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.
8 November 2024
Case information summary 2024 (as at 8 November 2024) – Cases where leave granted (126 KB)
Case information summary 2024 (as at 8 November 2024) – Cases where leave to appeal decision not yet made (PDF, 116 KB)
2023
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
A (SC 72/2023) v Attorney-General
Case number
SC 72/2023
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 There is no award as to costs.
1 November 2023
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
C There is no award as to costs.
1 November 2023
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Tanya Felicity Dunstan
Case number
SC 73/2023
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The Auckland High Court is removed as a respondent.
31 July 2023
B The Auckland High Court is removed as a respondent.
31 July 2023
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
TANYA FELICITY DUNSTAN [2023] NZSC 96 [31 July 2023] (PDF, 118 KB)
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
Danny John Cancian v Tauranga City Council
Case number
SC 75/2023
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
19 September 2023
19 September 2023
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
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, Williams, Kós and Miller JJ
Case Synopses
- Hearing date 6_7 August 2024 (PDF, 490 KB)
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, Williams, Kós and Miller JJ
Case Synopses
- Hearing date 6_7 August 2024 (PDF, 490 KB)
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave granted
Case name
MD v LP
Case number
SC 78/2023
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
26 October 2023
26 October 2023
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
MD v LP [2023] NZSC 140 [26 October 2023] (PDF, 177 KB)
Case name
Connor Sean Clayton Nevin v The King
Case number
SC 79/2023
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 allowed.
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
C The interim suppression order dated 21 July 2023 is lifted.
7 December 2023
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
C The interim suppression order dated 21 July 2023 is lifted.
7 December 2023
District Court decision
High Court decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
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)
Transcripts
- Hearing 19 March 2024 (PDF, 385 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)
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