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.
4 April 2025
Case information summary 2024 (as at 4 April 2025) – Cases where leave granted (124 KB)
Case information summary 2024 (as at 4 April 2025) – Cases where leave to appeal decision not yet made (PDF, 98 KB)
All years
Case name
T v The Queen
Case number
SC 74/2018
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 RETRIAL. 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 RETRIAL. PUBLICATION IN LAW REPORT OR LAW DIGEST PERMITTED.
Case name
Hayley Dawn Young v The Attorney General and Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
Case number
SC 75/2018
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether Court of Appeal erred in upholding the second respondent’s protest to jurisdiction on the basis of sovereign immunity – Whether Court of Appeal erred in holding that the courts of England and Wales are the more appropriate forum for the applicant’s claim.
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicant must pay the second respondent costs of $2,500.
6 March 2019
B The applicant must pay the second respondent costs of $2,500.
6 March 2019
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Dermont Gregory Nottingham v District Court at Auckland, Martin Russell Honey, Stephanie Frances Honey and Hemi Taka
Case number
SC 76/2018
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing the applicant’s appeal against the striking out of his claim.
Result
A The application for an extension of time to apply for leave to appeal is dismissed. B The applicant is to pay costs of $2,500 to the second respondents. 20 November 2018
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Patrick Maurice O'Sullivan v The Queen
Case number
SC 77/2018
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in declining the application for leave to bring a second appeal against conviction – Whether there are exceptional circumstances justifying an appeal direct from the High Court.
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
7 November 2018
_____________________
The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 7 November 2018 (O’Sullivan v R [2018] NZSC 103) is dismissed.
28 November 2018
7 November 2018
_____________________
The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 7 November 2018 (O’Sullivan v R [2018] NZSC 103) is dismissed.
28 November 2018
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Recall judgment
Case name
R (SC 78/2018) v The King
Case number
SC 78/2018
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 retrial. 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 retrial. Publication in law report or law digest permitted. 6 October 2023
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Case name
Estall Jhana Glassie v The Queen
Case number
SC 79/2018
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing the applicant’s appeal against conviction – Whether the trial Judge adequately directed the jury.
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed. 30 October 2018
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
James John Duncan Macfarlane v Perpetual Trust Limited
Case number
SC 80/2018
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in upholding the High Court’s decision to remove a caveat over a property and grant vacant possession.
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B Costs of $2,500 are awarded to the respondent
14 November 2018
B Costs of $2,500 are awarded to the respondent
14 November 2018
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Marie Deanne Castle v Whakatane District Council
Case number
SC 81/2018
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether there are exceptional circumstances which warrant granting leave against a decision of the High Court dismissing an application for a declaration that rates assessed against properties owned by the applicant are invalid.
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicant is to pay costs of $2,500 to the respondent.
30 October 2018
B The applicant is to pay costs of $2,500 to the respondent.
30 October 2018
High Court decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Toni Colin Reihana v Rakiura Titi Committee, Marama Cooper, Stewart Bull, Ron Bull and Sonia Rakiti
Case number
SC 82/2018
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing the appeal against stay of proceedings for abuse of process.
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicant must pay the first respondent costs of $2,500.
3 December 2018
B The applicant must pay the first respondent costs of $2,500.
3 December 2018
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Raymond Joseph Tukaki v The Commonwealth of Australia
Case number
SC 83/2018
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Extradition Act 1999 – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing the applicant’s appeal against a surrender order – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in upholding the decision not to refer the applicant’s case to the Minister of Justice.
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed. 19 November 2018
High Court decision
Court of Appeal decision
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
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