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
Trends Publishing International Limited v Advicewise People Limited, Callaghan Innovation, Mediaworks Radio Limited, and Webstar a division of Blue Star Group (New Zealand) Limited
Case number
SC 103/2017
Summary
Civil Appeal – Companies Act 1993, pt 14 – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in its approach to determining “classes of creditors” – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in its approach to the evidence – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in finding that the applicants had not disclosed adequate information to the creditors.
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Trends Publishing International Ltd v Advicewise People Ltd [2017] NZCA 365).
B The approved question is whether the order setting aside the proposal to creditors put forward by the directors of the applicant under pt 14 of the Companies Act 1993 should have been set aside.
7 November 2017
_______________________
A The appeal is dismissed.
B The appellant is to pay the respondents costs of $25,000 and usual disbursements.
16 July 2018
B The approved question is whether the order setting aside the proposal to creditors put forward by the directors of the applicant under pt 14 of the Companies Act 1993 should have been set aside.
7 November 2017
_______________________
A The appeal is dismissed.
B The appellant is to pay the respondents costs of $25,000 and usual disbursements.
16 July 2018
Transcripts
- Hearing date 22 February 2018 (PDF, 671 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2018] NZSC 62 (PDF, 287 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
Case name
Studorp Limited & James Hardie New Zealand v Tracey Jane Cridge, Mark Anthony Unwin, Katrina McKellar Fowler, Scott Woodhead & Body Corp 316651
Case number
SC 104/2017
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicants must pay costs of $2,500 to the respondents.
27 November 2017
B The applicants must pay costs of $2,500 to the respondents.
27 November 2017
High Court decision
High Court decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Gary Owen Burgess v Malley & Co
Case number
SC 105/2017
Summary
Civil Appeal – Breach of duties owed by lawyer to client – Whether Court of Appeal erred in dismissing the applicant’s claim against his former lawyers.
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicants must pay costs of $2,500 to the respondents.
27 November 2017
B The applicants must pay costs of $2,500 to the respondents.
27 November 2017
High Court decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Judgment appealed from
Case name
Anthony Harry De Vries v Bartercard Exchange Limited
Case number
SC 108/2017
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing an application for review of the Deputy Registrar’s decision not to waive the filing fee for the appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing an application for review of the Deputy Registrar’s decision not 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.
11 December 2017
____________________________
The application for recall is dismissed.
2 February 2018
B The applicant must pay costs of $2,500 to the respondent.
11 December 2017
____________________________
The application for recall is dismissed.
2 February 2018
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Recall judgment
High Court decision
Case name
Ngāti Wāhiao v Ngāti Hurungaterangi and Ngāti Taeotu Me Ngāti Te Kahu O Ngāti Whakaue
Case number
SC 111/2017
Summary
Civil Appeal – Arbitration – Whether Court of Appeal erred in setting aside an arbitral award.
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicant is to pay costs of $2,500 to the respondents
21 December 2017
B The applicant is to pay costs of $2,500 to the respondents
21 December 2017
High Court decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Court of Appeal decision
Case name
Iain McLennan and Boris Van Delden as Liquidators for Neil Timber Limited (In Liquidation) v Boris Livaja, Iwona Grazyna Kotowska-Livaja and Orion Trustee No.1 Limited
Case number
SC 112/2017
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing the appellant’s appeal in relation to an application that a caveat lodged against a residential property should not lapse.
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicants are to pay costs of $2,500 to the respondents. 1 February 2018
B The applicants are to pay costs of $2,500 to the respondents. 1 February 2018
High Court decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Rapata (Robert) LEEF as representative of Ngati Taka v Colin BIDOIS as representative of Pirirakau, AND Jason AKE, Te Pio KAWE, Lance WAAKA, Robert URWIN, Kimiora RAWIRI, Philip HIKAIRO, Stephanie TAIAPA and Mikere WAIRUA as Trustees of Nga Hapu O Ngat
Case number
SC 113/2017
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in holding that the arbitration agreement entered into by Ngāti Taka and Pirirakau replaced an earlier arbitration process agreed among the hapū of Ngāti Ranginui – Whether the Court of Appeal correctly interpreted the earlier agreement – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in holding that the deed of settlement entered into between representatives of all hapū of Ngāti Ranginui and the Crown is final and binding as between Ngāti Taka and Pirirakau.
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicant is to pay to the first respondent costs of $2,500
21 December 2017
B The applicant is to pay to the first respondent costs of $2,500
21 December 2017
High Court decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Desmond James Albert Conway v Mercedes-Benz Financial Services New Zealand Limited
Case number
SC 119/2017
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in its interpretation and application of the Personal Property Securities Act 1999 and the Property Law Act 2007 – Whether the applicant was mortgagor of vehicles repossessed by the respondent.
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicant must pay costs of $2,500 to the respondent.
23 February 2018
B The applicant must pay costs of $2,500 to the respondent.
23 February 2018
High Court decision
High Court decision
High Court decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
W V The Family Court at North Shore and The Chief Executive o the Ministry of Vulnerable Children
Case number
SC 120/2017
Summary
Civil Appeal – Court of Appeal (Civil) Rules 2005 – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in declining an application for extension of time.
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B Costs of $2,500 are awarded to the second respondent.
8th February 2018
B Costs of $2,500 are awarded to the second respondent.
8th February 2018
High Court decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Court of Appeal decision
Case name
Earl Raymond Hagaman v Andrew James Little
Case number
SC 121/2017
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing the appeal on the basis that the proceeding abates with the death of Mr Hagaman.
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The personal representatives of Mr Hagaman must pay costs of $2,500 to the respondent.
13 February 2018
B The personal representatives of Mr Hagaman must pay costs of $2,500 to the respondent.
13 February 2018
High Court decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Judgment appealed from
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