We maintain a database of significant Art Law decisions from New Zealand Courts and Tribunals which we publish here, subject to any suppression orders and copyright restrictions.
Often a single proceeding will involve several decisions, for instance were a party appeals the decision of a lower court to a higher one or if procedural points must be addressed. We will not include every decision in a proceeding and will only list those with relevant insights.
This is a work in progress, and we encourage any interested users to send us any new (or old) decisions of note that are not listed.
| Case Name | Citation / Download (if available) | Our Insights | Art Law Issues / Artist | External Media |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agam v Moon (2 October 2025) | [2025] NZCA 510 | Interim injunction of sale of artworks; Contractual dispute (artist/printer); Artificer’s lien; Yaacov Agam | Article | |
| Matchitt v Matchitt (18 July 2025) | [2025] NZHC 1991 | Application to remove and replace trustees; artistic legacy; Paratene Temokopuorongo Matchitt (Para) | About the Artist: Auckland Art Gallery, Public Art Heritage, Wikipedia | |
| Agam v Moon (11 Jun 2025) | [2025] NZHC 1748 | Stay of enforcement ahead of art auction; Yaacov Agam | ||
| Agam v Moon (11 Jun 2025) | [2025] NZHC 1498 | Application to amend Interim Injunction; Contractual dispute (artist/printer); Recission of Order; Yaacov Agam | ||
| Alalääkkölä v Palmer (7 Mar 2025) | [2025] NZSC 12 | Relationship Property (artist’s copyright); Copyright; Sirpa Alalääkkölä | ||
| Agam v Moon (18 Dec 2024) | [2024] NZHC 3907 | Contracts in the Art World: Lessons from the Courts | Interim Injunction; Contractual dispute (artist/printer); Artificer’s lien; Statutory lien; Conversion; Yaacov Agam | Judge blocks printing company from selling Israeli artist’s work |
| Pickering v R (2 Dec 2024) | [2024] NZHC 3641 | Burglary (art gallery); reparations | Article | |
| Re Ron and Joan Gillatt Charitable Trust Board (13 Nov 2024) | [2024] NZHC 3374 | Charitable purpose (collections of art and other cultural objects); public benefit requirement; minimum standard of value | ||
| Alalaakkola v Palmer (21 Feb 2024) | [2024] NZCA 24 | Relationship Property (artist’s copyright); Copyright; Sirpa Alalääkkölä | ||
| Smith-West v Discovery NZ Ltd (20 Dec 2022) | BSA 2022-110 | Broadcasting standards; Promotion of illegal or antisocial behaviour; Free speech; Alleged vandalism; Tāme Iti; Dean Proudfoot | Vandalism or value?: Owner of artwork ‘corrected’ by Tāme Iti expects prosecution, artist says he appreciates it | |
| Johnson v Nixon (3 Dec 2020) | [2020] NZHC 3193 | Restitution of stolen art; Title (ownership); Bona fide purchaser for value; Nemo dat; Limitation; Relationship Property; Constructive trust; Conversion / Theft; Goldie; | The Widow Ngaheke, Perira te Kahikura | |
| R v Hill (24 Sep 2020) | [2020] NZDC 19895 | Sentencing for Burglary of USD $250,000 art collection; | ||
| Northland Environmental Protection Society Inc v Chief Executive of the Ministry of Primary Industries (9 Nov 2018) | [2018] NZSC 105 | Exporting objects under the Protected Objects Act 1975 | Protected Objects; Export; Swamp Kauri | |
| Northland Environmental Protection Society Inc v Chief Executive of the Ministry of Primary Industries (19 Dec 2017) | [2017] NZCA 607 | Exporting objects under the Protected Objects Act 1975 | Protected Objects; Export; Swamp Kauri | |
| Northland Environmental Protection Society Inc v Chief Executive of the Ministry of Primary Industries (1 Mar 2017) | [2017] NZHC 308 | Exporting objects under the Protected Objects Act 1975 | Protected Objects; Export; Swamp Kauri | |
| Re BU (Migrant Investor) (29 Sep 2016) | [2016] NZIPT 203435 | Immigration decision; Han dynasty Chinese antiques; Proof of title; Provenance | ||
