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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.

11 July 2024

Case information summary 2024 (as at 5 July 2024) –  Cases where leave granted (123 KB)
Case information summary 2024 (as at 5 July 2024)  – Cases where leave to appeal decision not yet made (PDF, 126 KB)

All years

Case name
Alan Canavan v Damien Grant and Stevcen Khov as liquidators of Quantum Grow Limited in liquidation.
Case number
SC 49/2014
Summary
[2014] NZCA 127   CA 399/2013
Result
The applications for leave to appeal are dismissed.
The applicant is to pay the respondents costs of $2,500 and reasonable disbursements as fixed by the Registrar.
4 July 2014
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
ALAN CANAVAN v DAMIEN GRANT AND STEVEN KHOV AS LIQUIDATORS OF QUANTUM GROW LIMITED (IN LIQUIDATION) [2014] NZSC 82   4 July 2014 (PDF, 52 KB)
Judgment appealed from

GRANT & ANOR v LOTUS GARDENS LTD CA399/2013 [2014] NZCA 127  4 April 2014
Case name
Christine Hamilton Thompson v Michael Leith Thompson
Case number
SC 50/2014
Summary
Civil Appeal – Property (Relationships) Act 1976 – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in finding that a sum received for a restraint of trade covenant against Mr Thompson personally was not relationship property under ss 8(1)(e) and 8(1)(l) of the Act – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in finding that a sum received for a restraint of trade covenant against Mr Thompson personally should not be treated, in the Court’s discretion, as relationship property, either in whole or in part, under s 9(4) of the Act.  [2014] NZCA 117  CA 701/2013; CA 711/2013
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is granted (Thompson v Thompson [2014] NZCA 117).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was right to find that the sum received by the respondent for giving the restraint of trade covenant:
(a) was not relationship property under s 8(1)(e) or s 8(1)(l) of the Property (Relationships) Act 1976; and, in the alternative,
(b) should not be treated
5 August 2014
_________________________________
A The appeal is allowed and the judgment of the Court of Appeal is set aside.
B The $8 million restraint of trade payment received by Mr Thompson is declared to be relationship property.
C The case is remitted to the Family Court for the making of such orders as may be necessary to give effect to the declaration.
D The appellant is awarded costs of $25,000 together with disbursements to be fixed by the Registrar in respect of the appeal to this Court and costs and disbursements in respect of the proceedings in the Family Court, High Court and Court of Appeal to be fixed by those Courts.
13 March 2015
Transcripts
Media Releases
Court of Appeal decision
THOMPSON V THOMPSON & ORS CA701/2013 & CA711/2013 [2014] NZCA 117 [8 April 2014
Leave judgment - leave granted
CHRISTINE HAMILTON THOMPSON v MICHAEL LEITH THOMPSON [2014] NZSC 101 [5 August 2014] (PDF, 11 KB)
Substantive judgment
CHRISTINE HAMILTON THOMPSON v MICHAEL LEITH THOMPSON [2015] NZSC 26 [13 March 2015] (PDF, 354 KB)
Case name
Forivermor Limited v ANZ Bank New Zealand Limited
Case number
SC 51/2014
Summary
Civil Appeal –   Whether the Court of Appeal erred in holding that clauses 1.2 (b)(iv) and 5.1 of the Code of Banking Practice were not each incorporated into the finance contract – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in holding that the respondent did not breach the said clauses, in particular by the advance of funds on or about 9 September 2008 – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in holding that the applicant suffered no loss as a result of the action and/or inaction of the respondent.[2014] NZCA 129 CA 790/2012
Result
Application for leave to appeal dismissed.
Costs to respondent $2,500.00 10 July 2014
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
FORIVERMOR LIMITED v ANZ BANK NEW ZEALAND LIMITED (FORMERLY ANZ NATIONAL BANK LIMITED) [2014] NZSC 89    10 July 2014 (PDF, 54 KB)
Judgment appealed from

FORIVERMOR LIMITED v ANZ BANK NEW ZEALAND LIMITED (FORMERLY ANZ NATIONAL BANK LIMITED) CA790/2012 [2014] NZCA 129  7 April 2014
Case name
Malcolm Edward Rabson v Wayne Seymour Chapman
Case number
SC 52/2014
Summary
Civil Appeal – Court of Appeal (Civil) Rules 2005 – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in awarding costs to the respondent¬.  [2014] NZCA 158   CA 855/2012
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed. Costs of $2,500 are awarded to the respondent.
15 August 2014
___________________________________________
The application for recall is dismissed.
25 February 2016
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
MALCOLM EDWARD RABSON v WAYNE SEYMOUR CHAPMAN [2014] NZSC 112 [15 August 2014] (PDF, 57 KB)
Recall judgment
MALCOLM EDWARD RABSON v WAYNE SEYMOUR CHAPMAN [2016] NZSC 17 [25 February 2016] (PDF, 65 KB)
Judgment appealed from

