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
Phillip John Smith v The New Zealand Parole Board
Case number
SC 67/2018
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether Court of Appeal Judge erred in upholding a Deputy-Registrar of that Court’s decision to refuse to dispense with security for costs.
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicant must pay costs of $2,500 to the respondent. 16 October 2018
B The applicant must pay costs of $2,500 to the respondent. 16 October 2018
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Richard Lyall Genge v Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections and The Attorney-General
Case number
SC 72/2018
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether there are exceptional circumstances justifying a direct appeal against a decision of the High Court dismissing an application for judicial review.
Result
A The application for an extension of time to appeal is allowed.
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
C No order as to costs.
5 October 2018
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
C No order as to costs.
5 October 2018
High Court decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Dermont Gregory Nottingham v Auckland District Court, Hemi Taka, Martin Honey and Stephanie Honey
Case number
SC 73/2018
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Criminal Procedure Act 2011 – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in holding that it did not have jurisdiction to hear the appeal against the decisions of the High Court.
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicant is to pay the respondents costs of $2,500. 5 November 2018
B The applicant is to pay the respondents costs of $2,500. 5 November 2018
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Hayley Dawn Young v The Attorney General and Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
Case number
SC 75/2018
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether Court of Appeal erred in upholding the second respondent’s protest to jurisdiction on the basis of sovereign immunity – Whether Court of Appeal erred in holding that the courts of England and Wales are the more appropriate forum for the applicant’s claim.
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicant must pay the second respondent costs of $2,500.
6 March 2019
B The applicant must pay the second respondent costs of $2,500.
6 March 2019
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Dermont Gregory Nottingham v District Court at Auckland, Martin Russell Honey, Stephanie Frances Honey and Hemi Taka
Case number
SC 76/2018
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing the applicant’s appeal against the striking out of his claim.
Result
A The application for an extension of time to apply for leave to appeal is dismissed. B The applicant is to pay costs of $2,500 to the second respondents. 20 November 2018
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
James John Duncan Macfarlane v Perpetual Trust Limited
Case number
SC 80/2018
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in upholding the High Court’s decision to remove a caveat over a property and grant vacant possession.
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B Costs of $2,500 are awarded to the respondent
14 November 2018
B Costs of $2,500 are awarded to the respondent
14 November 2018
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Marie Deanne Castle v Whakatane District Council
Case number
SC 81/2018
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether there are exceptional circumstances which warrant granting leave against a decision of the High Court dismissing an application for a declaration that rates assessed against properties owned by the applicant are invalid.
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicant is to pay costs of $2,500 to the respondent.
30 October 2018
B The applicant is to pay costs of $2,500 to the respondent.
30 October 2018
High Court decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Toni Colin Reihana v Rakiura Titi Committee, Marama Cooper, Stewart Bull, Ron Bull and Sonia Rakiti
Case number
SC 82/2018
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing the appeal against stay of proceedings for abuse of process.
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicant must pay the first respondent costs of $2,500.
3 December 2018
B The applicant must pay the first respondent costs of $2,500.
3 December 2018
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Peter Richard Prescott v District Court at North Shore and Malcolm Denmead
Case number
SC 84/2018
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing the applicant’s application for judicial review of the Registrar’ s decision to require security for costs.
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicant is to pay costs of $2,500 to the second respondent.
19 November 2018
B The applicant is to pay costs of $2,500 to the second respondent.
19 November 2018
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Shark Experience Limited v Pauamac5 Incorporated, Director-General of Conservation and Shark Dive New Zealand Limited
Case number
SC 86/2018
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in its interpretation of the Wildlife Act 1953.
Result
A The application for an extension of time is granted.
B The application for leave to appeal is granted (PauaMAC5 Inc v Director-General of Conservation [2018] NZCA 348).
C The approved ground of appeal is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to hold that shark cage diving is an offence under s 63A of the Wildlife Act 1953.
11 December 2018
________________________________
A The application for leave to adduce further evidence is dismissed.
B The appeal is allowed.
C The Court of Appeal’s declaration that “Shark cage diving is an offence under s 63A Wildlife Act 1953” is set aside.
D There is no order as to costs.
11 October 2019
B The application for leave to appeal is granted (PauaMAC5 Inc v Director-General of Conservation [2018] NZCA 348).
C The approved ground of appeal is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to hold that shark cage diving is an offence under s 63A of the Wildlife Act 1953.
11 December 2018
________________________________
A The application for leave to adduce further evidence is dismissed.
B The appeal is allowed.
C The Court of Appeal’s declaration that “Shark cage diving is an offence under s 63A Wildlife Act 1953” is set aside.
D There is no order as to costs.
11 October 2019
Transcripts
- Hearing date 26 March 2019 (PDF, 687 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2019] NZSC 111 (PDF, 98 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
Supreme court decision
Page 52 of 110