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
Peter Malcolm Fuller v Sonny Patel
Case number
SC 35/2025
Summary

Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal

Result

A The application for leave to amend the leave application is granted.
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
C There is no order as to costs.                                                                                                      
2 July 2025

Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Peter Malcolm Fuller v Grant Alistair Fraser
Case number
SC 36/2025
Summary

Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal

Result

A The application for leave to amend the leave application is dismissed.
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
C There is no order as to costs.
2 July 2025

Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Brendan Kent Day v The King
Case number
SC 37/2025
Summary

Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal

Result

The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.                                                                            
15 July 2025

District Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Lawyers for Climate Action NZ Incorporated v Climate Change Commission and Minister of Climate Change
Case number
SC 38/2025
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.
22 December 2025

Case name
Melota Metuala v The King
Case number
SC 39/2025
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.
21 November 2025

District Court decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
W v The King
Case number
SC 40/2025
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 DISPOSITON OF RETRIAL. PUBLICAITON IN LAW REPORT OR LAW DIGEST PERMITTED.

Result

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 DISPOSITON OF RETRIAL. PUBLICAITON IN LAW REPORT OR LAW DIGEST PERMITTED.

District Court decision
Not publicly available
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Case name
K (SC 41/2025) v The King
Case number
SC 41/2025
Summary

Criminal Appeal 

Result

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 RETRIAL. PUBLICATION IN LAW REPORT OR LAW DIGEST PERMITTED.

Date of hearing
07 October 2025
Judges
Glazebrook, Ellen France, Williams, Kós and Miller JJ
District Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Case name
Anthony Mikhal Schmidt v Ebada Property Investments Ltd and Others
Case number
SC 42/2025
Summary

Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal

Result

A The applications for leave to appeal are dismissed.
B Costs are reserved.
3 October 2025

Case name
Maui Ashley Solomon, Paul Te Teira Solomon, Thomas Henry Lanauze, Grace Ngaroimata Legros and Sharon Anne Elizabeth Wadsworth as trustees of the Moriori Imi Settlement Trust for and on behalf of Imi Moriori v Attorney-General and Deena Ngawhata Whaitiri,
Case number
SC 43/2025
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 abandoned 
15 May 2025 
Case name
DHC Assets Limited v Antony Ivo Arnerich
Case number
SC 44/2025
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.
17 September 2025