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
Local Government Mutual Funds Trustee Limited v Napier City Council
Case number
SC 103/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is granted (Napier City Council v Local Government Mutual Funds Trustee Ltd [2022] NZCA 422).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct:
(a) in its interpretation of exclusion 13(a) of the Protection Wording; and
(b) in its consequent finding that the claim by the respondent in relation to its liability to owners of apartments in the Waterfront Apartments complex was excluded by exclusion 13(a) only to the extent that the respondent’s liability arose directly or indirectly out of, or in respect of, weathertightness defects.
21 December 2022
______________________________________________________________________________________
A The appeal is dismissed.
B The appellant must pay the respondent costs of $25,000 plus usual disbursements. We allow for second counsel.
1 August 2023
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct:
(a) in its interpretation of exclusion 13(a) of the Protection Wording; and
(b) in its consequent finding that the claim by the respondent in relation to its liability to owners of apartments in the Waterfront Apartments complex was excluded by exclusion 13(a) only to the extent that the respondent’s liability arose directly or indirectly out of, or in respect of, weathertightness defects.
21 December 2022
______________________________________________________________________________________
A The appeal is dismissed.
B The appellant must pay the respondent costs of $25,000 plus usual disbursements. We allow for second counsel.
1 August 2023
Date of hearing
27 April 2023
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, O'Regan, Ellen France, Williams and Kós JJ
Submissions from counsel
- Hearing 27 April 2023 Appellant Submissions (PDF, 7.9 MB)
- Hearing 27 April 2023 Appellant oral outline (PDF, 318 KB)
- Hearing 27 April 2023 Respondent Submissions (PDF, 681 KB)
- Hearing 27 April 2023 Respondent Oral Outline (PDF, 779 KB)
- Hearing 27 April 2023 Joint Chronology (PDF, 347 KB)
Transcripts
- Hearing date 27 April 2023 (PDF, 550 KB)
Case Synopses
- Hearing date 27 April 2023 (PDF, 557 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2023] NZSC 97 (PDF, 259 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
Videos
- Local Government Mutual Funds Trustee Limited v Napier City Council - SC 103/2022 (Recorded, 27 April 2023)
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
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
JDA Co. Limited, Nikkyo Co. Limited and Integrity Exports Co. Limited v AIG Insurance New Zealand Limited, Vero Insurance New Zealand Limited and IAG New Zealand Limited
Case number
SC 131/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicants must pay the respondents costs of $2,500.
27 April 2023
B The applicants must pay the respondents costs of $2,500.
27 April 2023
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Jinyue Young And Anor v Zie Zhang
Case number
SC 134/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 28 March 2018 (Ying v Zhang [2018] NZSC 27) is dismissed.
C There is no order as to costs.
2 May 2023
B The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 28 March 2018 (Ying v Zhang [2018] NZSC 27) is dismissed.
C There is no order as to costs.
2 May 2023
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
JINYUE YOUNG v ZIE ZHANG [2023] NZSC 44 [2 May 2023] (PDF, 202 KB)
Case name
Jeremy James McGuire v Secretary for Justice
Case number
SC 4/2021
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.
18 March 2021
B The applicant must pay the respondent costs of $2,500.
18 March 2021
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Katharine Elizabeth Preston v Grant Lee Preston and Grant Lee Preston and Fisher Partners Limited as Trustees of the Grant Preston Family Trust
Case number
SC 10/2021
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Preston v Preston [2020] NZCA 679).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss Ms Preston’s appeal in relation to her claim for an award of part of the assets of the Grant Preston Family Trust under s 182 of the Family Proceedings Act 1980.
12 May 2021
____________________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed.
B Orders are made that the Grant Preston Family Trust pay the Huntbos Family Trust $141,000 and release any claim to the $192,000 of the funds held on joint account (the Grant Preston Family Trust share of these funds is $102,000 and the Huntbos Family Trust share is $90,000).
C The Grant Preston Family Trust deed is amended by removing the appellant as a discretionary beneficiary.
D Leave is reserved to the parties to seek further directions or orders that may be necessary to give effect to this judgment.
E The first respondent must pay the appellant costs of $25,000 plus usual disbursements. We certify for second counsel. Unless the parties can agree, costs in the Courts below are to be redetermined in those Courts in accordance with this judgment.
9 November 2021
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss Ms Preston’s appeal in relation to her claim for an award of part of the assets of the Grant Preston Family Trust under s 182 of the Family Proceedings Act 1980.
12 May 2021
____________________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed.
B Orders are made that the Grant Preston Family Trust pay the Huntbos Family Trust $141,000 and release any claim to the $192,000 of the funds held on joint account (the Grant Preston Family Trust share of these funds is $102,000 and the Huntbos Family Trust share is $90,000).
