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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
Razdan Rafiq v Chief Executive for the Department of Internal Affairs and Minister of Internal Affairs
Case number
SC 115/2023
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.
19 April 2024
________________________________________________________________________
A The application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 19 April 2024 (Rafiq v Chief Executive for the Department of Internal Affairs [2024] NZSC 36) is dismissed.
B There is no order as to costs.
17 June 2024
Court of Appeal decision
[2023] NZCA 495
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
RAZDAN RAFIQ v CHIEF EXECUTIVE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS [2024] NZSC 36 [19 April 2024] (PDF, 197 KB)
Recall judgment
RAZDAN RAFIQ v CHIEF EXECUTIVE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS [2024] NZSC 69 [17 June 2024] (PDF, 209 KB)
Case name
Mark James McLaughlin and Andrew Ashley McLaughlin v John David Manuel McLaughlin
Case number
SC 116/2023
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicants must pay the respondent costs of $2,500.
15 February 2024
High Court decision
MCLAUGHLIN v MCLAUGHLIN [2021] NZHC 3015 [9 November 2021]
Court of Appeal decision
MCLAUGHLIN v MCLAUGHLIN [2023] NZCA 473 [29 September 2023
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
MARK JAMES MCLAUGHLIN v JOHN DAVID MANUEL MCLAUGHLIN [2024] NZSC 11 [15 February 2024]
Case name
H v the King
Case number
SC 117/2023
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.
14 November 2023
Case name
Jessie Arthur Heke-Gray v The King
Case number
SC 118/2023
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.
9 May 2024
High Court decision
R v HEKE-GRAY [2019] NZHC 2841 [1 November 2019]
Court of Appeal decision
HEKE-GRAY v R [2023] NZCA 474 [29 September 2023
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
JESSIE ARTHUR HEKE-GRAY v R [2024] NZSC 54 [9 May 2024] (PDF, 231 KB)
Case name
John Howard Carter v Capital and Coast District Health Board, Hutt Valley District Health Board and Attorney-General (for the Ministry of Health)
Case number
SC 119/2023
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for an extension of time to file an application for leave to appeal is granted.
B The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
C The applicant must pay the third respondent costs of $1,000.
29 July 2024
___________________________________________
A The application for recusal is dismissed.
B The application for recall is dismissed.
C There is no order as to costs.
16 August 2024
High Court decision
CARTER v CAPITAL AND COAST DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD [2022] NZHC 3018 [17 November 2022
Court of Appeal decision
CARTER v CAPITAL AND COAST DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD [2023] NZCA 466 [26 September 2023]
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
JOHN HOWARD CARTER v CAPITAL AND COAST DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD [2024] NZSC 85 [29 July 2024] (PDF, 178 KB)
Recall judgment
JOHN HOWARD CARTER v CAPITAL AND COAST DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD [2024] NZSC 102 [16 August 2024] (PDF, 208 KB)
Case name
Damin Peter Cook v The King
Case number
SC 120/2023
Summary
Criminal 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 granted (Cook v R [2023] NZCA 342).
C The approved question is whether the Court of Appeal was correct to treat Mr Cook’s defence as insane automatism.
19 February 2024
Date of hearing
23 July 2024
Judges
Winkelmann CJ, Glazebrook, Williams, Kós and O'Regan JJ
Submissions from counsel
Transcripts
Case Synopses
District Court decision
[2022] NZDC 17588
Court of Appeal decision
COOK v R [2023] NZCA 342 [4 August 2023]
Leave judgment - leave granted
DAMIN PETER COOK v R [2024] NZSC 12 [19 February 2024] (PDF, 136 KB)
Videos
Case name
Whakatōhea Kotahitanga Waka (Edwards) v Te Kāhui and Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board and Ors
Case number
SC 121/2023
Summary
Civil 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
______________________________________________________
A The application by Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Porou for leave to intervene is granted.
B Costs are reserved on this application and on the substantive hearing.
23 July 2024
______________________________________________________
A The application by Te Kāhui Takutai Moana o Ngā Whānau me Ngā Hapū o Te Whakatōhea for a prospective costs order against the Attorney-General is granted.
B The respondent must pay the applicants prospective costs of $97,500, collectively.
C The respondent must pay the applicants costs on the application of $7,500 together with usual disbursements.
20 September 2024
Date of hearing
04 November 2024 - 15 November 2024
Judges
Glazebrook, Ellen France, Williams, Kós and French JJ
Submissions from counsel
Transcripts
Case Synopses
High Court decision
Re Edwards (Te Whakatōhea No. 2) [2021] NZHC 1025 [7 May 2021
Court of Appeal decision
[2023] NZCA 504
Leave judgment - leave granted
WHAKATŌHEA KOTAHITANGA WAKA (EDWARDS) v TE KĀHUI TAKUTAI MOANA O NGĀ WHĀNAU ME NGĀ HAPŪ O TE WHAKATŌHEA [2024] NZSC 33 [17 April 2024] (PDF, 152 KB)
Supreme court decision
WHAKATŌHEA KOTAHITANGA WAKA (EDWARDS) v TE KĀHUI TAKUTAI MOANA O NGĀ WHĀNAU ME NGĀ HAPŪ O TE WHAKATŌHEA [2024] NZSC 77 [23 July 2024] (PDF, 222 KB)
Supreme court decision
INTERIM JUDGMENT OF THE COURT (COSTS): WHAKATŌHEA KOTAHITANGA WAKA (EDWARDS) v NGĀTI IRA O WAIŌWEKA, NGĀTI PATUMOANA, NGĀTI RUATĀKENGA AND NGĀI TAMAHAUA (TE KĀHUI TAKUTAI MOANA O NGĀ WHĀNAU ME NGĀ HAPŪ O TE WHAKATŌHEA) [2024] NZSC 119 [20 September 2024 (PDF, 354 KB)
Case name
Ian Adamson and Kate Jones v James Robinson
Case number
SC 122/2023
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B The applicants must pay the respondent one set of costs of $2,500.
