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
Glenn Michael Soroka as Trustee of the Pakau Trust v Waikato District Council
Case number
SC 133/2023
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Case name
Brett David Grinder v Attorney-General and New Zealand Parole Board
Case number
SC 147/2023
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Attorney-General v Grinder [2023] NZCA 596).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to allow the appeal and in particular the proper approach to the imposition, variation or discharge of special conditions when a person subject to preventive detention is granted release on parole.
6 May 2024
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to allow the appeal and in particular the proper approach to the imposition, variation or discharge of special conditions when a person subject to preventive detention is granted release on parole.
6 May 2024
Date of hearing
22 October 2024
Judges
tbc
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Case name
Port Otago Limited v Environmental Defence Society Incorporated, Otago Regional Council, Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand Incorporated and Marlborough District Council
Case number
SC 6/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Port Otago Ltd v Environmental Defence Society Inc [2021] NZCA 638).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
17 March 2022
______________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed.
B The order remitting the matter to the Environment Court is set aside.
C The Otago Regional Council is directed to consult the parties and any other persons it considers appropriate on a redrafted policy 4.3.7(d)–(e) in the proposed Otago Regional Policy Statement either:
(a) along the lines in paragraph [87] of this judgment or to similar effect; or
(b) otherwise to give appropriate effect to the policies of the NZCPS and their inter-relationships.
D Costs are reserved.
24 August 2023
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
17 March 2022
______________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed.
B The order remitting the matter to the Environment Court is set aside.
C The Otago Regional Council is directed to consult the parties and any other persons it considers appropriate on a redrafted policy 4.3.7(d)–(e) in the proposed Otago Regional Policy Statement either:
(a) along the lines in paragraph [87] of this judgment or to similar effect; or
(b) otherwise to give appropriate effect to the policies of the NZCPS and their inter-relationships.
D Costs are reserved.
24 August 2023
Date of hearing
11 May 2022
- 12 May 2022
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, William Young, Glazebrook, Ellen France and Williams JJ
Submissions from counsel
- Hearing date 11 and 12 May 2022 Appellant Port Otago submissions (PDF, 7.5 MB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 May 2022 Appellant Port Otago oral outline (PDF, 747 KB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 May 2022 First Respondent EDS submissions (PDF, 861 KB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 May 2022 Second Respondent ORC submissions (PDF, 335 KB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 May 2022 Second Respondent ORC oral outline (PDF, 693 KB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 May 2022 Third Respondent FB submissions (PDF, 855 KB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 May 2022 Fourth Respondent MDC submissions (PDF, 998 KB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 May 2022 Interested Party FB submissions (PDF, 671 KB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 May 2022 Interested Party NZTA submissions (PDF, 997 KB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 May 2022 Interested Party NZTA oral outline (PDF, 1 MB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 May 2022 Interested Party Auckland Council submissions (PDF, 9.2 MB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 May 2022 Interested Party Mana Whenua Parties submissions (PDF, 815 KB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 May 2022 Interested Party Mana Whenua Parties oral outline (PDF, 650 KB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 May 2022 Interested Party Ngati Whatua Orakei submissions (PDF, 695 KB)
- Hearing date 11 and 12 May 2022 Interested Party Ngati Whatua Orakei oral outline (PDF, 705 KB)
Transcripts
- Hearing 11 and 12 May 2022 (PDF, 867 KB)
Case Synopses
- Hearing date 11 and 12 May 2022 (PDF, 198 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2023] NZSC 112 (PDF, 326 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
Case name
Fiona Margaret Mead v Lilach Paul and Brett Paul
Case number
SC 7/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Paul v Mead) [2021] NZCA 649).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to allow the appeal.
22 March 2022
______________________________________
A The appeal is dismissed.
B The appellant must pay the first respondent costs of $25,000 plus usual disbursements.
20 June 2023
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to allow the appeal.
22 March 2022
______________________________________
A The appeal is dismissed.
B The appellant must pay the first respondent costs of $25,000 plus usual disbursements.
20 June 2023
Date of hearing
22 July 2022
Judges
Glazebrook, O'Regan, Ellen France, Williams and Kós JJ
Submissions from counsel
- Hearing date 22 July 2022 Appellant Submissions (PDF, 10 MB)
- Hearing date 22 July 2022 First Respondent submissions (PDF, 965 KB)
- Hearing date 22 July 2022 Second Respondent memorandum (PDF, 381 KB)
Transcripts
- Hearing date 22 July 2022 (PDF, 498 KB)
Case Synopses
- Hearing date 22 July 2022 (PDF, 268 KB)
Media Releases
- MR [2023] NZSC 70 (PDF, 323 KB)
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
Case name
Todd William Frank Sutton and Todd William Frank Sutton and Hoffman Trustees Limited as trustees of the Todd Sutton Trust v Joana Elisia Bell
Case number
SC 8/2022
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
A Leave to appeal is granted (Sutton v Bell [2021] NZCA 645).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
12 April 2022
________________________________________________________________
A The appeal is dismissed.
B The appellants must pay the respondent costs of $25,000 plus usual disbursements.
1 June 2023
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
12 April 2022
________________________________________________________________
A The appeal is dismissed.
B The appellants must pay the respondent costs of $25,000 plus usual disbursements.
1 June 2023
Date of hearing
02 August 2022
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, O'Regan, Ellen France and Kós JJ
Media Releases
- MR [2023] NZSC 65 (PDF, 504 KB)
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave granted
Substantive judgment
SUTTON v BELL [2023] NZSC 65 [1 June 2023] (PDF, 342 KB)
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
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
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
I (SC 20/2022) v The Queen
Case number
SC 20/2022
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.
30 March 2022
30 March 2022
District Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Case name
Alan Russell Hall v The Queen
Case number
SC 21/2022
Summary
Criminal Appeal
Result
A The application for an extension of time to apply for leave to appeal is granted.
B Leave to appeal is granted (R v Hall [1987] 1 NZLR 616 (CA)).
C The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
3 May 2022
_____________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed.
B The convictions of the appellant are quashed.
C Order under s 385(2) of the Crimes Act 1961 directing that verdicts of acquittal be entered.
8 June 2022
B Leave to appeal is granted (R v Hall [1987] 1 NZLR 616 (CA)).
C The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal.
3 May 2022
_____________________________________________________
A The appeal is allowed.
B The convictions of the appellant are quashed.
C Order under s 385(2) of the Crimes Act 1961 directing that verdicts of acquittal be entered.
8 June 2022
Date of hearing
08 June 2022
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, O'Regan, Ellen France, Williams and Kós JJ
Submissions from counsel
- Hearing date 8 June 2022 Appellant submission (PDF, 1 MB)
- Hearing date 8 June 2022 Respondent submission (PDF, 642 KB)
Transcripts
- Hearing date 8 June 2022 (PDF, 383 KB)
Media Releases
- MR 2022 NZSC 71 (PDF, 201 KB)
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave granted
ALAN RUSSELL HALL v R [2022] NZSC 51 [3 May 2022] (PDF, 156 KB)
Substantive judgment
ALAN RUSSELL HALL v R [2022] NZSC 71 [8 June 2022] (PDF, 125 KB)
Substantive judgment
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