C The Grant Preston Family Trust deed is amended by removing the appellant as a discretionary beneficiary.
D Leave is reserved to the parties to seek further directions or orders that may be necessary to give effect to this judgment.
E The first respondent must pay the appellant costs of $25,000 plus usual disbursements. We certify for second counsel. Unless the parties can agree, costs in the Courts below are to be redetermined in those Courts in accordance with this judgment.
9 November 2021
Date of hearing
03 August 2021
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, O’Regan, Ellen France and Williams JJ
Transcripts
- Hearing date 3 August 2021 (PDF, 444 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2021] NZSC 154 (PDF, 195 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
Case name
Chesterfield Preschools Limited (In Liquidation) and Therese Anne Sisson v Commissioner of Inland Revenue
Case number
SC 12/2021
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The applications for leave to appeal are dismissed.
B The application for leave to adduce further evidence is dismissed.
C The applicant must pay costs of $3,000 to the Commissioner and $1,500 to Chesterfields Preschools Ltd (in liq) plus usual disbursements.
12 July 2021
_________________________________________________________________
A The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 12 July 2021 (Chesterfields Preschools Ltd (in liq) v
Commissioner of Inland Revenue [2021] NZSC 83) is dismissed.
B The applicant must pay costs of $500 to the Commissioner of Inland Revenue.
8 October 2021
B The application for leave to adduce further evidence is dismissed.
C The applicant must pay costs of $3,000 to the Commissioner and $1,500 to Chesterfields Preschools Ltd (in liq) plus usual disbursements.
12 July 2021
_________________________________________________________________
A The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 12 July 2021 (Chesterfields Preschools Ltd (in liq) v
Commissioner of Inland Revenue [2021] NZSC 83) is dismissed.
B The applicant must pay costs of $500 to the Commissioner of Inland Revenue.
8 October 2021
Transcripts
- Hearing date 22 June 2021 (PDF, 229 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Recall judgment
Case name
Chesterfield Preschools Limited (In Liquidation) and Therese Anne Sisson v Commissioner of Inland Revenue
Case number
SC 17/2021
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The applications for leave to appeal are dismissed.
B The application for leave to adduce further evidence is dismissed.
C The applicant must pay costs of $3,000 to the Commissioner and $1,500 to Chesterfields Preschools Ltd (in liq) plus usual disbursements.
12 July 2021
_________________________________________________________________
A The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 12 July 2021 (Chesterfields Preschools Ltd (in liq) v
Commissioner of Inland Revenue [2021] NZSC 83) is dismissed.
B The applicant must pay costs of $500 to the Commissioner of Inland Revenue.
8 October 2021
B The application for leave to adduce further evidence is dismissed.
C The applicant must pay costs of $3,000 to the Commissioner and $1,500 to Chesterfields Preschools Ltd (in liq) plus usual disbursements.
12 July 2021
_________________________________________________________________
A The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 12 July 2021 (Chesterfields Preschools Ltd (in liq) v
Commissioner of Inland Revenue [2021] NZSC 83) is dismissed.
B The applicant must pay costs of $500 to the Commissioner of Inland Revenue.
8 October 2021
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Recall judgment
Case name
Chesterfield Preschools Limited (In Liquidation) and Therese Anne Sisson v Commissioner of Inland Revenue
Case number
SC 18/2021
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The applications for leave to appeal are dismissed.
B The application for leave to adduce further evidence is dismissed.
C The applicant must pay costs of $3,000 to the Commissioner and $1,500 to Chesterfields Preschools Ltd (in liq) plus usual disbursements.
12 July 2021
_________________________________________________________________
A The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 12 July 2021 (Chesterfields Preschools Ltd (in liq) v
Commissioner of Inland Revenue [2021] NZSC 83) is dismissed.
B The applicant must pay costs of $500 to the Commissioner of Inland Revenue.
8 October 2021
B The application for leave to adduce further evidence is dismissed.
C The applicant must pay costs of $3,000 to the Commissioner and $1,500 to Chesterfields Preschools Ltd (in liq) plus usual disbursements.
12 July 2021
_________________________________________________________________
A The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 12 July 2021 (Chesterfields Preschools Ltd (in liq) v
Commissioner of Inland Revenue [2021] NZSC 83) is dismissed.
B The applicant must pay costs of $500 to the Commissioner of Inland Revenue.
8 October 2021
Recall judgment
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Helilogging Limited (In receivership and liquidation) And Anor v Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand
Case number
SC 26/2021
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicants must pay the respondent costs of $2,500.
27 May 2021
B The applicants must pay the respondent costs of $2,500.
27 May 2021
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
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