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
Liyun Chen v Tawa Trade Finance Limited and LC1521319 Development Co Limited
Case number
SC 1/2026
Summary

Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal

Result

A The applications for leave to appeal are dismissed.
B The applications to file reply submissions are dismissed.
C The applications for stay of execution are dismissed.
D The application to admit new evidence is dismissed.
E The first applicant must pay each respondent costs of $2,500.
1 May 2026
______________________________________________________________________________
The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 1 May 2026 (Chen v Goodmore Investments (New Zealand) Ltd [2026] NZSC 40) is dismissed.
8 May 2026

Case name
Liyun Chen and Liyun Chen as trustee of the Royall Family Trust v Goodmore Investments (New Zealand) Limited, LC1521319 Development Co Limited and RHC Property Investment Limited
Case number
SC 2/2026
Summary

Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal

Result

A The applications for leave to appeal are dismissed.
B The applications to file reply submissions are dismissed.
C The applications for stay of execution are dismissed.
D The application to admit new evidence is dismissed.
E The first applicant must pay each respondent costs of $2,500.
1 May 2026
______________________________________________________________________________
The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 1 May 2026 (Chen v Goodmore Investments (New Zealand) Ltd [2026] NZSC 40) is dismissed.
8 May 2026

Case name
Hailing Wang and Linda Wu v Body Corporate 406198, The Parties Listed in Schedule 1, Argon Construction Limited and Auckland Council
Case number
SC 20/2026
Summary

Civil Appeal - application for leave to bring an appeal

Result

A The application for an extension of time to apply for leave to appeal the High Court judgment is dismissed.
B The application for an extension of time to apply for leave to appeal the Court of Appeal judgment is granted.
C The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
D The application for leave to adduce further evidence is dismissed.
E The application for an oral leave hearing is dismissed.
F The applicants must pay the first respondent costs of $2,500.
26 May 2026

Case name
RH & JY Trust, Jocelyn Yvette Brown and Perpetual Trust Limited v WorkSafe New Zealand
Case number
SC 32/2026
Summary

Criminal Appeal 

Result

A Leave to appeal is granted (RH & JY Trust v WorkSafe New Zealand [2026] NZCA 12).
B The approved question is whether a trust and/or the trustees of a trust acting collectively is a “person” within the meaning of s 16 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015?
13 May 2026

Date of hearing
28 July 2026
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Ellen France, Williams and Kós JJ
Case name
Tyson Wade Francis Repia v The King
Case number
SC 12/2025
Summary

Criminal Appeal 

Result

A The application for leave to appeal is granted (Repia v R [2024] NZCA 677).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal on the basis that Mr Repia’s reasonable belief in consent was excluded from inquiry in the involvement hearing under s 10 of the Criminal Procedure (Mentally Impaired Persons) Act 2003.
27 March 2025

Date of hearing
14 August 2025
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, Ellen France, Kós and Miller JJ
Transcripts
Case Synopses
Media Releases
District Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
Videos
Case name
George Charles Desmond Kerr, Lothian Partners Capital Limited, Glencoe Land (Joint Venture) Limited, Galt Nominees Limited and Pyne Holdings (In Receivership) v Bank of New Zealand
Case number
SC 14/2025
Summary

Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal

Result

A The application to adduce further evidence is declined.
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
C The applicants must pay the respondent one set of costs of $2,500.
24 July 2025

Case name
Manu Iongi v The King
Case number
SC 19/2025
Summary

Criminal Appeal 

Result

A The application for an extension of time to apply for leave to appeal is granted.
B Leave to appeal is granted in part (Iongi v R [2024] NZCA 522).
C The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal against conviction.
D The application for leave to appeal is otherwise dismissed.                                
03 July 2025
_______________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed. The conviction of Manu Iongi for manslaughter is quashed.
B Order made under ss 233(3)(a) and 241(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 that a judgment of acquittal be entered.
11 December 2025

Date of hearing
22 October 2025
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Ellen France, Williams, Kós and Miller JJ
Transcripts
Case Synopses
Media Releases
High Court decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
Case name
Lei Zhou and Qiuying Zhang v Elizabeth Watson
Case number
SC 27/2025
Summary

Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal

Result

A The application to adduce new evidence is dismissed.
B The application for an extension of time to apply for leave to appeal is granted.
C The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
D The applicants must pay the respondent costs of $2,500.                                              
24 July 2025 

Case name
TW (SC 51/2025) v The King
Case number
SC 51/2025
Summary

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

A   The appeal is allowed.

B   The convictions are quashed and a retrial is ordered.

C   Any bail application should be made to the District Court.

D   We make an order prohibiting publication of the name, address, occupation or identifying particulars of the appellant until final disposition of retrial pursuant to s 200(2)(d) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011.

11 June 2026

Media Releases
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Substantive judgment
Case name
Mary Louise Shores v Charles Alan Howden and Withers & Co Trustee Co Ltd as Trustees of the Charles Alan Howden Family Trust and Carolyn Ann Howden and Withers & Co Trustee Co Ltd as Trustees of the Carolyn Ann Howden Family Trust
Case number
SC 53/2025
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 respondents one set of costs of $2,500.                        
4 September 2025