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
Patty Tzu Chou Lin v Commissioner of Inland Revenue
Case number
SC 23/2018
Summary
Civil Appeal – Income Tax Act 2007 – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in finding that the applicant was not entitled to a tax credit against income tax liability for tax spared by China under New Zealand’ s Controlled Foreign Company tax regime.
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicant must pay the respondent costs of $2,500.
20 June 2018
B The applicant must pay the respondent costs of $2,500.
20 June 2018
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Rajendra Prasad v Indiana Publications (NZ) Limited, Arin Lal, Venkat Ram and Mahesh Parera
Case number
SC 24/2018
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in striking out the applicant’s claim for breach of copyright – Whether the Supreme Court should recall its decision to dismiss the application for leave to appeal.
Result
A The applications for recall and for an extension of time for leave to appeal are dismissed.
B There is no award of costs.
21 May 2018
B There is no award of costs.
21 May 2018
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Recall judgment
Case name
Rajendra Prasad v Indiana Publications (NZ) Limited
Case number
SC 25/2018
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in striking out the applicant’s claim for breach of copyright – Whether the Supreme Court should recall its decision to dismiss the application for leave to appeal.
Result
A The applications for recall and for an extension of time for leave to appeal are dismissed.
B There is no award of costs.
21 May 2018
B There is no award of costs.
21 May 2018
High Court decision
Recall judgment
Case name
Desmond William Cook v Housing New Zealand Corporation
Case number
SC 27/2018
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B There is no award of costs.
8 May 2018
B There is no award of costs.
8 May 2018
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Mangawhai Ratepayers' & Residents' Association Inc, Richard Bruce Rogan and Heather Elizabeth Rogan v Northland Regional Council and Kaipara District Council
Case number
SC 30/2018
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in its application of s 5 of the Judicature Amendment Act 1972 – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in its findings under the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002.
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B Costs of $4,500 plus usual disbursements are awarded to the respondents.
6 August 2018
B Costs of $4,500 plus usual disbursements are awarded to the respondents.
6 August 2018
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
High Court judgments
Transcript leave hearing
Case name
Mark Robert Sandman v Colin Charles McKay, Roger David Cann and David John Clark
Case number
SC 35/2018
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in granting summary judgment to the respondents on the cause of action against them.
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (McKay v Sandman [2018] NZCA 103, [2018] NZAR 707).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal erred in granting summary judgment to the respondents on the cause of action against them.
7 August 2018
________________________
A The appeal is dismissed.
B Costs of $25,000 plus usual disbursements are awarded to the respondents.
16 April 2019
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal erred in granting summary judgment to the respondents on the cause of action against them.
7 August 2018
________________________
A The appeal is dismissed.
B Costs of $25,000 plus usual disbursements are awarded to the respondents.
16 April 2019
Transcripts
- Hearing date 12 November 2018 (PDF, 568 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2019] NZSC 55 (PDF, 286 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Case name
Garry Albert Muir v Commissioner of Inland Revenue
Case number
SC 41/2018
Summary
Civil Appeal – Tax Administration Act 1994 – Res judicata – Whether the Court of Appeal was right to dismiss the applicant’ s appeal against summary judgment – Whether challenge proceedings finally determined.
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B Costs of $2,500 are awarded to the respondent.
29 August 2018
B Costs of $2,500 are awarded to the respondent.
29 August 2018
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
High/District Court judgment
Case name
John Stephen Patrick v Bank of New Zealand
Case number
SC 43/2018
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in upholding the High Court’s decision to grant summary judgment to the respondent.
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicant is to pay costs of $2,500 to the respondent.
8 August 2018
B The applicant is to pay costs of $2,500 to the respondent.
8 August 2018
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Richina Pacfic Limited v Samson Corporation Limited and AAI Limited (formerley Vero Insurance Limited)
Case number
SC 44/2018
Summary
Civil Appeal – Interpretation of a standard form construction contract – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing the applicant’ s appeal.
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicant is to pay costs of $2,500 to the first respondent.
8 August 2018
B The applicant is to pay costs of $2,500 to the first respondent.
8 August 2018
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Bevin Hall Skelton v Charles Michael Howcroft, Daran Nair and Charles Henry Bird
Case number
SC 45/2018
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing an application for extension of time to appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in upholding an order for security for costs in an application for pre-commencement discovery.
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
3 August 2018
3 August 2018
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
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