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.

23 December 2024

Case information summary 2024 (as at 23 December 2024) –  Cases where leave granted (126 KB)
Case information summary 2024 (as at 23 December 2024)  – Cases where leave to appeal decision not yet made (PDF, 116 KB)

All years

Case name
Mark James McLaughlin and Andrew Ashley McLaughlin v John David Manuel McLaughlin
Case number
SC 116/2023
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicants must pay the respondent costs of $2,500.
15 February 2024
Case name
H v the King
Case number
SC 117/2023
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 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 disposition of trial. Publication in law report or law digest permitted.
14 November 2023
Case name
Jessie Arthur Heke-Gray v The King
Case number
SC 118/2023
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.
9 May 2024
Case name
John Howard Carter v Capital and Coast District Health Board, Hutt Valley District Health Board and Attorney-General (for the Ministry of Health)
Case number
SC 119/2023
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for an extension of time to file an application for leave to appeal is granted.
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
C The applicant must pay the third respondent costs of $1,000.
29 July 2024
___________________________________________
A The application for recusal is dismissed.
B The application for recall is dismissed.
C There is no order as to costs.
16 August 2024
Case name
Damin Peter Cook v The King
Case number
SC 120/2023
Summary
Criminal 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 granted (Cook v R [2023] NZCA 342).
C The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to treat Mr Cook’s defence as insane automatism.
19 February 2024
Date of hearing
23 July 2024
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, Williams, Kós and O'Regan JJ
Transcripts
District Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Videos
Case name
Whakatōhea Kotahitanga Waka (Edwards) v Te Kāhui and Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board and Ors
Case number
SC 121/2023
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
The applications for leave to appeal are granted (Whakatōhea Kotahitanga Waka (Edwards) v Te Kāhui and Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board [2023] NZCA 504) on the question of the correctness of the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
17 April 2024
______________________________________________________
A The application by Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Porou for leave to intervene is granted.
B Costs are reserved on this application and on the substantive hearing.
23 July 2024
______________________________________________________
A The application by Te Kāhui Takutai Moana o Ngā Whānau me Ngā Hapū o Te Whakatōhea for a prospective costs order against the Attorney-General is granted.
B The respondent must pay the applicants prospective costs of $97,500, collectively.
C The respondent must pay the applicants costs on the application of $7,500 together with usual disbursements.
20 September 2024
_______________________________________________
A The appeal (by the Attorney-General in relation to s 58 of the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011) is allowed.
B Costs are reserved.
2 December 2024
Date of hearing
04 November 2024 - 15 November 2024
Judges
Glazebrook, Ellen France, Williams, Kós and French JJ
Submissions from counsel
Case Synopses
Media Releases
Case name
Ian Adamson and Kate Jones v James Robinson
Case number
SC 122/2023
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicants must pay the respondent one set of costs of $2,500.
5 February 2024
Case name
Ngāti Muriwai Hapū v Whakatōhea Kotahitanga Waka (Edwards) and Ors
Case number
SC 123/2023
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
The applications for leave to appeal are granted (Whakatōhea Kotahitanga Waka (Edwards) v Te Kāhui and Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board [2023] NZCA 504) on the question of the correctness of the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
17 April 2024
____________________________________________
A The application by Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Porou for leave to intervene is granted.
B Costs are reserved on this application and on the substantive hearing.
23 July 2024
____________________________________________
A The application by Te Kāhui Takutai Moana o Ngā Whānau me Ngā Hapū o Te Whakatōhea for a prospective costs order against the Attorney-General is granted.
B The respondent must pay the applicants prospective costs of $97,500, collectively.
C The respondent must pay the applicants costs on the application of $7,500 together with usual disbursements.
20 September 2024
_____________________________________________________
A The appeal (by the Attorney-General in relation to s 58 of the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011) is allowed.
B Costs are reserved.
2 December 2024
Date of hearing
04 November 2024 - 15 November 2024
Judges
Glazebrook, Ellen France, Williams, Kós and French JJ
Submissions from counsel
Case Synopses
Media Releases
Case name
Kutarere Marae v Whakatōhea Kotahitanga Waka (Edwards) and Ors
Case number
SC 124/2023
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
The applications for leave to appeal are granted (Whakatōhea Kotahitanga Waka (Edwards) v Te Kāhui and Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board [2023] NZCA 504) on the question of the correctness of the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
17 April 2024
_____________________________________________________
A The application by Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Porou for leave to intervene is granted.
B Costs are reserved on this application and on the substantive hearing.
23 July 2024
_____________________________________________________
A The application by Te Kāhui Takutai Moana o Ngā Whānau me Ngā Hapū o Te Whakatōhea for a prospective costs order against the Attorney-General is granted.
B The respondent must pay the applicants prospective costs of $97,500, collectively.
C The respondent must pay the applicants costs on the application of $7,500 together with usual disbursements.
20 September 2024
___________________________________________
A The appeal (by the Attorney-General in relation to s 58 of the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011) is allowed.
B Costs are reserved.
2 December 2024
Date of hearing
04 November 2024 - 15 November 2024
Judges
Glazebrook, Ellen France, Williams, Kós and French JJ
Submissions from counsel
Case Synopses
Media Releases
Case name
Te Ūpokorehe Treaty Claims Trust on behalf of Te Ūpokorehe Iwi v Landowners Coalition Incorporated and Ors
Case number
SC 125/2023
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
The applications for leave to appeal are granted (Whakatōhea Kotahitanga Waka (Edwards) v Te Kāhui and Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board [2023] NZCA 504) on the question of the correctness of the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
17 April 2024
________________________________________________________________________________
A The application by Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Porou for leave to intervene is granted.
B Costs are reserved on this application and on the substantive hearing.
23 July 2024
________________________________________________________________________________
A The application by Te Kāhui Takutai Moana o Ngā Whānau me Ngā Hapū o Te Whakatōhea for a prospective costs order against the Attorney-General is granted.
B The respondent must pay the applicants prospective costs of $97,500, collectively.
C The respondent must pay the applicants costs on the application of $7,500 together with usual disbursements.
20 September 2024
____________________________________________
A The appeal (by the Attorney-General in relation to s 58 of the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011) is allowed.
B Costs are reserved.
2 December 2024
Date of hearing
04 November 2024 - 15 November 2024
Judges
Glazebrook, Ellen France, Williams, Kós and French JJ
Submissions from counsel
Case Synopses
Media Releases