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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.

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)

All years

Case name
Earl Raymond Hagaman v Andrew James Little
Case number
SC 121/2017
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing the appeal on the basis that the proceeding abates with the death of Mr Hagaman.
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The personal representatives of Mr Hagaman must pay costs of $2,500 to the respondent.
13 February 2018
High Court decision
HAGAMAN AND HAGAMAN v LITTLE [2017] NZHC 813 [28 April 2017]
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
EARL RAYMOND HAGAMAN v ANDREW JAMES LITTLE [2018] NZSC 13 [13 February 2018] (PDF, 206 KB)
Judgment appealed from

HAGAMAN v LITTLE [2017] NZCA 447 [2 November 2017]
Case name
Razdan Rafiq v Attorney-General, Secretary for Department of Internal Affairs, Independent Police Complaints Authority, Chief Executive of the Ministry of Social Development, Commissioner of Police and Auckland Council
Case number
SC 122/2017
Summary
Civil Appeal – Senior Courts Act 2016, s 166 – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in finding it did not have jurisdiction to review the decision of the Deputy Registrar.
Result
The application is dismissed for want of jurisdiction                                              4 December 2017
High Court decision
RAFIQ v ATTORNEY-GENERAL & ORS [2017] NZHC 1852 [4 August 2017]
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
RAZDAN RAFIQ v ATTORNEY-GENERAL [2017] NZSC 182 [4 December 2017] (PDF, 192 KB)
Recall judgment
RAZDAN RAFIQ v ATTORNEY-GENERAL [2018] NZSC 45 [14 May 2018] (PDF, 236 KB)
Judgment appealed from
[2017] NZCA 495 not publicly available
Case name
Michael Thrift Murray v The Queen
Case number
SC 123/2017
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Crimes Act 1961, s 48 – Whether Court of Appeal erred in dismissing the applicant’s appeal against conviction – Whether the trial Judge gave adequate directions on the elements of self-defence and defence of another.
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
23 February 2018
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
MICHAEL THRIFT MURRAY v R [2018] NZSC 15 [23 February 2018] (PDF, 214 KB)
Judgment appealed from
not publicly available
Case name
Tui'imalo Matamu, Talaoali'I Naseri, Malielegaoi Aumua, Saeni Pita and Tofia Tofa v Va'aimalu Si'itia, Mary McEwing and Salapo Rapiti Tuia
Case number
SC 124/2017
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in concluding that resolutions excluding a group of parishioners from further use of parish facilities were validly passed.
Result
A  The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B  Costs of $2,500 are awarded to the respondents.
14 February 2018
High Court decision
MATAMU & ORS v SIʼITIA & ORS [2016] NZHC 2516 [21 October 2016]
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
TUIʼIMALO MATAMU v VAʼAIMALU SIʼITIA [2018] NZSC 14 [14 February 2018] (PDF, 202 KB)
Judgment appealed from
Case name
A v B
Case number
SC 125/2017
Summary
Civil Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal adopted the correct appellate standard of review – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in setting aside the High Court’s order permitting the applicant to access court records.  
Result

A Notice of Abandonment having been lodged, the appeal is deemed to be dismissed.
6 July 2018 
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Judgment appealed from
not publicly available
Case name
B v The Queen
Case number
SC 126/2017
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in finding that certain propensity evidence was admissible. 
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. 
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Case name
Te Tangata Whenua (as Third Party and Personal Representative of Rhys Warren) v The Queen
Case number
SC 127/2017
Summary
Civil Appeal – Habeas Corpus – Whether the High Court erred in not granting the writ.
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.                                                 13 December 2017
High Court decision
WARREN v THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS [2017] NZHC 2832 [17 November 2017]
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
TE TANGATA WHENUA (WARREN) v THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS [2017] NZSC 189 [13 December 2017] (PDF, 197 KB)
Judgment appealed from
N/A
Case name
Steven Philip Mason and Katharine Mary Mason v Andrew Hamilton Magee and Sharon Lee Magee
Case number
SC 128/2017
Summary
Civil Appeal – Contractual Remedies Act 1979, s 6 – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in finding that there was no misrepresentation.
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicants are to pay the respondents costs of $2,500.
9th February 2018
High Court decision
MASON v MAGEE [2017] NZHC 51 [31 January 2017]
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
MASON v MAGEE [2018] NZSC 11 [9 February 2018] (PDF, 215 KB)
Court of Appeal decision

MAGEE & ORS v MASON & ORS [2017] NZCA 502 [8 November 2017]
Case name
T v The Queen
Case number
SC 129/2017
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Evidence Act 2006, ss 8 and 43 – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in overturning a pre-trial ruling that certain propensity evidence was not admissible. 
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.                                                                                                      

8 February 2018 
High Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Case name
Carl Kiatika Ngawhika v The Queen
Case number
SC 130/2017
Summary
Criminal Appeal – Whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing the applicant’s appeals against conviction and sentence.
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
17 April 2018
District Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
NGAWHIKA V R [2017] NZCA 535 [21 November 2017]
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
CARL KIATIKA NGAWHIKA v R [2018] NZSC 32 [17 April 2018] (PDF, 180 KB)
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