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.

20 March 2026

Case information summary 2025 (as at 20 March 2026) –  Cases where leave granted (PDF, 88 KB)
Case information summary 2025 (as at 20 March 2026)  – Cases where leave to appeal decision not yet made (PDF, 123 KB) 

All years

Case name
Saletaulua Charles Faamanatu Maka and Tonga Seini Fata as Trustees of the Samoan Independent Seventh Day Adventist Property Trust v Siaosi David Sootaga Toailoa, Feu Seimaalii, Peniata Saunia, Attorney-General and Samoan Independent Seventh Day Adventist
Case number
SC 65/2025
Summary

Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal

Result

A The applications for leave to appeal are dismissed.
B The applicants in the two proposed appeals must pay the first to third respondents one set of costs of $2,500.

Case name
Kristin Pia Cato v Manaia Media Limited, Rowan Dixon and Jane Thompson
Case number
SC 66/2025
Summary

Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal

Result

A A notice of abandonment having been filed, the application for leave to appeal is abandoned.
B A notice of abandonment having been filed, the application for leave to cross-appeal is abandoned.
6 August 2025

Case name
Xinhong (Victor) Jia v Yuling Yang and Sen Gao
Case number
SC 67/2025
Summary

Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring appeal

Result

A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicant must pay the respondents one set of costs of $2,500. 
10 November 2025

Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Gurinderpal Singh Brar v The King
Case number
SC 68/2025
Summary

Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal

Court of Appeal decision
Case name
T v The King
Case number
SC 69/2025
Summary

ORDER PROHIBITING PUBLICATION OF THE JUDGMENT AND ANY PART OF THE PROCEEDINGS (INCLUDING THE RESULT) IN NEWS MEDIA OR ON THE INTERNET OR OTHER PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATABASE UNTIL FINAL DISPOSITION OF TRIAL. PUBLICATION IN LAW REPORT OR LAW DIGEST IS PERMITTED.

Result

ORDER PROHIBITING PUBLICATION OF THE JUDGMENT IN NEWS MEDIA OR ON THE INTERNET OR OTHER PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATABASE UNTIL FINAL DISPOSITION OF TRIAL. PUBLICATION IN LAW REPORT OR LAW DIGEST PERMITTED.

High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Case name
A v The King
Case number
SC 70/2025
Summary

ORDER PROHIBITING PUBLICATION OF THE JUDGMENT AND ANY PART OF THE PROCEEDINGS (INCLUDING THE RESULT) IN NEWS MEDIA OR ON THE INTERNET OR OTHER PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATABASE UNTIL FINAL DISPOSITION OF TRIAL. PUBLICATION IN LAW REPORT OR LAW DIGEST IS PERMITTED.

Result

ORDER PROHIBITING PUBLICATION OF THE JUDGMENT IN NEWS MEDIA OR ON THE INTERNET OR OTHER PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATABASE UNTIL FINAL DISPOSITION OF TRIAL. PUBLICATION IN LAW REPORT OR LAW DIGEST PERMITTED.

High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Case name
The Samoan Independent Seventh Day Adventist Church (SISDAC) Charitable Trust Board v Siaosi David Sootaga Toailoa, Feu Seimaalii, Peniata Saunia, Attorney-General and Saletaulua Charles Faamanatu Maka and Tonga Seini Fata as Trustees of the Samoan Indepe
Case number
SC 71/2025
Summary

Civil appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal

Result

A The applications for leave to appeal are dismissed.
B The applicants in the two proposed appeals must pay the first to third respondents one set of costs of $2,500.

Case name
Leon Tamati Chase v The King
Case number
SC 72/2025
Summary

Criminal appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal

Result

The application for leave to appeal is dismissed. 
11 November 2025

High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
P v Wellington Family Court, The Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages and C
Case number
SC 73/2025
Summary

Civil appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal 

Case name
Ms Henderson v Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children
Case number
SC 74/2025
Summary

Civil appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal

Result

A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicant must pay the respondent costs of $2,500
30 September 2025