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.
24 June 2024
Case information summary 2024 (as at 21 June 2024) – Cases where leave granted (121 KB)
Case information summary 2024 (as at 21 June 2024) – Cases where leave to appeal decision not yet made (PDF, 125 KB)
All years
Case name
Edward Powney Couper v The Queen
Case number
SC 10/2022
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.
14 April 2022
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
14 April 2022
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Clive Anthony Quinn and Philip Samson Wells (As trustees of the CA Quinn Trust) v Victoria Toon (As liquidator of Investacorp Holdings Limited), Bruce James Thompson, Caroline Mary Thompson and Stewartco Trustee Services Limited (As trustees of the CM Tho
Case number
SC 11/2022
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 first respondent costs of $2,500.
6 May 2022
B The applicants must pay the first respondent costs of $2,500.
6 May 2022
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
D (SC 12/2022) v The Queen
Case number
SC 12/2022
Summary
ORDER PROIBITING 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 PROIBITING 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.
2 March 2022
2 March 2022
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Case name
Body Corporate 384911 v Wong Sun Een and Ors and Pandey Viaduct Quays Limited, Pandey Viaduct Suites Limited, Pandey Viaduct Suites Two Limited and Pandey Viaduct Suites Three Limited
Case number
SC 13/2022
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 respondents costs of $2,500.
11 May 2022
B The applicant must pay the respondents costs of $2,500.
11 May 2022
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Make It 16 Incorporated v Attorney-General
Case number
SC 14/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Make It 16 Inc v Attorney General [2021] NZCA 681).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
13 April 2022
_____________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed. The decision of the Court of Appeal is set aside.
B A declaration is made that the provisions of the Electoral Act 1993 and of the Local Electoral Act 2001 which provide for a minimum voting age of 18 years are inconsistent with the right in s 19 of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 to be free from discrimination on the basis of age; these inconsistencies have not been justified in terms of s 5 of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act.
C Costs are reserved.
21 November 2022
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
13 April 2022
_____________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed. The decision of the Court of Appeal is set aside.
B A declaration is made that the provisions of the Electoral Act 1993 and of the Local Electoral Act 2001 which provide for a minimum voting age of 18 years are inconsistent with the right in s 19 of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 to be free from discrimination on the basis of age; these inconsistencies have not been justified in terms of s 5 of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act.
C Costs are reserved.
21 November 2022
Date of hearing
12 July 2022
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, O'Regan, Ellen France and Kós JJ
Submissions from counsel
- Hearing date 12 July 2022 Appellant Submissions (PDF, 466 KB)
- Hearing date12 July 2022 Appellant outline of oral argument (PDF, 148 KB)
- Hearing date 12 July 2022 Make it 16 Respondent submissions (PDF, 467 KB)
- Hearing date 12 July 2022 Respondent outline of oral argument (PDF, 229 KB)
Transcripts
- Hearing 12 July 2022 (PDF, 537 KB)
Case Synopses
- Hearing date 12 July 2022 (PDF, 470 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2022] NZSC 134 (PDF, 261 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
Videos
- Make it 16 Incorporated v Attorney General SC 14/2022 (Recorded, 21 November 2022)
- Make it 16 Incorporated v Attorney General SC 14/2022 (Recorded, 12 July 2022)
Case name
AR (INDIA) v Attorney-General
Case number
SC 15/2022
Summary
Civil 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 Leave to permit Mr Pidgeon to act for the applicant is granted.
C The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
D There is no order as to costs.
6 May 2022
B Leave to permit Mr Pidgeon to act for the applicant is granted.
C The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
D There is no order as to costs.
6 May 2022
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Robert Roper v Mariya Ann Taylor and Attorney-General
Case number
SC 16/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Taylor v Roper [2020] NZCA 268 reissued 16 December 2021 and Taylor v Roper [2021] NZCA 691).
B Leave to the First Respondent to cross appeal is granted.
17 May 2022
______________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed. We uphold the conclusion of the High Court Judge dismissing the claim by Ms Taylor for compensatory damages in relation to false imprisonment.
B The cross appeal is dismissed.
C Costs are reserved.
12 May 2023
______________________________________________
A There are no costs orders in this Court.
B Costs in the Courts below are to be dealt with by those Courts.
4 July 2023
B Leave to the First Respondent to cross appeal is granted.
17 May 2022
______________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed. We uphold the conclusion of the High Court Judge dismissing the claim by Ms Taylor for compensatory damages in relation to false imprisonment.
B The cross appeal is dismissed.
C Costs are reserved.
12 May 2023
______________________________________________
A There are no costs orders in this Court.
B Costs in the Courts below are to be dealt with by those Courts.
4 July 2023
Date of hearing
05 October 2022
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, O'Regan, Williams and William Young JJ
Submissions from counsel
- Hearing date 5 October 2022 Appellant submissions A G (PDF, 538 KB)
- Hearing date 5 October 2022 Attorney General submissions on cross appeal (PDF, 293 KB)
- Hearing date 5 October 2022 Appellants Submissions Roper (PDF, 280 KB)
- Hearing date 5 October 2022 Cross Appellants Submissions in opposition to the Submissions of the Attorney General (PDF, 121 KB)
- Hearing date 5 October 2022 Cross Appellants Submissions Opposing Submissions of Roper (PDF, 111 KB)
- Hearing date 5 October 2022 First Respondent Cross Appellant Outline of Oral Argument (PDF, 679 KB)
- Hearing date 5 October 2022 Attorney General Outline of Oral Argument (PDF, 804 KB)
Transcripts
- Hearing date 5 October 2022 (PDF, 405 KB)
Case Synopses
- Hearing date 5 October - 6 October 2022 (PDF, 688 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2023] NZSC 49 (PDF, 250 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
Supreme court decision
Case name
Jack Kain, Molly Kain, Rachel Kain, Stanley Kain, Wolsey Kain, George Couper McHardy Kain, Asta Kain, Madeline Kain, George Pavey Kain, Michael Kain, Rupert Kain, Samuel Kain and Marnie Coupie Forcer Kain v Public Trust and Georgina Kain, George Chalres K
Case number
SC 17/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The applications for leave to appeal in SC 17/2022 and SC 18/2022 are dismissed.
B Leave is reserved for submissions to be filed if costs are in issue.
24 May 2022
B Leave is reserved for submissions to be filed if costs are in issue.
24 May 2022
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
KAIN v PUBLIC TRUST [2022] NZSC 65 [24 May 2022] (PDF, 203 KB)
Case name
Georgina Kain, George Charles Kain, George Harry Couper Kain, George Michael Kain v Public Trust, Mary Hutton, Marnice Couper Forcer Kain, Jack Kain, Molly Kain, Rachel Kain, Stanley Kain, Wolsey Kain, George Couper McHardy Kain, Asta Kain, Madeline Kain,
Case number
SC 18/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The applications for leave to appeal in SC 17/2022 and SC 18/2022 are dismissed.
B Leave is reserved for submissions to be filed if costs are in issue.
24 May 2022
B Leave is reserved for submissions to be filed if costs are in issue.
24 May 2022
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
KAIN v PUBLIC TRUST [2022] NZSC 65 [24 May 2022] (PDF, 203 KB)
Case name
Maureen Valerie Grant v A Labour Inspector & Southern Taxis Limited & Maureen Valerie Grant and Nathan Adams as administrators in the estate of Ronald James Grant
Case number
SC 19/2022
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.
2 March 2022
2 March 2022
Employment Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
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