeal erred by requiring that further independent advice regarding the privilege against self‑incrimination be offered to a co-defendant – Whether the Court erred in refusing to grant leave to admit fresh evidence – Whether the Court erred by upholding the decision to admit propensity evidence – Whether the Court erred in upholding the sentence. [2016] NZCA 509   CA132/2015
Result
The applications for leave to appeal are dismissed.
3 March 2017
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
GEARY-SMART v R [2017] NZSC 23    3 March 2017 (PDF, 85 KB)
Judgment appealed from

CUMMINGS V R, RW GEARY-SMART V R AND JC GEARY-SMART V R [2016] NZCA 509 20 October 2016
 
Case name
Jacob Christopher Geary-Smart v The Queen
Case number
SC 140/2016
Summary
Criminal appeal – Evidence Act 2006, s 62 – Whether the Court of Appeal erred by requiring that further independent advice regarding the privilege against self‑incrimination be offered to a co-defendant – Whether the Court erred in refusing to grant leave to admit fresh evidence – Whether the Court erred by upholding the decision to admit propensity evidence – Whether the Court erred in upholding the sentence. [2016] NZCA 509   CA134/2015
Result
The applications for leave to appeal are dismissed.                           3 March 2017
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
GEARY-SMART v R [2017] NZSC 23    3 March 2017 (PDF, 85 KB)
Judgment appealed from

CUMMINGS V R, RW GEARY-SMART V R AND JC GEARY-SMART V R [2016] NZCA 509  20 October 2016

Case name
Jacqueline Ann Cameron v The Queen
Case number
SC 142/2016
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Appeal against conviction – Appeal against sentence –  Social Security Act 1964, s 127 –  Crimes Act 1961, s 228(b) – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in its calculation of the debt owed by the applicant –  Whether the Court of Appeal erred in its conclusion regarding the applicant’s counsel –  Whether the Court of Appeal erred in finding there was no miscarriage of justice. [2016] NZCA 536   CA505/2013
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
21 August 2017
Date of Judgment
01 January 2016
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
JACQUELINE ANN CAMERON v R [2017] NZSC 125 [21 August 2017] (PDF, 143 KB)
Court of Appeal decision
CAMERON v R [2016] NZCA 536 [11 November 2016]
Case name
Leslie McGeachin v The Queen
Case number
SC 144/2016
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in upholding the applicant’s conviction on the basis of a number of alleged trial errors – Whether the District Court erred in sentencing the applicant to 19 years’ imprisonment.  [2015] NZCA 558   CA730/2013
Result
A The application for an extension of time to apply for leave to appeal against conviction is dismissed.
B The application for leave to appeal against sentence is dismissed.
24 February 2017
______________________________________
The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 24 February 2017 (McGeachin v R [2017] NZSC 16) is dismissed.
12 October 2020
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
LESLIE MCGEACHIN v R [2017] NZSC 16   24 February 2017 (PDF, 91 KB)
Recall judgment
LESLIE McGEACHIN v R [2017] NZSC 193 [19 December 2017] (PDF, 183 KB)
Recall judgment
LESLIE MCGEACHIN v R [2020] NZSC 95 [14 September 2020] (PDF, 62 KB)
Recall judgment
LESLIE MCGEACHIN v R [2020] NZSC 109 [12 October 2020] (PDF, 34 KB)
Judgment appealed from

MCGEACHIN v R [2015] NZCA 558    19 November 2015
Case name
H v The Queen
Case number
SC 146/2016
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Evidence Act 2006, s 35 – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in holding that evidence of the complainant’s prior consistent statement was properly admitted at trial – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing the applicant’s appeal against sentence. [2016] NZCA 413   CA498/2015
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed. 18 August 2017
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
SAYED REZA HUSSAINI v R [2017] NZSC 122 [18 August 2017] (PDF, 82 KB)
Case name
S v The Queen
Case number
SC 148/2016
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing the applicant’s appeal against conviction.CA 539/2014     [2016] NZCA 575
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B Order prohibiting publication of name, address, occupation or identifying particulars of applicant remains in force pending final disposition of charges he faces in a different criminal proceeding. 4 April 2017
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
S (SC 148/2016) v R [2017] NZSC 43    4 April 2017 (PDF, 89 KB)
Judgment appealed from
S (CA539/2014) v R [2016] NZCA 575 (Wild, French and Simon France JJ)  not available online
Case name
Bushby v The Queen
Case number
SC 149/2016
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in declining application for a non-party disclosure hearing.                             [2016] NZCA 527 CA 174/2015
Result
A notice of abandonment having been filed the appeal is deemed to be dismissed. 10 April 2017
Judgment appealed from

BUSHBY v R [2016] NZCA 527   7 November 2016
Case name
Michael Kristian Olsen v The Queen
Case number
SC 152/2016
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in rejecting the applicant’s claim of trial counsel error – Whether fresh evidence undermines the safety of the applicant’s conviction.                   [2016] NZCA 256   CA632/2014
Result
A The application for an extension of time is granted.
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed. 2 March 2017
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
MICHAEL KRISTIAN OLSEN v R [2017] NZSC 18    2 March 2017 (PDF, 132 KB)
Judgment appealed from

OLSEN V R CA632/2014 [2015] NZCA 256    18 June 2015
Case name
Kamal Singh v The Queen
Case number
SC 153/2016
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Evidence Act 2006, s 44 – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in its application of s 44. CA 197/2016  [2016] NZCA 552
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
24 March 2017
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
KAMAL SINGH v R [2017] NZSC 37 [24 March 2017] (PDF, 89 KB)
Judgment appealed from

SINGH v R [2016] NZCA 552   25 November 2016
Case name
Walter Fitikefu v The Queen
Case number
SC 2/2015
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Whether there has been a miscarriage of justice.[2014] NZCA 99  CA  356/2013
Result
Application for leave to appeal dismissed.
10 March 2015
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
WALTER FITIKEFU v R [2015] NZSC 22    10 March 2015 (PDF, 80 KB)
High Court decision
R V FITIKEFU HC AK CRI-2010-004-017106 5 July 2011
Judgment appealed from

 FITIKEFU v R CA356/2013 [2014] NZCA 99   27 March 2014
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