RABSON v CHAPMAN CA855/2012 [2014] NZCA 158     29 April 2014
Case name
Ronald van Wakeren v Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections
Case number
SC 53/2014
Summary
Civil Appeal –  Habeas Corpus Act 2001 – Whether the Court of Appeal resentenced the applicant in relation to all offending or only in relation to the burglary charge – Whether the Court of Appeal wrongly issued the warrant of imprisonment in relation to offending other than the burglary charge.[2013] NZCA 71   CA 93/2013
Result
Application for leave to appeal dismissed.
6 June 2014 ________________________
Application for recall of judgment dismissed.
24 June 2014
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
VAN WAKEREN v THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS [2014] NZSC 65  [6 June 2014] (PDF, 54 KB)
Recall judgment
VAN WAKEREN v THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS [2014] NZSC 79 [24 June 2014] (PDF, 43 KB)
Judgment appealed from

VAN WAKEREN V CEO DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS COA CA93/2013 [20 March 2013]
Case name
Philip John Woolley v The Queen
Case number
SC 54/2014
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Resource Management Act 1991 – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in upholding the applicant’s convictions for offences against s 13 of the Resource Management Act 1991 – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing his appeal against sentence. [2014] NZCA 178   CA 687/2013
Result
Application for leave to appeal dismissed. 5 August 2014
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
PHILIP JOHN WOOLLEY v R [2014] NZSC 99 [5 August 2014] (PDF, 54 KB)
Judgment appealed from

WOOLLEY V R CA687/2013 [2014] NZCA 178 [12 May 2014]
Case name
G v The Queen
Case number
SC 55/2014
Summary
Criminal Appeal – whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing the appeal against conviction on the ground that the jury’s verdict was unreasonable and cannot be supported having regard to the evidence.[2013] NZCA 222  CA  663/2012
Result
Application for leave to appeal is dismissed. 22 July 2014
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
G (SC55/2014) v R [2014] NZSC 95 [22 July 2014] (PDF, 49 KB)
Judgment appealed from

G (CA663/2012) V R CA663/2012 [2013] NZCA 222 [12 June 2013]
Case name
Yoon Lee v District Court at Auckland. Zhi Hong Gao and Lin Ge, John Carter, Timothy Upton Slack and Brent O’Callahan
Case number
SC 56/2014
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred by making plain errors in the findings of fact – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in failing to recognise that there was a loss of chance to take steps to recover the Gao’s deposits – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in finding that the High Court upheld the finding of negligence but reduced the damages – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in declining to make the finding that the District Court Judge went beyond the court’s jurisdiction in hearing the claim because the amount claimed exceeded the statutory limit – Whether the Court of Appeal erred by overlooking that the High Court had set aside the substantive judgment between the appellant and the 2nd respondents – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in failing to address the error of law made by the lower courts on the issue of assignment and consequential unconscionable conduct by the 3rd respondents – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in awarding full indemnity costs against the applicant – Whether the Court of Appeal erred by overlooking relevant authorities.[2014] NZCA 169   CA 362/2013
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
The applicant must pay the second and third respondents costs on an indemnity basis, plus reasonable disbursements.
24 September 2014
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
YOON LEE v DISTRICT COURT AT AUCKLAND [2014] NZSC 130 [24 September 2014] (PDF, 61 KB)
Judgment appealed from

LEE V DISTRICT COURT AT AUCKLAND CA362/2013 [2014] NZCA 169 [7 May 2014]
Case name
New Zealand Fire Service Commission v Insurance Brokers Association of New Zealand Incorporated and Vero Insurance Limited
Case number
SC 57/2014
Summary
Civil Appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is granted (New Zealand Fire Service Commission v Insurance Brokers Association of New Zealand Inc [2014] NZCA 179).
B The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to affirm the declarations made by the High Court.
18 August 2014
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A The appeal is allowed.
B The declaration made in the High Court and upheld with amendments by the Court of Appeal in relation to split tier policies is set aside.
C The declaration made in the High Court and upheld in the Court of Appeal in relation to the New Zealand Ports Collective policy is also set aside.
D We make no order for costs.
13 May 2015
Transcripts
Media Releases
High Court decision
INSURANCE BROKERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED V NEW ZEALAND FIRE SERVICE COMMISSION HC AK CIV 2011-404-3468 [17 December 2012]
Court of Appeal decision
NEW ZEALAND FIRE SERVICE COMMISSION V INSURANCE BROKERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED CA56/2013 [2014] NZCA 179 [13 May 2014]
Leave judgment - leave granted
NEW ZEALAND FIRE SERVICE COMMISSION v INSURANCE BROKERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED [2014] NZSC 113 [18 August 2014] (PDF, 40 KB)
Substantive judgment
NEW ZEALAND FIRE SERVICE COMMISSION v INSURANCE BROKERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED [2015] NZSC 59 [13 May 2015] (PDF, 608 KB)
Case name
Malcolm James Beattie, Anthony Joseph Regan, CT group Limited, Cartan Global LLP v Premier Events Group Limited
Case number
SC 58/2014
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal was correct to refuse to strike out the proceedings.[2014] NZCA 184   CA 773/2013
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicants are jointly and severally liable to pay to the respondent costs of $2,500 together with any disbursements authorised by the Registrar.
13 August 2014
Court of Appeal decision
BEATTIE V PREMIER EVENTS GROUP LIMITED CA773/2013 [2014] NZCA 184 [16 May 2014]
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
MALCOLM JAMES BEATTIE v PREMIER EVENTS GROUP LIMITED [2014] NZSC 111 [13 August 2014] (PDF, 52 KB)
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