5 February 2024
High Court decision
ADAMSON v JONES [2023] NZHC 2115 [9 August 2023]
Court of Appeal decision
ADAMSON v JONES [2023] NZCA 531 [26 October 2023]
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
IAN ADAMSON AND KATE JONES v JAMES ROBINSON [2024] NZSC 3 [5 February 2024 (PDF, 162 KB)
Case name
Ngāti Muriwai Hapū v Whakatōhea Kotahitanga Waka (Edwards) and Ors
Case number
SC 123/2023
Summary
Civil 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
____________________________________________
A The application by Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Porou for leave to intervene is granted.
B Costs are reserved on this application and on the substantive hearing.
23 July 2024
____________________________________________
A The application by Te Kāhui Takutai Moana o Ngā Whānau me Ngā Hapū o Te Whakatōhea for a prospective costs order against the Attorney-General is granted.
B The respondent must pay the applicants prospective costs of $97,500, collectively.
C The respondent must pay the applicants costs on the application of $7,500 together with usual disbursements.
20 September 2024
Date of hearing
04 November 2024 - 15 November 2024
Judges
Glazebrook, Ellen France, Williams, Kós and French JJ
Submissions from counsel
Transcripts
Case Synopses
High Court decision
Re Edwards (Te Whakatōhea No. 2) [2021] NZHC 1025 [7 May 2021]
Court of Appeal decision
[2023] NZCA 504
Leave judgment - leave granted
WHAKATŌHEA KOTAHITANGA WAKA (EDWARDS) v TE KĀHUI TAKUTAI MOANA O NGĀ WHĀNAU ME NGĀ HAPŪ O TE WHAKATŌHEA [2024] NZSC 33 [17 April 2024] (PDF, 152 KB)
Supreme court decision
WHAKATŌHEA KOTAHITANGA WAKA (EDWARDS) v TE KĀHUI TAKUTAI MOANA O NGĀ WHĀNAU ME NGĀ HAPŪ O TE WHAKATŌHEA [2024] NZSC 77 [23 July 2024] (PDF, 222 KB)
Supreme court decision
INTERIM JUDGMENT OF THE COURT (COSTS): WHAKATŌHEA KOTAHITANGA WAKA (EDWARDS) v NGĀTI IRA O WAIŌWEKA, NGĀTI PATUMOANA, NGĀTI RUATĀKENGA AND NGĀI TAMAHAUA (TE KĀHUI TAKUTAI MOANA O NGĀ WHĀNAU ME NGĀ HAPŪ O TE WHAKATŌHEA) [2024] NZSC 119 [20 September 2024 (PDF, 354 KB)
Case name
Kutarere Marae v Whakatōhea Kotahitanga Waka (Edwards) and Ors
Case number
SC 124/2023
Summary
Civil 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
_____________________________________________________
A The application by Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Porou for leave to intervene is granted.
B Costs are reserved on this application and on the substantive hearing.
23 July 2024
_____________________________________________________
A The application by Te Kāhui Takutai Moana o Ngā Whānau me Ngā Hapū o Te Whakatōhea for a prospective costs order against the Attorney-General is granted.
B The respondent must pay the applicants prospective costs of $97,500, collectively.
C The respondent must pay the applicants costs on the application of $7,500 together with usual disbursements. 20 September 2024
Date of hearing
04 November 2024 - 15 November 2024
Judges
Glazebrook, Ellen France, Williams, Kós and French JJ
Submissions from counsel
Transcripts
Case Synopses
High Court decision
Re Edwards (Te Whakatōhea No. 2) [2021] NZHC 1025 [7 May 2021]
Court of Appeal decision
[2023] NZCA 504
Leave judgment - leave granted
WHAKATŌHEA KOTAHITANGA WAKA (EDWARDS) v TE KĀHUI TAKUTAI MOANA O NGĀ WHĀNAU ME NGĀ HAPŪ O TE WHAKATŌHEA [2024] NZSC 33 [17 April 2024 (PDF, 152 KB)
Supreme court decision
WHAKATŌHEA KOTAHITANGA WAKA (EDWARDS) v TE KĀHUI TAKUTAI MOANA O NGĀ WHĀNAU ME NGĀ HAPŪ O TE WHAKATŌHEA [2024] NZSC 77 [23 July 2024] (PDF, 222 KB)
Supreme court decision
INTERIM JUDGMENT OF THE COURT (COSTS): WHAKATŌHEA KOTAHITANGA WAKA (EDWARDS) v NGĀTI IRA O WAIŌWEKA, NGĀTI PATUMOANA, NGĀTI RUATĀKENGA AND NGĀI TAMAHAUA (TE KĀHUI TAKUTAI MOANA O NGĀ WHĀNAU ME NGĀ HAPŪ O TE WHAKATŌHEA) [2024] NZSC 119 [20 September 2024 (PDF, 354 KB)
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