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.

22 September 2026

Case information summary (as at 18 September 2026) –  Cases where leave granted (PDF, 112 KB)
Case information summary (as at 18 September 2026)  – Currently unavailable

All years

Case name
Michael John Smith v Attorney-General
Case number
SC 10/2025
Summary

Civil Appeal 
Result

A Leave to appeal is granted (Smith v Attorney-General [2024] NZCA 692, [2025] 2 NZLR 1).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
19 December 2025
Date of hearing
17 August 2026 - 19 August 2026
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Ellen France, Williams, Kós and Cooke JJ | Venue: Auckland High Court, Courtroom 11
Submissions from counsel
Transcripts
Case Synopses
High Court decision
SMITH v THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL [2022] NZHC 1693 [15 July 2022]
Court of Appeal decision
SMITH v ATTORNEY-GENERAL [2024] NZCA 692 [19 December 2024]
Leave judgment - leave granted
SMITH v ATTORNEY-GENERAL [2025] NZSC 198 [19 December 2025] (PDF, 136 KB)
Videos
Case name
John Jones v Family Court at Whangārei and Sophie Smith
Case number
SC 167/2025
Summary

Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
JONES v WHANGĀREI FAMILY COURT [2025] NZCA 325 [16 July 2025]
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
JONES v FAMILY COURT AT WHANGĀREI [2026] NZSC 1 [11 February 2026] (PDF, 184 KB)
Case name
Kea Investments Limited v Kenneth David Wikeley, Wikeley Family Trustee Limited (in interm liquidation), Eric John Watson, Wikeley Incorporated and USA Asset Holdings Incorporated
Case number
SC 127/2024
Summary

Civil Appeal 
Result

A    Kea Investments Ltd’s application for leave to appeal is granted (Wikeley v Kea Investments Ltd [2024] NZCA 609, [2024] 3 NZLR 901).
B    The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to discharge the permanent anti-suit and anti-enforcement injunctions awarded to Kea Investments Ltd in the High Court.
C    Counsel to assist the Court will be appointed by the Registrar.
D    The applications to adduce further evidence are dismissed.
E    The application to extend the stay in Wikeley v Kea Investments Ltd [2024] NZCA 686, (2024) 26 PRNZ 667 is granted pending determination of the appeal. 
 4 July 2025
_______________________________________
A The application for adjournment is dismissed.
B Costs are reserved.                                                                                
30 September 2025
_______________________________________

A The appeal from the decision of the Court of Appeal in Wikeley v Kea Investments Ltd [2024] NZCA 609, [2024] 3 NZLR 901 is allowed.
B The orders made by the High Court in Kea Investments Ltd v Wikeley Family Trustee Ltd (in interim liq) [2023] NZHC 3260 at [156(a)(i) - (iv)], and in Kea Investments Ltd v Wikeley Family Trustee Ltd (in interim liq) [2023] NZHC 3532 at [7], are reinstated.
C Costs are reserved. 
10 November 2025
_______________________________________________________

