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
Attorney-General v Landowners Coalition Incorporated and Ors
Case number
SC 126/2023
Summary

Civil Appeal

Result

The applications for leave to appeal are granted (Whakatōhea Kotahitanga Waka (Edwards) v Te Kāhui and Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board [2023] NZCA 504) on the question of the correctness of the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
17 April 2024
_____________________________________________________
A The application by Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Porou for leave to intervene is granted.
B Costs are reserved on this application and on the substantive hearing.
23 July 2024
_____________________________________________________
A The application by Te Kāhui Takutai Moana o Ngā Whānau me Ngā Hapū o Te Whakatōhea for a prospective costs order against the Attorney-General is granted.
B The respondent must pay the applicants prospective costs of $97,500, collectively.
C The respondent must pay the applicants costs on the application of $7,500 together with usual disbursements.
20 September 2024
__________________________________________
A The appeal (by the Attorney-General in relation to s 58 of the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011) is allowed.
B Costs are reserved.
2 December 2024
__________________________________________
A The Attorney-General’s appeals on the navigable rivers issue and challenging the award of PCRs to Ngāti Muriwai are dismissed.
B With the qualification that the part of WKW’s appeal regarding the boundaries of CMT Order 1 does not need to be determined, WKW’s appeal is dismissed.
C Te Upokorehe’s appeals are dismissed.
D Ngāti Muriwai’s appeal is allowed on the terms set out below at [258].
E Ngāti Ruatākenga’s appeal challenging the award of PCRs to Ngāti Muirwai is dismissed.
F Kuatere Marae’s appeal is allowed on the terms set out below at [271].
G Te Kāhui’s appeal in relation to Whakaari and Te Paepae o Aotea is allowed. The question of whether the test for CMT under s 58 of MACA is met in regard to Whakaari and Te Paepae o Aotea is remitted to the High Court for reconsideration.
H To the extent it remains live, Te Kahui’s appeal in relation to the decision to remit CMT Order 1 to the High Court is dismissed.
I CMT Order 2 is formally amended to capture the Ōhiwa Harbour in full.
J Whakatāne District Council, and Ngāti Muriwai and Kutarere Marae’s applications to adduce further evidence are allowed.
K The application by Te Kāhui to adduce further evidence is to be addressed by the High Court.
L The applications to file submissions out of time are allowed.
M Costs are reserved. If costs cannot be agreed, the parties should file memoranda on costs on or before Friday 10 October 2025.                                      
15 August 2025

Date of hearing
04 November 2024 - 15 November 2024
Judges
Glazebrook, Ellen France, Williams, Kós and French JJ
Submissions from counsel
Case Synopses
Media Releases
Case name
Ngāti Ira o Waiōweka, Ngāti Patumoana, Ngāti Ruatakenga and Ngāi Tamahaua (collectively known as Te Kāhui Takutai Moana o Ngā Whānau me ngā Hapū o Te Whakatōhea) v Landowners Coalition Incorporated and Ors
Case number
SC 128/2023
Summary

Civil Appeal

Result

The applications for leave to appeal are granted (Whakatōhea Kotahitanga Waka (Edwards) v Te Kāhui and Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board [2023] NZCA 504) on the question of the correctness of the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
17 April 2024
______________________________________________________
A The application by Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Porou for leave to intervene is granted.
B Costs are reserved on this application and on the substantive hearing.
23 July 2024
______________________________________________________
A The application by Te Kāhui Takutai Moana o Ngā Whānau me Ngā Hapū o Te Whakatōhea for a prospective costs order against the Attorney-General is granted.
B The respondent must pay the applicants prospective costs of $97,500, collectively.
C The respondent must pay the applicants costs on the application of $7,500 together with usual disbursements.
20 September 2024
______________________________________________________
A The appeal (by the Attorney-General in relation to s 58 of the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011) is allowed.
B Costs are reserved.
2 December 2024
______________________________________________________
A The Attorney-General’s appeals on the navigable rivers issue and challenging the award of PCRs to Ngāti Muriwai are dismissed.
B With the qualification that the part of WKW’s appeal regarding the boundaries of CMT Order 1 does not need to be determined, WKW’s appeal is dismissed.
C Te Upokorehe’s appeals are dismissed.
D Ngāti Muriwai’s appeal is allowed on the terms set out below at [258].
E Ngāti Ruatākenga’s appeal challenging the award of PCRs to Ngāti Muirwai is dismissed.
F Kuatere Marae’s appeal is allowed on the terms set out below at [271].
G Te Kāhui’s appeal in relation to Whakaari and Te Paepae o Aotea is allowed. The question of whether the test for CMT under s 58 of MACA is met in regard to Whakaari and Te Paepae o Aotea is remitted to the High Court for reconsideration.
H To the extent it remains live, Te Kahui’s appeal in relation to the decision to remit CMT Order 1 to the High Court is dismissed.
I CMT Order 2 is formally amended to capture the Ōhiwa Harbour in full.
J Whakatāne District Council, and Ngāti Muriwai and Kutarere Marae’s applications to adduce further evidence are allowed.
K The application by Te Kāhui to adduce further evidence is to be addressed by the High Court.
L The applications to file submissions out of time are allowed.
M Costs are reserved. If costs cannot be agreed, the parties should file memoranda on costs on or before Friday 10 October 2025.                                      
15 August 2025

Date of hearing
04 November 2024 - 15 November 2024
Judges
Glazebrook, Ellen France, Williams, Kós and French JJ
Submissions from counsel
Case Synopses
Media Releases
Case name
Ngāti Ruatakenga v Christina Davis on behalf of Ngāti Muriwai Hapū and Ors
Case number
SC 129/2023
Summary

Civil Appeal

Result

The applications for leave to appeal are granted (Whakatōhea Kotahitanga Waka (Edwards) v Te Kāhui and Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board [2023] NZCA 504) on the question of the correctness of the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
17 April 2024
________________________________________________
A The application by Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Porou for leave to intervene is granted.
B Costs are reserved on this application and on the substantive hearing.
23 July 2024
________________________________________________
A The application by Te Kāhui Takutai Moana o Ngā Whānau me Ngā Hapū o Te Whakatōhea for a prospective costs order against the Attorney-General is granted.
B The respondent must pay the applicants prospective costs of $97,500, collectively.
C The respondent must pay the applicants costs on the application of $7,500 together with usual disbursements.
20 September 2024
________________________________________
A The appeal (by the Attorney-General in relation to s 58 of the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011) is allowed.
B Costs are reserved.
2 December 2024
________________________________________
A The Attorney-General’s appeals on the navigable rivers issue and challenging the award of PCRs to Ngāti Muriwai are dismissed.
B With the qualification that the part of WKW’s appeal regarding the boundaries of CMT Order 1 does not need to be determined, WKW’s appeal is dismissed.
C Te Upokorehe’s appeals are dismissed.
D Ngāti Muriwai’s appeal is allowed on the terms set out below at [258].
E Ngāti Ruatākenga’s appeal challenging the award of PCRs to Ngāti Muirwai is dismissed.
F Kuatere Marae’s appeal is allowed on the terms set out below at [271].
G Te Kāhui’s appeal in relation to Whakaari and Te Paepae o Aotea is allowed. The question of whether the test for CMT under s 58 of MACA is met in regard to Whakaari and Te Paepae o Aotea is remitted to the High Court for reconsideration.
H To the extent it remains live, Te Kahui’s appeal in relation to the decision to remit CMT Order 1 to the High Court is dismissed.
I CMT Order 2 is formally amended to capture the Ōhiwa Harbour in full.
J Whakatāne District Council, and Ngāti Muriwai and Kutarere Marae’s applications to adduce further evidence are allowed.
K The application by Te Kāhui to adduce further evidence is to be addressed by the High Court.
L The applications to file submissions out of time are allowed.
M Costs are reserved. If costs cannot be agreed, the parties should file memoranda on costs on or before Friday 10 October 2025.                                    
15 August 2025

Date of hearing
04 November 2024 - 15 November 2024
Judges
Glazebrook, Ellen France, Williams, Kós and French JJ
Submissions from counsel
Case Synopses
Media Releases
Case name
Toni Colin Reihana v Gregory Foran and Air New Zealand Limited
Case number
SC 132/2023
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.
22 February 2024
Case name
Simon Gregory Anthony Rua Tauroa Himiona v Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections
Case number
SC 65/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A notice of abandonment having been filed, the application for leave to appeal is deemed to be dismissed.
15 November 2022
Case name
Auvae Tupa'i v The King
Case number
SC 89/2022
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring a criminal appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
16 November 2022
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Gregory John Jones v New Zealand Bloodstock Finance and Leasing Limited
Case number
SC 100/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring a civil appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicant must pay the respondent costs of $2,500.
2 August 2023
________________________________________________
A The application to adduce further evidence is dismissed.
B The application for recusal is dismissed.
C The application for recall is dismissed.
11 October 2023
__________________________________________________
A The second application for recall is dismissed.
B The Registrar is directed not to accept for filing any further applications in relation to this matter.
8 December 2023
Case name
Dermot Gregory Nottingham, Phillip Raymond Nottingham and Robert Earle McKinney v The Real Estate Agents Authority and Martin Russel Honey
Case number
SC 128/2022
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 costs of $1,250 to each of the respondents.
11 May 2023
Case name
Garth Bowkett Paterson v Lepionka & Company Investments Limited, Stefan Jozef John Lepionka and Gregory Bernard Horton as Trustees of the Lepionka Business Trust, Lepionka & Company Limited, Stefan Jozef John Lepionka as Trustees of the SJ Lepionka Family
Case number
SC 101/2021
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B There is no order as to costs.
3 December 2021
___________________________________________________________
A The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 3 December 2021 (Paterson v Lepionka & Co Investments Ltd [2021] NZSC 171) is allowed only to make the change identified at [2] below.
B The [2021] NZSC 171 judgment is reissued with this change.
23 December 2021
Case name
I (SC 114/2021) v The Queen
Case number
SC 114/2021
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
2 December 2021
District Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed