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
Colin Graeme Craig v Jordan Henry Williams
Case number
SC 21/2018
Summary
Civil Appeal – Defamation – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in setting aside the decision of the High Court to order a full retrial – (cross-appeal) Whether the Court of Appeal erred in upholding the High Court’ s order setting aside the jury’s verdict on damages.
Result
A Leave to appeal and leave to cross appeal is granted (Williams v Craig [2018] NZCA 31).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal erred in allowing the appeal to that Court in part and dismissing the cross appeal to that Court.
4 July 2018
_________________
A The appeal is allowed. The orders of the Court of Appeal entering judgment for the respondent on liability and directing a retrial of the respondent’s claim for damages are set aside. An order for a general retrial on liability and damages is substituted.
B The cross-appeal is dismissed.
C The respondent must pay the appellant costs of $35,000 plus usual disbursements. We allow for second counsel.
D The costs award made in the Court of Appeal is set aside. If costs in that Court cannot be agreed they should be set by the Court of Appeal in light of this judgment. Any costs issues arising in the High Court shall be considered by the High Court in light of this judgment.
11 April 2019
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal erred in allowing the appeal to that Court in part and dismissing the cross appeal to that Court.
4 July 2018
_________________
A The appeal is allowed. The orders of the Court of Appeal entering judgment for the respondent on liability and directing a retrial of the respondent’s claim for damages are set aside. An order for a general retrial on liability and damages is substituted.
B The cross-appeal is dismissed.
C The respondent must pay the appellant costs of $35,000 plus usual disbursements. We allow for second counsel.
D The costs award made in the Court of Appeal is set aside. If costs in that Court cannot be agreed they should be set by the Court of Appeal in light of this judgment. Any costs issues arising in the High Court shall be considered by the High Court in light of this judgment.
11 April 2019
Transcripts
- Hearing date 4-5 September 2018 (PDF, 895 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2019] NZSC 38 (PDF, 293 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
Recall judgment
Additional document
Case name
Jeremy James McGuire v The Secretary for Justice
Case number
SC 22/2018
Summary
Civil Appeal – Legal Services Act 2011 – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in striking out the applicant’s application for judicial review – Whether a self-represented litigant who is a practising lawyer can receive a costs award.
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (McGuire v The Secretary for Justice [2018] NZCA 37)
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal and allow the cross-appeal
12 June 2018
_______________________
A The appeal is dismissed.
B There is no order for costs.
27 November 2018
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal and allow the cross-appeal
12 June 2018
_______________________
A The appeal is dismissed.
B There is no order for costs.
27 November 2018
Transcripts
- Hearing date 1 August 2018 (PDF, 407 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2018] NZSC 116 (PDF, 293 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
Case name
Patty Tzu Chou Lin v Commissioner of Inland Revenue
Case number
SC 23/2018
Summary
Civil Appeal – Income Tax Act 2007 – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in finding that the applicant was not entitled to a tax credit against income tax liability for tax spared by China under New Zealand’ s Controlled Foreign Company tax regime.
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicant must pay the respondent costs of $2,500.
20 June 2018
B The applicant must pay the respondent costs of $2,500.
20 June 2018
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Rajendra Prasad v Indiana Publications (NZ) Limited, Arin Lal, Venkat Ram and Mahesh Parera
Case number
SC 24/2018
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in striking out the applicant’s claim for breach of copyright – Whether the Supreme Court should recall its decision to dismiss the application for leave to appeal.
Result
A The applications for recall and for an extension of time for leave to appeal are dismissed.
B There is no award of costs.
21 May 2018
B There is no award of costs.
21 May 2018
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Recall judgment
Case name
Rajendra Prasad v Indiana Publications (NZ) Limited
Case number
SC 25/2018
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in striking out the applicant’s claim for breach of copyright – Whether the Supreme Court should recall its decision to dismiss the application for leave to appeal.
Result
A The applications for recall and for an extension of time for leave to appeal are dismissed.
B There is no award of costs.
21 May 2018
B There is no award of costs.
21 May 2018
High Court decision
Recall judgment
Case name
Gregory David Waters v The Queen
Case number
SC 26/2018
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Whether the trial Judge’s failure to sum up the evidence caused a miscarriage of justice – Whether the trial Judge’ s failure to direct the jury under s 32 of the Evidence Act caused prejudice –Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing the appeal against conviction
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed
5 June 2018
5 June 2018
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
GREGORY DAVID WATERS v R [2018] NZSC 49 [5 June 2018] (PDF, 194 KB)
Case name
Desmond William Cook v Housing New Zealand Corporation
Case number
SC 27/2018
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B There is no award of costs.
8 May 2018
B There is no award of costs.
8 May 2018
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Thomas James Luke Olliver v The Queen
Case number
SC 28/2018
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Whether the trial judge’s direction was adequate to the newly formed jury was adequate – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing the appeal against conviction.
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
15 June 2018
15 June 2018
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Timothy Joseph Foley v The Queen
Case number
SC 29/2018
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing the appeal against conviction.
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed. 21 June 2018
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
TIMOTHY JOSEPH FOLEY v R [2018] NZSC 57 [21 June 2018] (PDF, 192 KB)
Case name
Mangawhai Ratepayers' & Residents' Association Inc, Richard Bruce Rogan and Heather Elizabeth Rogan v Northland Regional Council and Kaipara District Council
Case number
SC 30/2018
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in its application of s 5 of the Judicature Amendment Act 1972 – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in its findings under the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002.
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B Costs of $4,500 plus usual disbursements are awarded to the respondents.
6 August 2018
B Costs of $4,500 plus usual disbursements are awarded to the respondents.
6 August 2018
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
High Court judgments
Transcript leave hearing
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