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
Ngāti Ruatakenga v Christina Davis on behalf of Ngāti Muriwai Hapū and Ors
Case number
SC 129/2023
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
The applications for leave to appeal are granted (Whakatōhea Kotahitanga Waka (Edwards) v Te Kāhui and Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board [2023] NZCA 504) on the question of the correctness of the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
17 April 2024
Case name
Lucia Renate Pfisterer v Claims Resolution Service Limited and Grant Shand Barristers and Solicitors
Case number
SC 130/2023
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 each respondent costs of $1,250.
5 March 2024
Case name
Hengjia Zheng v The King
Case number
SC 131/2023
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
10 April 2024
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Toni Colin Reihana v Gregory Foran and Air New Zealand Limited
Case number
SC 132/2023
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 the respondents one set of costs of $2,500.
22 February 2024
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
Case name
Abdullah Robert Boyd v Australian Federal Police, New South Wales Legal Aid, New Zealand Defence Force, New Zealand Police, Attorney-General, Office of the Inspectorate, Canterbury Intelligence Team and Ministry of Health
Case number
SC 134/2023
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
7 February 2024
Case name
Basil Steven Mist v Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections
Case number
SC 135/2023
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
5 March 2024
Case name
John Atcherley Dew v Discovery NZ Limited
Case number
SC 136/2023
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 the respondent costs of $2,500.
C We make an order prohibiting publication of this judgment until 2.00 pm on 7 March 2024.
5 March 2024
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Malcolm Rewa v The King
Case number
SC 137/2023
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 granted.
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
10 April 2024
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
The Pathway Trust v NZME Publishing Limited and Stuff Limited, Joseph James Brider and The King
Case number
SC 138/2023
Summary
Criminal Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal