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.

31 July 2026

Case information summary (as at 31 July 2026) –  Cases where leave granted (PDF, 87 KB)
Case information summary (as at 31 July 2026)  – Cases where leave to appeal decision not yet made (PDF, 131 KB) 

All years

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
_____________________________________________
A The application for recall of this Court’s judgments of 1 May  2026 (Chen v Goodmore Investments (New Zealand) Ltd [2026] NZSC 40) and 8 May 2026 (Chen v Goodmore Investments (New Zealand) Ltd [2026] NZSC 54) is dismissed. 
B The first applicant must pay the respondent in SC 175/2025 and SC 2/2026 costs of $1,200. 
C The Registrar is directed not to accept for filing any further applications for recall in this proceeding.
26 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
Meryl Taimania Carter, Raina Raewyn Doar, Raymond Paul Edmonds, Jonathon Pearce Edwards, Anita Lee Marsh, Taipari Barry Phillip Munro and Witiao Raewyn Paul, Trustees of Whatitiri Maori Reserves Trust and New Zealand Maori Council v Attornet-General and N
Case number
SC 19/2026
Summary

Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal

Date of Judgment
01 January 2026
High Court decision
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, Kós and Campbell JJ
Case name
Tuahuroa Tamati Cairns, Tohu Rangikauwhata Haa, Tauhopa Te Wano Hepi, Toriwai Rotarangi and Anthony Ralph Matara Rotarangi and Pouākani Claims Trust v Mercury NZ Limited, Māori Land Court, Attorney-General, Raukawa Settlement Trust and Te Kotahitanga O N
Case number
SC 44/2026
Summary

Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal

Case name
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Manawa v CNI Iwi Holdings Limited, Tūhoe Establishment Trust, Te Mana O Ngāti Rangitihi, Tūwharetoa Settlement Trust, Te Komiti Nui O Ngāti Whakaue, Te Rūnanga O Ngāti Whare, Raukawa Settlement Trust, Te Pūmautanga O Te Arawa Trust and
Case number
SC 47/2026
Summary

Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal

Case name
Davinder Singh Rahal v Ameet Bhargav and Renu Khajuria
Case number
SC 61/2026
Summary

Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal

Case name
Michael and Julia Fuge, Bryce Marlowe Town, Chloe Ann Fuge and Julia Elizabeth Fuge as Trustees of the Aberdeen Four Trust v Wimax New Zealand Limited
Case number
SC 31/2025
Summary

Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal

Date of hearing
17 February 2026
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Ellen France, Williams, Miller and Cooke JJ
Case name
Maui Ashley Solomon, Paul Te Teira Solomon, Thomas Henry Lanauze, Grace Ngaroimata Legros and Sharon Anne Elizabeth Wadsworth as trustees of the Moriori Imi Settlement Trust for and on behalf of Imi Moriori v Attorney-General and Deena Ngawhata Whaitiri,
Case number
SC 43/2025
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 abandoned 
15 May 2025 
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

Case name
Saletaulua Charles Faamanatu Maka and Tonga Seini Fata as Trustees of the Samoan Independent Seventh Day Adventist Property Trust v Siaosi David Sootaga Toailoa, Feu Seimaalii, Peniata Saunia, Attorney-General and Samoan Independent Seventh Day Adventist
Case number
SC 65/2025
Summary

Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal

Result

A The applications for leave to appeal are dismissed.
B The applicants in the two proposed appeals must pay the first to third respondents one set of costs of $2,500.