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
Rhys Michael Cullen v The Queen
Case number
SC 68/2014
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Whether the actions and state of mind of an employee authorised by s 19 of the Secondhand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Act 2004 to enter into transactions on behalf of a license holder are attributable to the licence holder – Whether the acts of an employee whose normal duties include assistance in dismantling cars are attributable to the employer as acts helping to dispose of property within the scope of s 246 of the Crimes Act 1961. [2014] NZCA 325 CA 769/2013.
Result
The application for leave to appeal is granted.

The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss Mr Cullen’s appeal.
22 October 2014
__________________
Appeal dismissed.
29 May 2015
Transcripts
Media Releases
Leave judgment - leave granted
RHYS MICHAEL CULLEN v R [2014] NZSC 148 [22 October 2014] (PDF, 65 KB)
Substantive judgment
CULLEN v R [2015] NZSC 73 [29 May 2015] (PDF, 162 KB)
Case name
KW v The Queen
Case number
SC 71/2014
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in failing to deal with a number of grounds of appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in not allowing vital evidence to be provided to the Court.[2014] NZCA 241  CA 526/2013
Result
Application for leave to appeal dismissed.
10 September 2014
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Not publicly available
Judgment appealed from

not electronically available
Case name
Maythem Kamil Radhi v New Zealand Police
Case number
SC 73/2014
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Immigration Act 1987, ss 142 and 144 – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in finding that “arrival” in New Zealand was not a requirement for an offence to be committed under s 142(fa) of the Immigration Act 1987 – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in finding that it was an offence to attempt to commit the offence set out in s 142(fa) of the Immigration Act 1987 – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in finding that the multiplier provision in s 144(1A) of the Immigration Act 1987 applies to both the fine and the period of imprisonment set out in that section.[2014] NZCA 327  CA 322/2013
Result
Application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
29 September 2014
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
 RADHI v THE NEW ZEALAND POLICE [2014] NZSC 135 [29 September 2014] (PDF, 53 KB)
Judgment appealed from

THE NEW ZEALAND POLICE V RADHI (AKA MAYTHAM KAMIL RADHI) CA322/2013 [2014] NZCA 327 [17 July 2014]
Case name
Toese Tu’uaga v The Queen
Case number
SC 74/2014
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in finding that the trial Judge did not fail to put the defence case to the jury – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in finding that there was no risk of a miscarriage of justice in the way in which the defence case as presented by trial counsel was described to the jury.[2014] NZCA 304  CA 82/2014
Result
Application for leave to appeal dismissed.
20 November 2014
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
 TOESE TU'UAGA v R [2014] NZSC 164 [20 November 2014] (PDF, 71 KB)
Judgment appealed from

TU'UAGA v R CA82/2014 [2014] NZCA 304 [3 July 2014]
Case name
Hakaoro Hakaoro v The Queen
Case number
SC 76/2014
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Sentencing – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in finding that it was open to the District Court Judge to rely upon an opinion expressed in the probation report that the applicant lacked remorse when there existed independent evidence to the contrary – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in finding that it was open to the District Court Judge to rely solely on the opinion of the probation officer when deciding that home detention would not be granted.[2014] NZCA 310  CA 176/2014
Result
Application for leave to appeal dismissed. 20 November 2014
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
HAKAORO HAKAORO v R [2014] NZSC 169 [20 November 2014] (PDF, 54 KB)
Judgment appealed from

