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.
17 August 2026
Case information summary (as at 17 August 2026) – Cases where leave granted (PDF, 87 KB)
Case information summary (as at 17 August 2026) – Cases where leave to appeal decision not yet made (PDF, 128 KB)
All years
Case name
Kay Halton Skelton v Christopher Dean Jones
Case number
SC 90/2006
Summary
Civil appeal – abduction of parties’ child – applicant currently imprisoned for contempt for non-compliance with orders made by High Court under Habeas Corpus Act 2001 –appeal to Court of Appeal abandoned following decision now subject of application for leave to appeal in SC 88/2006 – applicant also facing criminal proceedings in relation to abduction – whether habeas corpus proceedings in High Court should be stayed or struck out as abuse of process – whether breach of natural justice prior to orders being made – whether sufficient evidential basis for orders – whether orders interim or final – whether High Court, having ordered release of child in discharge of its function under the Habeas Corpus Act, lacked jurisdiction to make further orders relating to swearing of affidavit by, and cross-examination of, applicant – whether orders, with or without accompanying safeguards, breached applicant’s right to silence as a person charged with a criminal offence (s 25 New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990).CIV 2006 419 1489 18 October 2006
Result
6 December 2006
________________________
Appeal dismissed. Costs reserved. Reasons to be given later.
________________________
Appeal dismissed. Costs reserved. Reasons to be given later.
Leave judgment - leave granted
Additional document
SKELTON v JONES SC 90/2006 [20 August 2009] (PDF, 10 KB)
Substantive judgment
Reasons for judgmnet
Transcript
Case name
The New Zealand Airline Pilots’ Association Industrial Union of Workers Incorporated v Air New Zealand Limited
Case number
SC 91/2006
Summary
Civil appeal – whether s44(2) of the Holidays Act 2003 permits an employee’s entitlement to the observance of designated public holidays to be transferred by agreement to another day or days so as to remove, in respect of the specified public holidays, entitlement under the Act to payment on a time and a half basis – whether leave to appeal should be granted notwithstanding that the applicant succeeded in the Court of Appeal.. CA 474/06 6 December 2006
Result
Application for leave to appeal granted.
7 March 2007
____________________________
Appeal and Cross Appeal dismissed.
Order of Court of Appeal remitting the proceeding to the Employment Court stands.
Costs to appellant $25,000 plus disbursements.
Order for Costs in Court of Appeal stands.
14 November 2007
7 March 2007
____________________________
Appeal and Cross Appeal dismissed.
Order of Court of Appeal remitting the proceeding to the Employment Court stands.
Costs to appellant $25,000 plus disbursements.
Order for Costs in Court of Appeal stands.
14 November 2007
Transcripts
- Hearing date 13 and 14 June 2007 SC 91/2006 (PDF, 485 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2007] NZSC 89 (PDF, 89 KB)
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
Case name
Josko Sestan v The Director of Area Mental Health Services, Waitemata District Health Board
Case number
SC 94/2006
Summary
Civil– application to appeal from decision of the Court of Appeal declining to issue writ of habeas corpus – whether a person detained under the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment Act) 1992 has all the rights of a person detained contained in the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 – whether Court of Appeal erred in wrongly or inadequately analysing whether the applicant was mentally disordered – whether Court of Appeal erred in failing to place burden properly on respondent to show mental disorder – whether reasons for dangerousness finding sufficient – whether Family Court and Court of Appeal erred in finding applicant was mentally disordered – whether inadequate reasons given for finding of mental disorder – whether applicant wrongly deprived of due process rights.CA 254/06 12 December 2006
Result
Application for leave to appeal dismissed.
15 February 2007
_________________________
Application for costs dismissed.
7 March 2007
15 February 2007
_________________________
Application for costs dismissed.
7 March 2007
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
HITCHINGS v R SC 98/2006 [9 March 2007] (PDF, 19 KB)
Additional document
JUDGMENT OF THE COURT (COSTS) (PDF, 14 KB)
Judgment appealed from
Transcription
Case name
John Anthony Reid v The Queen
Case number
SC 95/2006
Summary
Criminal – Costs in Criminal Cases Act 1967 – trial Judge awarded costs to defendants acquitted on charges of conspiracy to defraud and money laundering brought by Serious Fraud Office – Court of Appeal majority held that High Court Judge had erred in failing to take account of risk of a substantial award inhibiting the exercise of proper prosecutorial function – whether the Court of Appeal erred in setting aside the cost award because it was “disproportionate” – whether Court of Appeal wrongly interpreted s 5(1) of the Act. CA 474/06 6 December 2006
Result
Application for leave to appeal granted. 29 May 2007 ____________ Appeal allowed, Costs order in the High Court reinstated.
Costs to appellant in Court of Appeal, $12,000 together ith reasonable expenses.
Costs to appellant in Supreme Court, $20,000 together with reasonable expenses. 14 November 2007
Costs to appellant in Court of Appeal, $12,000 together ith reasonable expenses.
Costs to appellant in Supreme Court, $20,000 together with reasonable expenses. 14 November 2007
Leave judgment - leave granted
REID And Ors V R SC 95/2006 [29 May 2007] (PDF, 17 KB)
Hearing
10 and 11 October 2007_note SC3/2007
Substantive judgment / Media release
Case name
Southbourne Investments Limited v Greenmount Manufacturing Limited
Case number
SC 96/2006
Summary
Civil appeal – option in deed of lease to purchase the relevant land - lessee’s purported exercise of option rejected by lessor because the exercise allegedly failed to conform with terms of the option – Court of Appeal, applying the Reporoa Stores “exact compliance” test, held that the option was validly exercised – whether the Court of Appeal in substance applied the “exact compliance” test – whether there was in fact “exact compliance” with the terms of the option. CA 90/06 21 November 2006
Result
Application for leave to appeal granted.