| Newbery v AA Insurance Ltd (8 Oct 2015) | [2015] NZHC 2457 | Insurance (works of art (sculpture / ornaments – definition)); LLadro | ||
| Bambury v Jensen (2 Oct 2015) | [2015] NZHC 2384 | Contracts in the Art World: Lessons from the Courts | Contractual dispute (artist/dealer); Agency; Fiduciary Duty | |
| Sydney v Sydney (1 Jun 2012) | [2012] NZFC 2685 | Relationship property (artworks produced during and after relationship; artworks acquired and gifted during relationship; artworks gifted or held on trust prior to relationship; artworks as family chattels; artworks inherited); Taonga; Grahame Sydney | ||
| R v Davies (18 Nov 2011) | DC Wellington CRI-2011-083-1826 | Theft; Medals; Books; Memorabilia | Arrest for theft of 800 military medals | |
| Van Wakeren v R (3 Oct 2011) | [2011] NZCA 503 | Burglary; Medals; Goldie; Colin McCahon; Rare book | Stolen medals returned to army museum; Goldie painting stolen from Auckland University | |
| Colmore-Williams v Prendergrast (31 Aug 2010) | HC Auckland CIV-2010-404-337 | Fraud allegation / Authenticity; Goldie | ||
| R v Kapa (26 Aug 2010) | DC Auckland CRI-2008-083-2487 | Burglary; Medals; Victoria Cross; Charles Upham VC; George Cross | Second medals thief named | |
| Police v Spiteri (18 January 2010) | DC Whanganui CRI-2009-083-2490 | Theft of paintings | Article | |
| R v Baleitavuki (15 Sep 2006) | HC Auckland CRI-2005-004-22544 | Receiving (stolen paintings); Peter Beadle; Paolo Canetti | Press release; Article | |
| Lampp v Police (1 Sep 2004) | HC Auckland CRI-2004-404-281 | Allegation of wilful damage to artwork (sculpture) | ||
| Perry v West (15 Dec 2003) | HC Auckland CIV2003-404-002114, 15 December 2003 | Relationship property; Taonga; Colin McCahon | ||
| Page v Page (7 May 2002) | HC Wellington AP1 02 | Relationship Property (art collection); Secret Trust; Evelyn Page | ||
| McIntyre v International Art Centre Ltd (4 Apr 2001) | DC Auckland NP3884/00, 4 April 2001 District Court, Auckland | Dispute over ownership of painting; interim injunction; order restraining destruction of documentation relating to ownership; interpleader | ||
| R v Genovese (24 September 1999) | HC Auckland T982633 | Theft of painting (armed robbery); Auckland Art Gallery; James Tissot | Portrait of a Museum Robbery; Tissot robber tells all; | |
| Boyd v Police (29 Apr 1999) | HC Wellington AP68/99, 29 April 1999 | Theft of Painting; Receiving; David Morrison | Article | |
| R v Te Kaha (18 Dec 1998) | T No. 980938 | Theft of Paintings; Protest; The Urawera Triptych; Colin McCahon | Article | |
| White v Potter (29 Jul 1994) | DC Auckland Plt387/92 | Theft of Painting (from gallery); Duty of gallery owner as bailee | ||
| Doyle v Borick (1 November 1989) | HC Dunedin M124 89 | Allegations of theft of painting by solicitor (acquitted in later proceedings); Power of attorney; Fraud; Chain of title; Frances Hodgkins | Frances Hodgkins – And Age is the Time of Peace | |
| Department of Internal Affairs v The Poverty Bay Club Inc (14 Apr 1989) | DC Gisborne, 14 April 1989 | Protected Objects; Export; Captain James Cook; Letters | ||
| R v Sim (30 April 1987) | CA260 86 | Forgery; Goldie; Petrus Van der Velden; Rita Agnus | Karl Sim; Famous forger | |
| Cleminson v Cleminson (9 Aug 1985) | [1985] NZHC 550 | Relationship property; Family chattel; Investment Art; Frances Hodgkins | ||
| Giles v Giles (27 June 1984) | CA138/83, 27 July 1984 | Relationship property; Gift; Goldie | ||
| Attorney General of New Zealand v Ortiz (21 Apr 1983) | [1984] A.C. 1; [1983] 2 W.L.R. 809; [1983] 2 All E.R. 93; [1983] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 265; [1983] 4 WLUK 93; (1983) 133 N.L.J. 537; (1983) 127 S.J. 307 | Conflict of laws; Protected Objects; Export; Taonga / Antiquities; Manukonga / Māori Carvings; Forfeiture |
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