HAKAORO v R CA176/2014 [2014] NZCA 310 [8 July 2014]
Case name
The Queen v TWW
Case number
SC 80/2014
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Evidence Act 2006, ss 28, 30 – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in finding that admissions by the accused obtained through a police undercover operation employing the “scenario technique” were unfairly and thus improperly obtained – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in adopting a Bill of Rights analysis where the accused’s rights were not breached – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in finding that exclusion of the admissions was proportionate to the impropriety – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in finding that the admissions were unreliable.[2014] NZCA 339 CA 852/2013
Result
The application for leave to appeal is granted ([2014] NZCA 339).
The questions on which leave is given are whether the Court of Appeal was right to find that:
(a)     the appellant’s confession to “Scott” was unfairly obtained; and
(b)    evidence of it should be excluded.
10 October 2014
______________________
The appeal is allowed and the evidence in question is ruled to be admissible.
18 December 2015
Transcripts
Leave judgment - leave granted
The Queen v TWW [2014] NZSC 142 (10 October 2014)
Supreme court decision
R v TAWERA WESLEY WICHMAN [2015] NZSC 198 [18 December 2015] (PDF, 1.4 MB)
Case name
Jonathan Dixon v The Queen
Case number
SC 82/2014
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Crimes Act 1961 – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in its interpretation of s 386(2) of the Crimes Act 1961 – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in amending the charge and entering a conviction on the amended charge – Whether amending the charge breached the applicant’ s rights under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing the appeal against conviction – Whether the Court of Appeal failed to consider and take into account relevant submissions and evidence  – Whether the Court of Appeal’s failure to consider and take into account relevant submissions denied the applicant a proper opportunity of appeal under s 383 of the Crimes Act and resulted in a breach of the applicant’ s rights under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in not finding a miscarriage of justice.[2014] NZCA 329 CA 518/2013
Result
The application for leave to appeal is granted.
The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal erred when it dismissed the appeal.
23 October 2014
___________________
A The appeal is dismissed.
B The decision of the Court of Appeal quashing the appellant’s conviction for obtaining property contrary to s 249(1)(a) of the Crimes Act 1961 and substituting a conviction for obtaining a benefit contrary to s 249(1)(a) is quashed.  The appellant’s original conviction is reinstated.
C The appellant is to contact the Probation Service in South Dunedin by 10.30 am on Wednesday 28 October 2015 to make arrangements to complete his sentence.
20 October 2015
Transcripts
Media Releases
Leave judgment - leave granted
JONATHAN DIXON v R [2014] NZSC 151 [23 October 2014] (PDF, 42 KB)
Substantive judgment
JONATHAN DIXON v R [2015] NZSC 147 [20 October 2015] (PDF, 343 KB)
Case name
The Wanaka Gym Limited v Queenstown Lakes District Council
Case number
SC 84/2014
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Building Act 2004 – Whether the High Court erred in classifying the residential building as other than a single household unit – Whether High Court erred in holding that the C/AS1 purpose group SA was the appropriate proxy to meet the Building Code fire safety requirements for a residential building – Whether the High Court failed to take proper account of the different criminal and civil standards of proof – Whether the convictions were based on improperly obtained evidence – Whether leave to adduce fresh evidence should be granted. [2012] NZHC 284
Result
Application for leave to appeal dismissed.
23 December 2014
Supreme court decision
THE WANAKA GYM LIMITED v QUEENSTOWN LAKES DISTRICT COUNCIL [2014] NZSC 124 [12 September 2014] (PDF, 39 KB)
Supreme court decision
THE WANAKA GYM LIMITED v QUEENSTOWN LAKES DISTRICT COUNCIL [2014] NZSC 170 [24 November 2014] (PDF, 44 KB)
Supreme court decision
THE WANAKA GYM LIMITED v QUEENSTOWN LAKES DISTRICT COUNCIL [2014] NZSC 172 [26 November 2014] (PDF, 47 KB)
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
THE WANAKA GYM LIMITED v QUEENSTOWN LAKES DISTRICT COUNCIL [2014] NZSC 198   23December 2014 (PDF, 52 KB)
Judgment appealed from

The Wanaka Gym Ltd v Queenstown Lakes District Council [2012]   NZHC 284
Case name
Fiona Caroline Graham  v Queenstown Lakes District Council
Case number
SC 85/2014
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Building Act 2004 – Whether the High Court erred in classifying the residential building as other than a single household unit – Whether High Court erred in holding that the C/AS1 purpose group SA was the appropriate proxy to meet the Building Code fire safety requirements for a residential building – Whether the High Court failed to take proper account of the different criminal and civil standards of proof – Whether the convictions were based on improperly obtained evidence – Whether leave to adduce fresh evidence should be granted.[2012] NZHC 284
Result
Application for leave to appeal dismissed.
23 December 2014
Supreme court decision
THE WANAKA GYM LIMITED v QUEENSTOWN LAKES DISTRICT COUNCIL [2014] NZSC 124 [12 September 2014] (PDF, 39 KB)
Supreme court decision
THE WANAKA GYM LIMITED v QUEENSTOWN LAKES DISTRICT COUNCIL [2014] NZSC 170 [24 November 2014] (PDF, 44 KB)
Supreme court decision
THE WANAKA GYM LIMITED v QUEENSTOWN LAKES DISTRICT COUNCIL [2014] NZSC 172 [26 November 2014] (PDF, 47 KB)
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
THE WANAKA GYM LIMITED v QUEENSTOWN LAKES DISTRICT COUNCIL [2014] NZSC 198   23 December 2014 (PDF, 52 KB)
Judgment appealed from

The Wanaka Gym Ltd v Queenstown Lakes District Council [2012]   NZHC 284
Case name
Helen Elizabeth Milner v The Queen
Case number
SC 88/2014
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Whether the verdicts were unreasonable [2014] NZCA 366 CA 120/2014
Result
Application for leave to appeal dismissed.
16 April 2015
Transcripts
Court of Appeal decision
MILNER V R CA120/2014 [2014] NZCA 366 [5 August 2014]
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
MILNER v R [2015] NZSC 38 [16 April 2015] (PDF, 94 KB)
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