A The application by the appellant to adduce updating evidence is granted.
B The appeal is allowed.
C The orders made by the High Court in Kea Investments Ltd v Wikeley Family Trustee Ltd (in interim liq) [2023] NZHC 3260 at [156(a)(i)]–[156(a)(iv)], and in Kea Investments Ltd v Wikeley Family Trustee Ltd (in interim liq) [2023] NZHC 3532 at [7], are reinstated.
D The first, second, fourth and fifth respondents must pay the appellant costs of $250,000 plus usual disbursements. We allow for second counsel.
E The first respondent must pay the liquidators of the second respondent costs of $30,000 plus usual disbursements. We allow for second counsel.
F The confidential version of the affidavit of Martin Craig Smith filed in support of the appellant’s costs application shall not be disclosed to the Respondents or persons searching the Court file.
G The application for stay of enforcement is dismissed.   
31 July 2026
Date of hearing
05 November 2025 - 06 November 2025
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, Williams, Kós and Miller JJ
Submissions from counsel
Transcripts
Case Synopses
Media Releases
High Court decision
KEA INVESTMENTS LTD v WIKELEY FAMILY TRUSTEE LTD (IN INTERIM LIQUIDATION) [2023] NZHC 3260 [17 November 2023]
Court of Appeal decision
WIKELEY v KEA INVESTMENTS LIMITED [2024] NZCA 609 [21 November 2024]
Leave judgment - leave granted
KEA INVESTMENTS LTD v WIKELEY [2025] NZSC 75 [4 July 2025] (PDF, 182 KB)
Supreme court decision
Application for adjournment - KEA INVESTMENTS LIMITED v WIKELEY [2025] NZSC 130 [30 September 2025] (PDF, 142 KB)
Substantive judgment
KEA INVESTMENTS LIMITED v WIKELEY [2025] NZSC 156 [10 November 2025] (PDF, 183 KB)
Substantive judgment
Reasons - KEA INVESTMENTS LTD v WIKELEY [2026] NZSC 97 [31 July 2026] (PDF, 466 KB)
Videos
Case name
Phillip John Smith v The King
Case number
SC 88/2023
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for an extension of time to apply for leave to appeal is granted.
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
17 October 2023
District Court decision
[2016] NZDC 13828
Court of Appeal decision
SMITH v R [2020] NZCA 499 [16 October 2020]
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
PHILLIP JOHN SMITH v R [2023] NZSC 134 [17 October 2023] (PDF, 196 KB)
Case name
Dennis Arthur Smith v Ian James Plowman, Nikau Grove Nursery Limited and Helen Irene Mitchell
Case number
SC 71/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B There is no order as to costs.
21 September 2022
_________________________________________
A The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 21 September 2022 (Smith v Plowman [2022] NZSC 109) is dismissed.
B There is no order as to costs.
18 October 2022
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
DENNIS ARTHUR SMITH v IAN JAMES PLOWMAN [2022] NZSC 109 [21 September 2022] (PDF, 43 KB)
Recall judgment
DENNIS ARTHUR SMITH v IAN JAMES PLOWMAN [2022] NZSC 121 [18 October 2022] (PDF, 178 KB)
Case name
Michael John Smith v The Attorney-General
Case number
SC 80/2022
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 deemed to be dismissed.
9 September 2023
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Case name
Moana's Mother v Mr and Mrs Smith And Ors
Case number
SC 132/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B There is no order as to costs.
21 December 2022
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
MOANA’S MOTHER v MR AND MRS SMITH [2022] NZSC 155 [21 December 2022] (PDF, 41 KB)
Case name
Phillip John Smith v Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections
Case number
SC 1/2021
Summary
Civil Appeal - application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B There is no order as to costs.
21 April 2021
High Court decision
SMITH v THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS [2019] NZHC 2472 [30 September 2019]
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
PHILLIP JOHN SMITH v CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS [2021] NZSC 34 [21 April 2021] (PDF, 176 KB)
Case name
John Goodwin Smith v Electrix Limited and The Fletcher Construction Company Limited
Case number
SC 33/2021
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B There is no order as to costs.
16 June 2021
High Court decision
ELECTRIX LTD v THE FLETCHER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LTD NO 3 [2020] NZHC 2348 [9 September 2020]
Court of Appeal decision
SMITH v ELECTRIX LIMITED [2021] NZCA 67 [15 March 2021]
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
JOHN GOODWIN SMITH v ELECTRIX LIMITED [2021] NZSC 64 [16 June 2021] (PDF, 176 KB)
Case name
Michael John Smith v Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited, Genesis Energy Limited, Dairy Holdings Limited, New Zealand Steel Limited, Z Energy Limited, New Zealand Refining Company Limited and BT Mining Limited
Case number
SC 149/2021
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Smith v Fonterra Co-Operative Group Ltd [2021] NZCA 522).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal and allow the cross appeal.
31 March 2022
__________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed.
B The appellant’s claim is reinstated.
C There is no order as to costs.
7 February 2024
Date of hearing
15 August 2022 - 17 August 2022
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, Ellen France, Williams and Kós JJ
Submissions from counsel
Transcripts
Case Synopses
Media Releases
High Court decision
SMITH v FONTERRA CO-OPERATIVE GROUP LTD [2020] NZHC 419 [6 March 2020]
Court of Appeal decision
SMITH v FONTERRA CO-OPERATIVE GROUP LIMITED [2021] NZCA 552 [21 October 2021]
Leave judgment - leave granted
MICHAEL JOHN SMITH v FONTERRA CO-OPERATIVE GROUP LIMITED [2022] NZSC 35 [31 March 2022] (PDF, 161 KB)
Substantive judgment
[2024] NZSC 5 (PDF, 693 KB)
Videos
Page 1 of 3