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
Richard Lincoln v New Zealand Law Society
Case number
SC 132/2019
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 dismissed.
B The applicant must pay costs of $2,500 to the respondent.
14 February 2020
B The applicant must pay costs of $2,500 to the respondent.
14 February 2020
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Nicholas Paul Alfred Reekie v Chief executive of the Department of Corrections and Visiting Justice to Spring Hill Correctional Facility
Case number
SC 133/2019
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 The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
C The applicant must pay costs of $250 to the first respondent.
9 April 2020
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
C The applicant must pay costs of $250 to the first respondent.
9 April 2020
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Nicholas Paul Alfred Reekie v Attoney-General (sued on behalf of the Department of Corrections) Attorney-General and District Court of Waitakere
Case number
SC 135/2019
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 The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
C The applicant must pay one set of costs of $250 to the first and second respondents.
6 April 2020
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
C The applicant must pay one set of costs of $250 to the first and second respondents.
6 April 2020
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Kruti Patel v Immigration and Protection Tribunal and Minister of Immigration
Case number
SC 137/2019
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The applications for an extension of time to file the applications for leave to appeal are granted.
B The applications to adduce further evidence are dismissed.
C The applications for leave to appeal are dismissed.
2 April 2020
B The applications to adduce further evidence are dismissed.
C The applications for leave to appeal are dismissed.
2 April 2020
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Christopher Lorraine Pickering and Aqatar Limited v Detection Services Pty Limited & Detection Solutions Pty Limited
Case number
SC 138/2019
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 costs of $2,500 to the respondents.
17 April 2020
B The applicants must pay costs of $2,500 to the respondents.
17 April 2020
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Dermot Gregory Nottingham v Maltese Cat Limited, Clyde Alexander Maclean and Elizabeth May Currie
Case number
SC 139/2019
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 one set of costs of $2,500 to the respondents.
17 April 2020
B The applicant must pay one set of costs of $2,500 to the respondents.
17 April 2020
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Mikaere Oketopa AKA Michael Wayne October v The Queen
Case number
SC 140/2019
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
The application for an extension of time to apply for leave to
appeal is dismissed.
31 July 2020
appeal is dismissed.
31 July 2020
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
MIKAERE OKETOPA v R [2020] NZSC 75 [31 July 2020] (PDF, 61 KB)
Case name
Geoffrey James Bird v The New Zealand Guardian Trust Company, Philip Anthony Bird, David Andrew Bird and Allen Roger Bird
Case number
SC 1/2018
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether the High Court erred in removing the applicant as executor and trustee – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing an application for review of the Deputy Registrar’s decision not to dispense with security for costs.
Result
A The applications for leave to appeal are dismissed.
B The applicant is to pay costs of $2,500 to the second, third and fourth respondents. 8 February 2018
B The applicant is to pay costs of $2,500 to the second, third and fourth respondents. 8 February 2018
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Akosita Vaeafisi v The Queen
Case number
SC 2/2018
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing the sentence appeal.
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
17 April 2018
17 April 2018
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
AKOSITA VAEAFISI v R [2018] NZSC 33 [17 April 2018] (PDF, 229 KB)
Case name
Leonard Gus Nattrass-Bergquist v The Queen
Case number
SC 3/2018
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Evidence Act 2006, s 124 – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing the applicant’s appeal against conviction – Whether the trial Judge was required to give a lies direction – Whether the trial Judge misdirected the jury.
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
13 April 2018
13 April 2018
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
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