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
Damien Shane Kuru v The King
Case number
SC 61/2023
Summary
Criminal Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Kuru v R [2023] NZCA 150).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
10 August 2023
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
10 August 2023
Date of hearing
04 March 2024
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, Ellen France, Williams and Kós JJ
Submissions from counsel
- Hearing date 4 March 2024 Appellant submissions (PDF, 579 KB)
- Hearing date 4 March 2024 Respondent submissions (PDF, 1.6 MB)
Transcripts
- Hearing date 4 March 2024 transcript (PDF, 614 KB)
Case Synopses
- Hearing date 4 March 2024 SC 61/2023 (PDF, 454 KB)
Leave judgment - leave granted
DAMIEN SHANE KURU v R [2023] NZSC 102 [10 August 2023] (PDF, 156 KB)
Videos
- SC 61/2023 Kuru v The King (Recorded, 4 March 2024)
Case name
Paki Nikora and Parearau Polly Alice Nikora on behalf of Te Kaunihera Kaumātua o Tūhoe v Tāmati Kruger on behalf of Tūhoe Te Uru Taumatua Trust
Case number
SC 67/2023
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Kruger on behalf of Tūhoe Te Uru Taumatua Trust v Nikora on behalf of Te Kaunihera Kaumātua o Tūhoe [2023] NZCA 179).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal erred in allowing the respondent’s appeal to that Court.
28 August 2023
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal erred in allowing the respondent’s appeal to that Court.
28 August 2023
Date of hearing
27 February 2024
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, Williams, O'Regan, Collins JJ
Submissions from counsel
- Hearing date 27 February 2024 Appellant submissions (PDF, 8 MB)
- Hearing date 27 February 2024 Respondent submissions (PDF, 447 KB)
- Hearing date 27 February 2024 Intervener Submissions (PDF, 486 KB)
- Hearing date 27 February 2024 Joint Chronology (PDF, 150 KB)
- Hearing date 27 February 2024 Appellant Oral Outline (PDF, 718 KB)
- Hearing date 27 February 2024 Respondent Oral Outline (PDF, 1.9 MB)
- hearing date 27 February 2024 Intervener Oral Outline (PDF, 264 KB)
Transcripts
- Hearing date 27 February 2024 (PDF, 642 KB)
Case Synopses
- Hearing date 27 February 2024 SC 67 2023 (PDF, 475 KB)
Additional document
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Case name
L (SC 71/2023) v Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections
Case number
SC 71/2023
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.
16 August 2022
16 August 2022
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Case name
H (SC 74/2023) v The King
Case number
SC 74/2023
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Case name
Damon Exley v NZME Publishing Limited and The King
Case number
SC 76/2023
Summary
Criminal Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (NZME Publishing Ltd v E [2023] NZCA 258).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to quash the High Court takedown order.
19 October 2023
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to quash the High Court takedown order.
19 October 2023
Date of hearing
06 August 2024
- 07 August 2024
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, Ellen France, Kós and Miller JJ
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Supreme court decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Case name
Mark Jospeh Hoggart v The King
Case number
SC 77/2023
Summary
Criminal Appeal
Result
A Mr Hoggart’s application for an extension of time to apply for leave to appeal is granted.
B The applications for leave to appeal are granted in part ([W] v R [2023] NZCA 155). The approved questions are:
1 Whether the Court of Appeal was correct to conclude that a media take down order was not required in the circumstances of this case.
2 Whether the Court of Appeal was correct to conclude that the verdicts were not unreasonable in light of admissible evidence relating to the potential culpability of Lester Hamilton (deceased).
C The applications for leave to appeal are otherwise dismissed.
D Interim order suppressing the name of W and any identifying particulars made on 9 June 2023 is to continue until further order.
12 December 2023
B The applications for leave to appeal are granted in part ([W] v R [2023] NZCA 155). The approved questions are:
1 Whether the Court of Appeal was correct to conclude that a media take down order was not required in the circumstances of this case.
2 Whether the Court of Appeal was correct to conclude that the verdicts were not unreasonable in light of admissible evidence relating to the potential culpability of Lester Hamilton (deceased).
C The applications for leave to appeal are otherwise dismissed.
D Interim order suppressing the name of W and any identifying particulars made on 9 June 2023 is to continue until further order.
12 December 2023
Date of hearing
06 August 2024
- 07 August 2024
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, Ellen France, Kós and Miller JJ
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave granted
Case name
L (SC 80/2023) v The King
Case number
SC 80/2023
Summary
Criminal Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (L (CA631/2021) v R [2023] NZCA 246).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
3 November 2023
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
3 November 2023
Date of hearing
19 March 2024
Judges
Glazebrook, Ellen France, Williams, Kós, Miller JJ
Submissions from counsel
- Hearing date 19 March 2024 Appellant submissions (PDF, 462 KB)
- Hearing date 19 March 2024 Respondent submissions (PDF, 433 KB)
- Hearing 19 March 2024 Appellant oral outline (PDF, 198 KB)
Case Synopses
- Hearing date 19 March 2024 (PDF, 443 KB)
District Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
L (SC 80/2023) v R [2023] NZSC 146 [3 November 2023] (PDF, 157 KB)
Case name
W v Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections
Case number
SC 85/2023
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.
5 October 2022
5 October 2022
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Case name
Richard Kumar v The King
Case number
SC 87/2023
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
District Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Case name
Jane Alison Farish v The King
Case number
SC 90/2023
Summary
Criminal Appeal
Result
A Leave is granted in part (Dallison v R [2023] NZCA 282).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal erred in declining to make the order sought by the applicant under s 205(2)(c) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011.
C The application for leave to appeal is otherwise dismissed.
D We make an order prohibiting publication of the applicant’s name, address, occupation and identifying particulars and of the information to which the application under s 205(2)(c) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 relates until final resolution of the appeal to this Court.
30 October 2023
_______________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed.
B We make an order prohibiting publication of this judgment, the media release and the minutes, and any information therein, until the judgment is delivered at 2.00 pm on 11 June 2024.
C We make an order prohibiting publication of certain evidence and submissions contained in this judgment pursuant to s 205 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011. See paragraph [82].
D We make an order redacting parts of the judgment that is made publicly available.
E We make an order that the files for this appeal are not to be searched without the leave of a Judge of this Court.
11 June 2024
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal erred in declining to make the order sought by the applicant under s 205(2)(c) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011.
C The application for leave to appeal is otherwise dismissed.
D We make an order prohibiting publication of the applicant’s name, address, occupation and identifying particulars and of the information to which the application under s 205(2)(c) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 relates until final resolution of the appeal to this Court.
30 October 2023
_______________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed.
B We make an order prohibiting publication of this judgment, the media release and the minutes, and any information therein, until the judgment is delivered at 2.00 pm on 11 June 2024.
C We make an order prohibiting publication of certain evidence and submissions contained in this judgment pursuant to s 205 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011. See paragraph [82].
D We make an order redacting parts of the judgment that is made publicly available.
E We make an order that the files for this appeal are not to be searched without the leave of a Judge of this Court.
11 June 2024
Date of hearing
28 February 2024
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, Ellen France, Williams and Miller JJ
Case Synopses
- Hearing date 28 February 2024 SC 90/2023 (PDF, 475 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2024] NZSC 65 (PDF, 333 KB)
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave granted
F (SC 90/2023) v R [2023] NZSC 143 [30 October 2023] (PDF, 166 KB)
Substantive judgment
JANE ALISON FARISH v R [2024] NZSC 65 [11 June 2024] (PDF, 316 KB)
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