20 April 2007
___________________________
The appeal is allowed and the orders for summary judgment and specific performance are set aside.
The proceeding is remitted to the High Court.
The appellant is awarded costs in this Court of $13,000 together with reasonable disbursements to be fixed if necessary by the Registrar.
The costs order in the Court of Appeal is set aside. The appellant is awarded costs in that Court of $3,000.
2 August 2007
20 April 2007
___________________________
The appeal is allowed and the orders for summary judgment and specific performance are set aside.
The proceeding is remitted to the High Court.
The appellant is awarded costs in this Court of $13,000 together with reasonable disbursements to be fixed if necessary by the Registrar.
The costs order in the Court of Appeal is set aside. The appellant is awarded costs in that Court of $3,000.
2 August 2007
Transcripts
- Hearing date 16 April 2007 (PDF, 138 KB)
Media Releases
- mediarelease southbourneinvestments 000 (PDF, 88 KB)
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Additional document
Transcript Hearing date 28 June 2007 (PDF, 346 KB)
Substantive judgment
Case name
Jarod Peter Hester and others v The Commissioner of Inland Revenue
Case number
SC 2/2005
Summary
Civil appeal - whether the Court of Appeal erred in concluding that the income of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints benefit and superanuation plan was not exempt from tax as the plan was not a trust for charitable purposes within the meaning of s CB4 (1)(c) of the Income Tax Act 2004 - whether the principles set out in Presbyterian Church Fund of New Zealand v The Commissioner for Inland Revenue [1994] 3 NZLR 363 should be applied to the plan of the Mormon church - application of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 and the Human Rights Act 1993 to the law of charities. CA 6/04 14 December 2004
Result
Leave to appeal dismissed. Costs $2,500 plus disbursements to the respondent.
3 May 2005
3 May 2005
Transcripts
- Hearing date 21 April 2005 (PDF, 127 KB)
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Judgment appealed from
Case name
James Alfred Hood, Robert George Hood, Kenneth John Hood v The Attorney-General and The Queenstown Lakes District Council
Case number
SC 11/2005
Summary
Civil appeal - land compulsorily acquired for public works no longer required - whether unreasonable or unfair to offer land back under s 40(2) Public Works Act 1981 - decision made by Minister other than the Minister empowered by statute - whether decision validated by s 25(e) Acts Interpretation Act 1924. CA 257/04 21 October 2004
Result
Leave to appeal declined. Costs to respondents $2,500 together with disbursements as settled by the Registrar.
5 August 2005
5 August 2005
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Judgment appealed from
Transcript
Case name
Edwin Christopher Brown v The Attorney-General
Case number
SC 17/2005
Summary
Bill of Rights - compensation for breach of rights under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 - whether decision of the Auckland District Legal Services Subcommittee refusing to grant legal aid approval for the purposes of instructing forensic experts in Australia was unlawful or unreasonable - if so, whether the appellant's trial was unfair as a result - whether compensation appropriate - quantum of compensation. CA 39/03 3 March 2005
Result
Leave to appeal is dismissed. Any question of costs is reserved.
29 August 2005
29 August 2005
Transcripts
- Hearing date 17 August 2005 (PDF, 77 KB)
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
BROWN V ATTORNEY-GENERAL SC 17/05 [29 August 2005] (PDF, 21 KB)
Judgment appealed from
Case name
Chamberlains v Sun Poi Lai and Hilda Lorraine Lai
Case number
SC 19/2005
Summary
Civil appeal - whether barristerial immunity from suit for negligence should be abolished - whether abolition should be prospective only effect of s 61 of the Law Practitioners Act 1982. CA 15/03 8 March 2005
Result
Leave to appeal granted.
13 June 2005
______________________
The appeal is dismissed.
The appellants must pay the respondents $30,000 in costs together with disbursements, to be fixed if necessary by the Registrar.
11 September 2006
13 June 2005
______________________
The appeal is dismissed.
The appellants must pay the respondents $30,000 in costs together with disbursements, to be fixed if necessary by the Registrar.
11 September 2006
Transcripts
- Hearing date 18_19 and 20 October 2005 (PDF, 778 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2006] NZSC 70 (PDF, 78 KB)
Leave judgment - leave granted
CHAMBERLAINS V LAI SC 19/05 [13 June 2005] (PDF, 19 KB)
Substantive judgment
CHAMBERLAINS V LAI SC 19/2005 [11 September 2006] (PDF, 809 KB)
Judgment appealed from
Case name
Casata Limited v General Distributors Limited
Case number
SC 26/2005
Summary
Civil appeal - whether the Court of Appeal erred in its interpretation of the costs regime under the Arbitration Act 1996 - whether the Court of Appeal held correctly that the arbitral tribunal had erred in law in not considering party costs in the reward. CA 84/04 13 April 2005
Result
Leave to appeal granted.
6 July 2005
________________
The appeal is dismissed.
15 March 2006
6 July 2005
________________
The appeal is dismissed.
15 March 2006
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
Judgment appealed from
Substantive judgment
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