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
Albert Karl Lenin Stretch v The Queen
Case number
SC 47/2020
Summary
Criminal Appeal - application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
18 November 2020
District Court decision
Not publicly available
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Leave judgment - leave dismissed
Case name
Pauline Janice Harrison v Adrienne Harrison and Graeme Ross Harrison
Case number
SC 48/2020
Summary
Civil Appeal - application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
B There is no order as to costs.
20 August 2020
Case name
Fredrick Hill v Māori Trustee and Official Assignee
Case number
SC 49/2020
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A The application for an oral hearing is dismissed.
B The application to adduce further evidence is dismissed.
C The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
D The applicant must pay the respondent costs of $2,500.
1 September 2020
Case name
Glenn William Schaeffer v James Joseph Murren as Trustee of the James J Murren Spendthrift Trust and and Daniel Lee
Case number
SC 50/2020
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 costs of $2,500.
22 September 2020
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Case name
Epsom Woods Limited v Waitakere Farms Limited
Case number
SC 51/2020
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.
23 September 2020
Case name
Franchesca Kororia Borell v The Queen
Case number
SC 52/2020
Summary
Criminal Appeal - application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.
25 September 2020
Case name
Donna Mary Newlands v Nelson City Council
Case number
SC 53/2020
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.
8 October 2020
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Case name
Boon Hooi Cheah v Commissioner of Police
Case number
SC 54/2020
Summary
Civil appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal
Result
A Notice of Withdrawal having been filed the application for leave to appeal is deemed to be dismissed.
21 August 2020
Case name
Jeremy James McGuire v New Zealand Law Society
Case number
SC 55/2020
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.
20 October 2020
Court of Appeal decision
Not publicly available
Case name
Attorney-General v Mariya Ann Taylor and Robert Roper
Case number
SC 56/2020
Summary
Civil Appeal - Application for leave to bring an appeal.
Result
A The applications for leave to appeal are dismissed.
B Leave is reserved for the applicants to make a further application for leave to appeal to this Court on the issue of false imprisonment if the application to the Court of Appeal for recall of its judgment is unsuccessful.
C The Attorney General must pay Ms Taylor costs of $1,250.
22 December 2020